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Original poster

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:
RampantIvy · 14/04/2025 07:10

uncomfortablydumb60 · 14/04/2025 00:04

YANBU I don’t drink tea or have sugar in drinks, but I keep both in for whoever would like it.i drink copious amounts of coffee so
i always take a jar, and my( pint!) mug whenever I stay anywhere.
somewhere like a petrol station shop will have something before supermarket opens

Another townie making assumptions about availability of shops.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 14/04/2025 06:45

ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 17:51

I think you're right and I've actually decided that I am unreasonable. I'm bringing my own everywhere from now on

The sensible thing also would be to give up coffee. But id probably end up addicted to jam, or ginseng tablets, or worse, Pepsi Max.

Show quote history

I’d be mortified if my guest had to go out at 8am to buy coffee!! Did they apologise?!

Bigfish51 · 14/04/2025 06:45

I am very particular about my tea and coffee so I always have a stash with me. I also like certain cups too so I tend to have one with me, especially if I’ve packed for a holiday. I also like very fine glass when I drink wine so I pack a couple of wine glasses also ! I am a nightmare 😂

sashh · 14/04/2025 06:08

Thank you for the update OP.

To all of you having a jar at the back of the cupboard, please don't, it isn't coffee. If you want to have something for your guests then some ground coffee kept in the freezer is a better idea. You can get an over cup filter for under £5.

Argos used to sell a cheap drip filter machine for £5, I have bought and then left them in various places I have stayed.

DelphiniumBlue · 14/04/2025 01:48

I’ve stayed with people like that, I now always keep coffee bags, decent tea bags and mint tea bags in the car/ in my luggage. Too many people offer inferior tea, or only Nescafé. I’ve bought the nice stuff to keep at my son’s house. It’s too bad not be offered coffee at all, OP !

tinygingermum · 14/04/2025 00:06

I don’t drink coffee so never have it in my cupboards.

uncomfortablydumb60 · 14/04/2025 00:04

YANBU I don’t drink tea or have sugar in drinks, but I keep both in for whoever would like it.i drink copious amounts of coffee so
i always take a jar, and my( pint!) mug whenever I stay anywhere.
somewhere like a petrol station shop will have something before supermarket opens

Pigling · 13/04/2025 23:49

Have they moved to the country or just gone feral??? My now-not-so-DH only packed decaff coffee for a caravan holiday and I'm considering divorce.

Definitely bring your own next time, if you decide to ever speak to these people again!

In the meantime, stoop to tea.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/04/2025 23:38

TimeForTeaAndToast · 13/04/2025 11:58

Maybe quit coffee? You might find it a relief not to be addicted to caffeine.

This is the sort of thing my DS says to me (25 yo and coffee or tea has never passed his lips)
I give him a Mrs Doyle scowl " maybe I like the misery" (of the addiction)

KeepDancing74 · 13/04/2025 23:36

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.

I haven't drunk tea since a nightmare month of pneumonia followed by chicken pox in 1987. I manage to have teabags in a jar for visitors, though - even though I find the smell absolutely 🤢

ThinWomansBrain · 13/04/2025 23:24

"They're probably gonna have a lot of "down from London" visitors to stay now they've moved."
Maybe the lack of caffeine is a ploy to put off the freeloaders.

Local guest houses and hotels probably serve a great breakfast with coffee.

CrazyCatMam · 13/04/2025 23:16

Awful. Absolutely awful!

Similar thing happened to us when we landed in Spain on a Saturday night & arrived at our villa to… no wine. No wine! No shops near by and the next day EVERYTHING was closed. It was a bloody long day with no wine & no coffee. Shock

From that day on we vowed to always, always, pack a bottle of wine and a decent jar of coffee - to see us through the worst of our cravings until we get our fix. Needs must.

savethatkitty · 13/04/2025 23:12

They are savages. Of course there should be some sort of coffee offering.

Flozle · 13/04/2025 23:05

I only drink a particular variety of tea, so always travel with a supply. Usually take milk too, cos I like it with skimmed. I’m fussy but organised. 🙂

RampantIvy · 13/04/2025 22:19

I have never stayed in a hotel that only provides decaff. My issue is that most don't.

Wr always bring coffee bags as we don't like instant coffee.

