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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate Costa?

135 replies

StrawberryMumWave · 31/12/2025 16:30

DH loves Costa but I can’t stand it. It’s grubby, the cakes are always stale, it’s overpriced, the drinks are never really that good and it’s just not very good all round really. AIBU?

OP posts:
Winterburn · 31/12/2025 17:34

I hate coffee, but I did used to like their “fruit cooler” drinks and their “Belgian hot chocolate” which had real melted chocolate in it.

Now, they don’t sell a single cold drink without it being pumped full of cheap, nasty sweeteners, and their hot chocolate is total dogshit. Not been to one in years.

YANBU.

Aworldofmyown · 31/12/2025 17:32

I used to like Costa, there's alot of cost cutting going on. Like the cream is no longer cream but 'dairy whip' it's disgusting.

Aluna · 31/12/2025 17:30

Horrid, cafe Nero is better coffee and Pret is better food.

SpaceRaccoon · 31/12/2025 17:30

I'm a coffee snob so only go to specific independent places. The only Costa I have is a hot chocolate on the ferry once a year.

Mikart · 31/12/2025 17:29

It stinks of burnt toasted food

SnowDaysAndBadLays · 31/12/2025 17:28

All the chain coffee shops are crap.

purpleme12 · 31/12/2025 17:28

Love the bacon sandwich there

Youdontseehow · 31/12/2025 17:28

I prefer their coffee to Starbucks and Nero and I LOVE their ham and cheese toasties!

The ones I tend to frequent are pretty clean. There is a nice independent too but they are extortionate- like £25 for a coffee and a toastie.

Youdontseehow · 31/12/2025 17:28

I prefer their coffee to Starbucks and Nero and I LOVE their ham and cheese toasties!

The ones I tend to frequent are pretty clean. There is a nice independent too but they are extortionate- like £25 for a coffee and a toastie.

Jinglejells · 31/12/2025 17:27

Yanbu. Always milky coffee that tastes of nothing, stale cakes.

We have Gail’s here, much better.

berlinbaby2025 · 31/12/2025 17:26

They've been struggling for a while and no wonder when you consider their over expansion of branches and crazy prices. Caffè Nero is the better chain.

Hockorydickerydock · 31/12/2025 17:25

So much prefer star bucks and yes I know they don’t pay tax and I hate that as well!

muddyford · 31/12/2025 17:24

The two Costas I use are clean, friendly, and the cakes are fresh. I usually have cold milk and sometimes I am not charged for it.

Sutant0 · 31/12/2025 17:24

The coffee is vile, with an over sweet artificial tang and every type of coffee tasting the same. Stale artificial cakes, dirty tables. The single piece of sliced mushroom and teaspoon of artificial egg I had in an egg and mushroom breakfast bap sums up the food.

I really hope they start closing outlets so we can have access to better choice- preferably independent.

cheeseomelette · 31/12/2025 17:22

Everything is so sickly sweet and expensive in there and it usually smells of burnt cheese toastie

i remember getting an Americano for under £2 and that mulled apple they used to do. I don’t need an 800 calorie coffee

Disturbia81 · 31/12/2025 17:22

Yes it’s always dirty and cheap furniture. Much prefer caffe nero

Maddy70 · 31/12/2025 17:21

It's dirty and overpriced

MikeRafone · 31/12/2025 17:21

I went to a costa in the summer with dd and when I asked for a decafe coffee they explained they couldn't do that particular coffee decafe as it was instant coffee and they didn't have any decafe costa instant - I had hot choc

but why would I want instant coffee and pay £4 for it

other told me on here that it wasn't decafe, but that was what the serving woman told me and showed me the tub of instant coffee

UniquePinkSwan · 31/12/2025 17:21

Much prefer it to stuck up Independent coffee shops. Charging a fortune for coffee that’s no better than what you get elsewhere

Notmymarmosets · 31/12/2025 17:21

Mushroo · 31/12/2025 17:16

It’s the Wetherspoons of coffee chains. I don’t like the cups they use, the size of the coffees is ridiculous (no one needs basically the litre of milk that is a ‘large’) and the food is awful.

All overly processed, not fresh and sugar laden.

I hate it so much - they’re never clean either.

I only go when there is no other option and always regret it.

I actually prefer wetherspoons for coffee! And our wetherspoons, mcds and even Greggs are much much cleaner.

TamarindCottage · 31/12/2025 17:19

StrawberryMumWave · 31/12/2025 16:30

DH loves Costa but I can’t stand it. It’s grubby, the cakes are always stale, it’s overpriced, the drinks are never really that good and it’s just not very good all round really. AIBU?

I’d rather go to Greggs

BarbaraKirksKaftan · 31/12/2025 17:18

I used to love Costa 25 years ago but I haven’t been in years after a couple of disappointing visits. I have been enjoying Cafe Nero recently.
I am also not a fan of Black Sheep.

moggerhanger · 31/12/2025 17:16

I agree that they're grubby, with dirty and scuffed floors and walls, tables not cleared (and when they are they're left sticky). I prefer Nero.

Mushroo · 31/12/2025 17:16

It’s the Wetherspoons of coffee chains. I don’t like the cups they use, the size of the coffees is ridiculous (no one needs basically the litre of milk that is a ‘large’) and the food is awful.

All overly processed, not fresh and sugar laden.

I hate it so much - they’re never clean either.

I only go when there is no other option and always regret it.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 31/12/2025 17:14

The coffee is atrocious. But I had a sandwich at one recently and it was okay.