Cafes should have 2 lines...

Honestly I don't get why suggest is in quotes but whatever, maybe it's time to start suggesting places so you're not sad about your drink.

Coffee doesn't take ages to make. It's all relative. I used to work as a barista in my uni days and really it doesn't take longer to make an "extravagant" drink vs. regular latte. And yes, it is a coffee shop. They serve tea to be inclusive (for those who get dragged in by mates) but it's not theor speciality. To call people's drinks wankerish is just childish.

Yes they absolutely should. If I’m in an airport I want a cup of tea, not Frappuccino-wank that takes 15 minutes. Or worse a fruit smoothie thing that is hugely noisy then they have to wash the jug out.

I only put in the Starbucks part because you mentioned them.

I don't understand why you think a cafe is there to sell coffee. They sell other things as well.

I don't "suggest" places to my mates. We just pop in somewhere close if we're out. If I arrange to meet someone at a cafe, it would be an indy, not a chain.

The point stands - coffee takes an age to make, tea doesn't. But very few easily available outlets do decent tea anyway.

If you are unhappy about the quality at Starbucks (their coffee isn't good either, so maybe suggest a different place for your mates) that's a different issue. OP asked if she should get s priority queue pass (or express queue for tea drinkers) at a cafe. I voted no, because it is there to sell coffee, and most people will want something they can't make at home. The time required to make a caramel latte vs regular latte is also about 10 seconds (just add syrup). It's a bit like booking a table by a kids area in a pub and then complaining about the noise. People will order extravagant drinks at a cafe, shocker. Just meditate, chat to your mates or answer that email while you wait.

Well, I'm here to tell you that they don't exist. Maybe in Chinatown.

So, there's no point you telling people to go to them.

Starbucks may be aimed at coffee drinkers (most people I know drink coffee, and hate Starbucks) but they also sell tea. So why do it so badly? Also, it's not impossible that two or more people may pop out together and, heaven forfend, want different drinks <swoon>.

Attached is a photo of some, alleged, "tea" I was sold at a Starbucks. Needless to say I complained and won't be going back. But I did pay actual money for it, so why is it so bad?

There are no tearooms.

Whereas there are "coffee shops" on every corner. Coffee shops that sell tea. Very very bad tea.

Or cafes, that also sells both. In these, you can sometimes get decent builders tea. But still no decent green/oolong/silver needle made at the right temperature.

I dunno know, I don't drink tea, Google it yourself. This is an island of tea drinkers, I'm sure they exist

Places like Starbucks which do frappucinos etc are definitely marketed and aimed at the coffee drinkers.

What "TEA house"? Show me a map of them?

Also, most places are just cafes, not TEA shops or coffee shops.

I'm half french half English and that is how I serve Guiness

I voted unreasonable because you have used the word "lines" instead of the world renowned jolly good old British "queue." Where would we be without a queue to complain and "tut" in. Also to monitor any would-be queue jumpers. 😆

Not needed if you have competent bar staff. The problem is staff who refuse to serve more than one person at a time. Guinness doesn't delay things particularly in Irish bars because the staff serve multiple customers at the same time.

Yes then a completely separate line for Guinness drinkers

That would be great if the staff in tea shops actually had the knowledge about how to prepare different types of tea. Unfortunately, they usually don't.

But surely you can go to a TEA shop or a tea house that does that for you? Problem is that tea drinkers go to coffee shops expecting a variety of teas and the knowledge to go with it. It's like going to a brewery bar asking for a wine list. They'll probably have wine, but that's not what they are there for.

Edited typos

Really? That’s terrible. Thank goodness for Northern bus stop manners.

this is spot on

I agree. Touchscreens (and online apps) are a game changer in cafes and restaurants. I can't wait for more places to install them.

Sadly now in London, no such thing exists. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got to the bus stop first or not, the person who arrived last generally pushes on first.!!! Ho hum!

I recently I happened to be in Tesco at a much earlier time than usual and realised I was in the twice-weekly quiet hour that they hold for people who suffer from sensory overload. 9 to 10 am on something like Wednesdays and Fridays - hopefully they still do this as it was genuinely quiet and just brilliant.

But at least you'd be out of the cold/rain while waiting for the faffers.

Even the tea shops seem to have the steam engine mocha/ chock/ espresso/ flat white machines as some people just can’t bring themselves to drink tea, maybe they should keep out of tea shops and does anyone ever think about the coffee drinkers who just want a straightforward cup of coffee.

Your OP is brilliant! Have you thought about writing?

People who come out of petrol stations, get to their car then stand at their door putting their receipt and card back in their wallet, then get in the car, put wallet in bag on seat, put seatbelt on, turn car on, adjust their rear view mirror, change the radio station, adjust the AC, check blind spots for 2 minutes. Jesus just get in your car and go!!

Also people who walk out of shops that open on to a pavement and then stop dead. Don’t look either way, don’t do what they need to before stepping out just step right into your path totally oblivious to the world around them.

How about one line for people who want to complain about the price of the very non-essential cups of coffee they are voluntarily choosing to buy and one for the rest of us who accept that the price of a cup of coffee/tea/meal is made up of more than just the cost of the ingredients

This used to piss me off in M&S cafes but now they have the order on the touch screen things and your order is bought to your table, it’s much better. The queues used to take ages because of people getting coffees.