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Daily Coffees and cafes

(117 Posts)
nanna8 Sun 16-Oct-22 12:38:23

When I was young my Mum was always going into coffee shops and cafes for a coffee and I used to think she was wasting money when you could easily make one at home ( we didn’t have instant, it was ‘proper’coffee) . Guess what ? Now I have a coffee out at least 4 or 5 times a week and now I understand where she was coming from ! It has to be a good one, I am a coffee snob as are most Melburnians. It is getting very expensive, however and is now usually $5 for a small cup so I might have to cut back - still it’s better than cigs or booze I suppose.

MissAdventure Wed 19-Oct-22 17:04:47

That sounds a lovely place.
I'd be in there like a shot!

Witzend Wed 19-Oct-22 12:19:15

I forgot the cafe in our town centre church - my go-to now, if I want something when out. A haven of peace, especially when the shops are manic, e.g. at weekends and in the run up to Christmas. With beautiful stained glass thrown in.

Barmeyoldbat Tue 18-Oct-22 18:33:33

Gab56, bit unfair on the people sitting outside might just be a weekly treat

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 18:32:35

Perhaps they have exceptionally well paid jobs.

Gabrielle56 Tue 18-Oct-22 17:36:52

I am sed to have coffee out every time in went shopping til ....I stopped going shopping! We do have either breakfast or lunch out occasionally and always say we're going to do it regularly but never have! We forget, then few weeks go by and we'll have a few trips out! I always wonder how certain people who sit outside at Costas (and look honestly? Dead hard up!) Afford the stupid prices and the ciggies they're puffing away at?!?!

HurdyGurdy Tue 18-Oct-22 08:39:40

We have a lovely independent coffee shop in town, and their hot drinks are (still!) just 99p.

I collect my granddaughter from school one day a week and take her to her swimming lesson.

It's our treat to go for a coffee (me) and a milkshake with whipped cream (for her - also 99p) and a chat.

I really don't know how they do it so cheaply.

Bazza Tue 18-Oct-22 07:55:50

Good tip V3ra. Thank you, I’ll give it a go!

V3ra Tue 18-Oct-22 00:40:51

I’ve largely given up buying coffee as no matter how many times I say extra hot please, it’s usually not even more than luke warm. To me any way

Bazza a little tip my son taught me is to ask for your coffee in an insulated takeaway cup, even if you're drinking it in the café. Some places will serve it in your own insulated cup.
If I'm eating I always have my food first then order my coffee after I've finished. I have an americano with hot milk.
I like my drinks piping hot as well!

Jaxjacky Mon 17-Oct-22 21:54:06

Loved doing that when we lived there Sandynan, I miss it, decent coffee too. Very different experience from here.

Sandynan Mon 17-Oct-22 21:40:39

Here in France, having a coffee outside the cafe everyday or several times a week is the norm for us. It’s how we form bonds and get social capital in our life account. Very important for health and well being.

rowyn Mon 17-Oct-22 21:40:35

Small Lavazza coffee machine at home. Bliss.

happycatholicwife1 Mon 17-Oct-22 21:17:00

Don't do Starbucks. The price is silly, and there is ever so much faffing. My husband and I go out quite often for the vanilla ice cream cone at McDonald's. It's $3 and change for two, quite satisfying, and we pull under a local tree and watch traffic and listen to the radio and chat. On the plus side, the official calorie count is 163 calories. Not bad!

SueDonim Mon 17-Oct-22 20:31:29

Oh well, we had coffee and a small late lunch today and most delicious it was. An independent within a shop with massive glass windows so we could people-watch for ages. No cakes but we took two scones home to have after our meal this evening.

On the way back to the car, I spotted another interesting independent so have marked that in my head to try next time!

MattDanNana Mon 17-Oct-22 20:19:14

I have the Greg's app on my phone and get coffee for free!! That's not snobby!

Bazza Mon 17-Oct-22 19:30:27

I’ve largely given up buying coffee as no matter how many times I say extra hot please, it’s usually not even more than luke warm. To me any way. And the wait! I’m not a coffee snob and slightly yearn for the milk bars of the sixties when you could get a frothy one almost immediately! And it would be hot.

Suzyb Mon 17-Oct-22 19:17:48

Hello nanna8. Our daughter lives in Melbourne so understand what you mean. She only ever drinks coffee from a coffee shop and has one every day. She doesn’t have a machine at home.
Hers has to be with soya milk. I’m not that fussy but I do like a strong coffee and Melbourne’s barista’s certainly do an exceedingly good one.
A flat white is now £4 so you definitely have to think twice before you decide to buy.

Bijou Mon 17-Oct-22 17:43:31

When I was able to go out shopping on the dial a ride bus I took a flask and sandwich with me and sat on my hired scooter and people watched. Very interesting.

sazz1 Mon 17-Oct-22 17:36:02

I can't drink percolated coffee unless it's after a full meal as it makes me nauseous. Can only have 1 mug of instant coffee without eating biscuits or toast as that has the same effect. Guess I'm sensitive to caffeine but I do have an occasional cappuccino when we go out to lunch which is rare.

TheMaggiejane1 Mon 17-Oct-22 17:20:19

Whenever we go out for the day my partner always wants to dive into a cafe as soon as possible. I think it’s a waste of time, I don’t drink caffeine, I’m lactose intolerant and I’d need to spend the rest of the day popping in and out of loos (another waste of time). So he sits with a coffee and cake ( I rarely eat cake) and I sit with a glass of tap water which I don’t drink but I have it for appearances! I’m a real cheap date. (Until we go to a good restaurant or wine bar, then it’s a different story).

LadyHonoriaDedlock Mon 17-Oct-22 17:13:12

As a pre-schooler on the Wirral, when I went with my mother and Mrs Jones from next door into Liverpool for a shopping trip we generally ended up in the Lyceum café for tea before going home. There was always a tray of cakes put on the table but I wasn't allowed to have one – you paid for the ones you took.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 17-Oct-22 16:24:10

Looking forward to meeting up again

MissAdventure Mon 17-Oct-22 15:44:47

Oh I think I may know where you mean. smile
I seem to have lost my bearings, but I'm sure I can remember that cafe.

That's a date, then, when I feel and look better. smile

GrannyGravy13 Mon 17-Oct-22 15:33:09

MissAdventure

I'd be a permanent fixture!

The cafes here are like little societies in their own rights, with their tribes.

I can always find someone to bore talk to.

MissA there is a lovely cosy coffee shop, with home made cakes and so much more in the High Road (opposite where the police station used to be) when you feel up to it we can meet there x

MissAdventure Mon 17-Oct-22 15:28:54

I'd be a permanent fixture!

The cafes here are like little societies in their own rights, with their tribes.

I can always find someone to bore talk to.

Kartush Mon 17-Oct-22 15:11:04

my daughters own a cafe so I am really glad there are so many of you who enjoy going out for coffee....... sad to say I am not one of them