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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect coffee?!?!

463 replies

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 07:36

I've never posted a thread before. Please be kind to me as this is extremely serious and I might cry. Well, moderately serious

A couple of us have come to stay with friends who have recently moved away. I woke up early, as is normal for me. We've been told to help ourselves to breakfast etc if we want.

They do not have any coffee in their house. None. Zero. Nothing 😱

These are old friends of mine and wonderful people, and they used to drink the odd coffee but more tea drinkers really - but I was expecting some sort of coffee available. They're probably gonna have a lot of "down from London" visitors to stay now they've moved.

I have spent half an hour googling where I can get coffee on a Sunday morning round here. The options are limited or not early morning enough. I am beside myself. Or I would be if I had enough caffeine in my system to get a head of steam on.

YABU: bring your own coffee next time. These guys are now living a simple coffee free life in the country, get away with your high and mighty big city ways and bring your own

YANBU: it's normal to expect a bit of coffee in a house in this day and age. You'll be doing your hosts a favour if you mention this, or they're going to face hordes of desperate visitors with a dreadful level of unmet need in this new, country living phase of their lives, and the local community will be ravaged by coffee starved londoners desperately roaming the streets early doors like a host of annoying affluent zombies in nice trainers

OP posts:
myplace · 13/04/2025 07:50

Years ago when I was fully caffeinated, I was staying with my sister and began to feel really ill. I put it down to the sofa bed being wonky and my feet possibly being higher than my head.

Heading home feeling grim I stopped for a coffee at a services and instantly felt better. She’d been decaffing me the whole visit.

Blondebrownorred · 13/04/2025 07:50

I don't have coffee in my house. Disgusting stuff. Doesn't even feature on my radar so wouldn't think to get some in for guests.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/04/2025 07:49

If they’ve just moved and don’t really drink coffee it’s not unreasonable for them not to have any in, there’s lots of stuff to get ready when hosting and so it would be an easy oversight to make. It’s not a big deal to go without coffee for a few hours, or even a day, especially as there is tea available. Just buy some when you can and leave it when you go home so it’s there for next time.

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 13/04/2025 07:48

Have you checked the fridge?

NoSoupForU · 13/04/2025 07:48

I think its weird not having coffee in the house. I don't drink it (I drink tea) but it's not onerous to just have some in the cupboard for visitors.

Your friends are clearly monsters.

myplace · 13/04/2025 07:47

I take coffee bags everywhere- both decaf and caffeinated!

I have a careful balance of the two that must be maintained 🤣

Alternatively, take decaf everywhere but carry caffeine pils!

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 13/04/2025 07:47

Coffee bags from Waitrose are your friend.

Make a decent cup. Far better than instant coffee and portable

Surespray · 13/04/2025 07:46

Oh gosh this is a nightmare situation.
only 15 minutes until the petrol station opens.
Id be waiting by the door!

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 07:46

CaptainFuture · 13/04/2025 07:45

They're probably gonna have a lot of "down from London" visitors to stay now they've moved.
Wow. Lucky them.... You'll be doing your hosts a favour if you mention this, or they're going to face hordes of desperate visitors with a dreadful level of unmet need in this new, country living phase of their lives yes best let them know their hosting skills are subpar for the City Sophisticats....

I mean, they're London wankers too

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 13/04/2025 07:46

Zonder · 13/04/2025 07:44

I love this 😊 there will be a local grocery store open from 7!

Not round here.
However, we have a petrol station that has a coffee machine half a mile away.

Taylor's coffee bags are the answer. We never travel without them.

ScarlettSunset · 13/04/2025 07:46

If I didn't drink coffee, I wouldn't have any in the house either. I would probably warn people who were coming to stay so they could bring their own though.
Do they have tea? If it's just for emergency caffeine (and i REALLY understand that), then I'd drink tea if it's available, even if I really didn't like it.
Otherwise, are there any corner shops or newsagents open or petrol stations nearby where they might have a Costa machine or at least sell a jar of instant coffee?

Edited for autocorrect typos

Summertimeblahness · 13/04/2025 07:45

I take emergency coffee bags away.

Zanatdy · 13/04/2025 07:45

I don’t drink coffee but always have some in for guests. They probably didn’t think given they don’t drink it.

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 07:45

Zonder · 13/04/2025 07:44

I love this 😊 there will be a local grocery store open from 7!

Positive thinking but nope 😔

OP posts:
CaptainFuture · 13/04/2025 07:45

They're probably gonna have a lot of "down from London" visitors to stay now they've moved.
Wow. Lucky them.... You'll be doing your hosts a favour if you mention this, or they're going to face hordes of desperate visitors with a dreadful level of unmet need in this new, country living phase of their lives yes best let them know their hosting skills are subpar for the City Sophisticats....

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 07:44

BucketFacer · 13/04/2025 07:42

YANBU - "tea or coffee?" is just part of hosting, even if someone is just coming round for an hour let alone staying overnight. I had a similar situation on a week long holiday last year - only decaffeinated coffee was available 😱 nightmare.

This is dreadful 😔 a moment silence for decaff

OP posts:
Zonder · 13/04/2025 07:44

DeskJotter · 13/04/2025 07:42

There will be local grocery stores open from 7. Just buy some? In fact, every convenience store will have a coffee machine, too.

I love this 😊 there will be a local grocery store open from 7!

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 07:44

DeskJotter · 13/04/2025 07:42

There will be local grocery stores open from 7. Just buy some? In fact, every convenience store will have a coffee machine, too.

You'd think......but nope.

OP posts:
SpanThatWorld · 13/04/2025 07:43

Can you wake your friends up and demand that they drive to London to pick you up some decent coffee? Maybe some sourdough to go with it?

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 07:43

waterrat · 13/04/2025 07:41

This is my worst nightmare

Find a petrol station ..do they have something to make coffee in or do you need to find an actual.cafe

I take coffee and an aeropress on holiday with me !

Thats a wonderful level of preparedness 😁There's a waitrose even here, but it's not open until 10.

OP posts:
Buffypaws · 13/04/2025 07:43

Yanbu. I think tea is disgusting but I keep it in the house anyway because I know various people who visit me drink it. If someone is coming to stay ensuring I have their preferred beverage and milk is the minimum I’d do.

SoScarletItWas · 13/04/2025 07:43

I don’t drink herbal tea / decaf but I have some in the cupboard to offer guests. YANBU.

(goes to check that herbal teabags are not two years out of date)

BucketFacer · 13/04/2025 07:42

YANBU - "tea or coffee?" is just part of hosting, even if someone is just coming round for an hour let alone staying overnight. I had a similar situation on a week long holiday last year - only decaffeinated coffee was available 😱 nightmare.

TaggieO · 13/04/2025 07:42

I cannot drink instant coffee so I always bring a few Taylor’s coffee bags with me for emergencies!

DeskJotter · 13/04/2025 07:42

There will be local grocery stores open from 7. Just buy some? In fact, every convenience store will have a coffee machine, too.