Costa should make it clear that cream or marshmallows cost extra

It's the same as syrup it costs extra.

All places charge for it but some add it to the price and you pay the same whether you have it or not. Surely that's worse?

Pretty much everywhere else!

All true.

Plus, Coca-Cola kill people in South America.

But they are also unreasonable with their sneaky marshmallow nonsense.

How is that the fault of the staff?

Local people needing local jobs are employed by these sorts of places.

And ‘sugary’ is not a swear word, no matter how many people with disordered thinking about food use it as one.

But hot chocolate is served without cream and marshmallows unless you want it as an extra. Chocolate comes on cappuccino unless you ask for it not to.

I don't agree.

Until only a few years ago hot chocolate always came with cream and marshmallows! Charging extra/separate is a relatively new phenomenon.

Can’t stand the rolling menu. I make them wait till the one I want to see had come back if I’m wanting something different to usual and need to see the details.

🤣🤣🤣

But hot chocolate is served without cream and marshmallows unless you want it as an extra. Chocolate comes on cappuccino unless you ask for it not to.

This x100.

These are businesses, not charities.

I agree that you should expect these clearly upsold options to cost extra.

I guess they figure that, in the scheme of things, a hot drink or two isn't that expensive a treat. And if you can't easily afford an extra 60p or £1.20 for a slightly enhanced drink without really noticing it, you're probably not going to be darkening Costa's doors in the first place.

Costa is in Tesco here so that's where we end up. I don't mind their coffee. I'm not a coffee snob, as long as it's black and hot it'll do for me.

Ds2 likes a hot choc but without cream or marshmallows, the last time he got one the barista called it a headless hot chocolate so that's what he calls it everywhere now.

I think it’s obvious that adding an extra thing will cost you extra. Is there anywhere that adds cream and marshmallows as standard?

Do you always seek to blame others when you don't notice things?

Where I work we aren't a chain and we charge extra for marshmallows

Another cafe, smaller chain, charges more for a "deluxe hot chocolate" which is hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows

It's not unusual

And it's very clear on the app that it's extra

Agreed Op the scrolling boards with tiny writing are a nightmare to read it's almost like a deliberate ploy not to let you study the board.

That's upselling for you!

When ever someone offers you something in a restaurant / coffee, there can often be a cost to the extras.

It's all in the tone.

Yip but these crappy chain fast food cafés are all the same - Costa, Starbucks, Gregg's, Nero....

Yes. I go to an independent coffee shop, marshmallows are included and put on the saucer whether you ask for them or not. Their hot chocs put Costa to shame though.

Last time I went to Costa, the batista made a pig's ear of a hot choc, spilled it and tried up wipe it up around the glass. Won't be going to that one again.

There is no “local cafe” here. There’s a few Starbucks, one Costa, various supermarket cafes, a chain brand garden centre with a cafe and, if you just want cheap takeaway coffee, McDonalds. And a couple of chain branded pubs that probably also do hot drinks though no idea about the cream and marshmallows!

I’d have to drive twenty minutes into another town, pay upwards of £4 for parking (or get a bus for similar money), then navigate hoardes of tourists to get to what appears to be an independent “local” tea shop, though who knows who it’s actually owned by. Then I’d have to wait for a seat in the tiny shop and pay a fortune for something off a limited menu geared to Chinese and American tourists not locals wanting a cheap treat for their kids.

Given all that I’d just go for Costa - where the hot chocolate is probably no more processed or sugary than anywhere else, local cafe included.

I agree, the tone suggest it's included. Like if they ask if I want milk in my tea....they're not charging me extra for that.

But they ask you about the chocolate when they are handing you your coffee after you've paid. They ask you about cream and marshmallows at the till. I'm not sure what tone they could use to indicate that it costs money.

Whilst I do agree it used to be listed clearly under extras, I don't agree it is now because of the rotating, electronic signs. I can't process the menu quick enough before it changes and have found myself being forced to make quick choices because the menu changes too quickly, so if you're not used to it, I guess it could be too difficult to see.

To be fair to the OP, last Costa I went into their menu you was a rolling video on the boards of the menu. One more way I guess for them to make it a bit easier to sneak an extra quid out you when the price of that specific item has just disappeared and there’s another three pages to come up, before it rolls back round.