Starbucks or Costa?

[balloontrip]

Which do you prefer?

I like Costa's coffee but Starbucks for food!!

I much prefer Starbucks coffee, but our nearest coffee shop is costa so I do end up having that more. I always wish there was a cool independent coffee shop nearby, but sadly we only have Costa.

I am costa however that is because the nearest stautbucks to me is an hours drive. however I haven't forgiven them for changing their marshmallows for their hot chocolate to vegan ones. they are rank. they don't melt in the hot chocolate and have a cheap bubble gum taste of them. why why why did you do it ?

Neither. I always use independents rather than multi-national tax dodgers.

The coffee is shit in both anyway - saw a report about how bitter(cheap) their drinks are and why they have to add loads of milk and flavours to make them drinkable.

Costa coffee is vile. I went with a friend yesterday and my latte was lukewarm, it tasted like a glass of tepid milk with a few grains of coffee in it. I was so disappointed! As others have said, I would rather suppprt my local independent coffee shops any day as their coffee is amazing as opposed to the bland beige overpriced disappointment that Costa calls a coffee.

Neither, their coffee is always burnt or tastes like murky water.
Pret for me.

Flat whites from Starbucks are better than Costa’s flat whites. Costa put them in too big a cup so it’s too milky. A cortado from Costa is ok, but over too fast!
I prefer Starbucks paninis but Costa cakes. Starbucks used to do a cheese and mushroom croissant, I didn’t go for years as I was so annoyed they’d stopped it. But I think I’m over it now 😂

Literally looking for this comment. Mumsnet you don't disappoint.

Nero!

I prefer local coffee houses, but Costa coffee is DIRE and I'd drink Starbucks all day long before turning to Costa. It's so bad I'd actually rather not have a coffee than have a Costa one - grim.

Oh agree, Caffe Nero better than both.

Nero
Costa
Starbucks

in that order, based on the coffee.

Nero. I only drink hot choc and it is dreadful at Costa, plus their cakes are shit, horrible artificial tasting icing. Don't really have a Starbucks nearby but when I've had them in the past I found them ok.

Cafe Nero has the best coffee.

If it's a choice between Costa and Starfucks, definitely Costa.

I don't like to support businesses that pay their taxes in Luxembourg and the like instead of where they actually make their profits.

Neither. Overpriced and lacks quality.
Go to an independent

Neither are particularity local to home (country bumpkin) or work (building site), but I prefer Costa, because when I used to meet mums and babies from my antenatal group, the barriers would always carry my tray if my hands were full of baby/buggy/bag etc. That baby is 14 now, but my loyalty is strong!

I think the chains do well because they're consistently average. I've had great coffee from independents but also just about undrinkable coffee and if you're somewhere new you don't necessarily know which it's going to be.

I can happily have a Greggs or McDs latte but for a treat I go to the independent coffee shops. Costa is ok, Starbucks tastes very strong. Recently I got ignored at a Starbucks, they saw me but both carried on working and dealing with drive thru. I stood there for ages then left. They didn't have a line of customers either, there was no, will be with you in a second. Needless to say I won't be going back. I know some Starbucks are very good and it doesn't reflect all of them.

Costa because Starbucks tea is like dishwater.

Costa also give me two teabags.

I have both in my town and honestly they’re both lovely. The Costa is huge so I can always find a seat & the staff are very friendly. The staff in Starbucks are also friendly but in general they’re younger than the Costa staff so sometimes ignore you in favour of carrying on their conversation. The current girl with the cat tattoo in there makes a banging caramel latte though so they just edge it. My favourite is actually Tim Hortons although that’s less near to me. I love their lattes and iced capps although the staff are nice they often seem a bit confused. I haven’t yet tried the popular independent place as they’re always full.

I have given way too much thought to this.

I wasn't really asking for advice on where to go?

It was a lighthearted question specifically about 2 places. The assumption that asking about these coffee shops means I don't visits independents is rather basic.

I do realise though that nobody posts 'independents' on these type of thread for any reason other then to sound superior. Nice effort but I visit Indy's far more than Starbucks or Costa.

I think that's it tbh, there is a brand standard which I think they just meet so you know what to expect. Trying a new place can go any way.

Costa coffee is undrinkable, lukewarm and slimy, so it would have to be Starbucks. But an independent is always preferable to either.

Starbucks absolutely. Love their coffees, especially their seasonal ones like pumpkin spice latte and egg nog latte ☺️

Costa, I don't drink coffee but I do like their iced drinks, especially on a warm day. The mint choc chip one probably has about 1000 calories so its an occasional treat. The last time I went to Starbucks, only because someone had given me a gift voucher, the same style of drink was 75% unblended ice cubes and very little actual drink. Still gutted that Costa discontinued their bonfire spice hot chocolate though.

I prefer a Starbucks coffee but I use Costa more as their rewards programme is decent and their coffee shops are cleaner and are more comfortable ( where I live anyway!)