FateReset · 13/04/2025 20:16

It's a bit rude not to provide coffee for guests! Like not having any tea bags or milk.

I usually take a few coffee sachets in my handbag when travelling, even to hotels as I like a cup of coffee early. Some only provide de-caff!

ohyesido · 13/04/2025 19:56

Tough break.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/04/2025 18:18

Alconleigh · 13/04/2025 17:38

There are some shocking hosts on this thread.

I don't see the point of taking up space in my cupboards with things that will go to waste. The last couple of jars of coffee I bought ended up in the bin when they were very out of date. Are tea drinkers this fussy (I don't drink that either) - what if someone doesn't like PG Tips, should I have a variety of tea? I only drink regular coke but maybe I should buy diet as well to gather dust and end up down the sink!

Original poster
ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 17:51

BogRollBOGOF · 13/04/2025 17:00

Checks the date on our tea and coffee...
...Tea needs replacing in the summer and coffee in the autumn...

I try to keep it in, but it's annoying that you can't buy sensibly sized packs like 10 tea bags, and have to bin the vast majority of the 80 pack/ jar. We don't tend to have cows milk in so caffeine addicts often have to suck up the oat milk. Tea/ coffee drinkers are often fussy about what they like too.

It's annoying being expected to buy in things we have no intention of using, and often don't get the favour returned with drinkable drinks in other people's houses. Much of the time I have to put up with water and pretend I'm happy with it because they don't keep fruit/ herbal teas, and only have diet/ stealth diet drinks if they do have something cold in. 🙄

I think you're right and I've actually decided that I am unreasonable. I'm bringing my own everywhere from now on

The sensible thing also would be to give up coffee. But id probably end up addicted to jam, or ginseng tablets, or worse, Pepsi Max.

OP posts:
Original poster
ReplacementBusService · 13/04/2025 17:48

pinkstripeycat · 13/04/2025 16:58

I expected easy access to a coffee in London a few weeks ago but was very disappointed.
Stayed at an airb&b in Westminster a few weekends ago. I thought there would be a coffee shop on every corner at 8.20am on a Saturday. Nope! Not one. Had to walk half an hour to find a McDonalds.

This is absolutely dire. London has gone to the dogs mate, I'm sorry 😱

OP posts:
Alconleigh · 13/04/2025 17:38

There are some shocking hosts on this thread.

starfishmummy · 13/04/2025 17:22

I usually carry my own. I drink decaff coffee and one of the premium brands. I don't expect people to have decaff - and if they do it's often a cheap brand and has been open so long it's gone hard and welded itself to the jar.

GameOfJones · 13/04/2025 17:08

Terrible hosting from your "friends"! I would have to reconsider the entire friendship with these non-coffee drinkers. 🤣🤣🤣

In all seriousness though, having some tea and coffee in for visitors is pretty much a basic rule of being a reasonable host. We've had tradesmen in the house this week and if they'd asked for a coffee and I didn't have any I'd have been really embarrassed. It's a poor show. I don't drink herbal tea but keep a box in the house in case visitors want one.

I feel your pain OP. I'd have had to drive out to procure coffee first thing too!

BogRollBOGOF · 13/04/2025 17:00

Checks the date on our tea and coffee...
...Tea needs replacing in the summer and coffee in the autumn...

I try to keep it in, but it's annoying that you can't buy sensibly sized packs like 10 tea bags, and have to bin the vast majority of the 80 pack/ jar. We don't tend to have cows milk in so caffeine addicts often have to suck up the oat milk. Tea/ coffee drinkers are often fussy about what they like too.

It's annoying being expected to buy in things we have no intention of using, and often don't get the favour returned with drinkable drinks in other people's houses. Much of the time I have to put up with water and pretend I'm happy with it because they don't keep fruit/ herbal teas, and only have diet/ stealth diet drinks if they do have something cold in. 🙄

pinkstripeycat · 13/04/2025 16:58

I expected easy access to a coffee in London a few weeks ago but was very disappointed.
Stayed at an airb&b in Westminster a few weekends ago. I thought there would be a coffee shop on every corner at 8.20am on a Saturday. Nope! Not one. Had to walk half an hour to find a McDonalds.