Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero - grubby?

[JoanThursday1972]

Does anyone else think this? I just don't feel clean in these places. Stained seats and a scruffy feeling.

Definitely. Most places are back to normal and pretty filthy again, pubs too. In 2020/21 it felt like they were actually doing some cleaning when they had to jump to attention with Covid.

Our nearest costa just got completely renovated so it's lovely. The coffee just isn't great but the staff in there are fabulous so great to go in with DC. If I'm city centre I'll go to a nice independent but in the shopping centre near me it's all big chains so no choice

Yes agreed - they always feel grimy.

Costa is a franchise, not sure about Cafe Nero. Some are great, others not so great. The one local to me is very clean and non-sticky.

Our local Nero opened quite recently and is still new looking with clean toilets, and our Costa seems to be pretty sparkling compared to other posters, though not as good as Nero. We do have a high density of cafes though, so perhaps the competition spurs them upwards?

Having said that, there's a (once) lovely independent that I used to use a lot, but of all the places it has the lowest scores on the door score, and is often a bit sticky and dusty, so sadly I've stopped going there. They refurbished not long ago but it's gone downhill quickly.

I wonder if I live in the same town as you. Costa here is old and grimy and often closed (my dd like going in after school on a Friday but there is a note on the door more often than not.) There is a local cafe opposite it.

There is a Costa at the local railway station and the staff move around like they are swimming through treacle. You need to allow a good 15 minutes before your train departure time.

Much prefer my village station with the speedy and friendly independent coffee booth man.

I can't bear any of them . Usually staffed by yoofs absentmindedly wiping the milk frother spout with a manky dish cloth.
Most staff don't bother cleaning the inside of the coffee machine. I temped at a company who sold and serviced the type of machine you see in Costa etc. and insides of those things are often rank.
If I'm out in our local high street then I pop into our local pub (free house rather than brewery chain). They will make a cuppa for free if you're the designated driver.

It's irrelevant whether they are gay or not.

Aren't they franchises? Ours is a large one, well stocked and spotless.
We also have 2 Starbucks, oddly one is gorgeous and the other is grim.
As for why don't people use independent local businesses. I do sometimes, but often their opening hours are short (9 or 10am until 3 or 4pm), plus I like to have all the nutritional info at hand and that's not easily obtainable from local coffee shops. I'm also a bit of a creature of habit sometimes and know that I can go into Costa/Starbucks and my favourite cake will be there and my drink will taste the same each time.

I've noticed this too. The two Nero's in my nearest town are really dark. I think they've gone for a cosy feel but it just feels a bit depressing and they're definitely grubby. The Costa's are also always messy, even the newer ones. On the other hand, there are three Starbucks and all are immaculate.

I live in Blackheath but I've never been to Gail's, sounds like I'm not missing anything, didn't it used to be blockbusters.

We have lots in our city, but we don't bother anymore, they are absolutely grim!

Also cakes overpriced and coffee luke warm.

I think these coffee chains are in the same staffing crisis as the rest of the hospitality industry.

They were filming an advert (for Costa, I assume) in our local one recently, so it probably got a good clean for that. And also had all the actual staff and customers temporarily replaced by more telegenic versions.

They've always been a bit manky.

Caffè Nero in town has seats covered with torn and stained material. If the basic housekeeping can’t be maintained, it’s not somewhere I want to spend time or money.

Yeah I’d avoid both, overpriced and not nice coffee

I drink coffee daily at home, but for some reason Costa coffee always makes me feel sick.

My local Costa is always grubby aswell. Also during the summer there was flys and wasps on the food products and staff didn't seem to care at all.

I agree about Costa. I think it's mainly because it is a franchise business, so it is not as standardised. If you go to a poor franchise shop it's pretty grim.

Maybe they're picking up on your homophobia?

The staff in these places are paid very poorly and have shit working conditions. Often there will be two or three members of staff (on minimum wage/zero hour contracts) responsible for everything, however busy it gets - making coffee, cleaning tables, serving customers, cleaning toilets etc.

Please don't blame the staff, blame the companies they work for.

I agree, but I still love the hot chocolate Milano in Caffe nero:-)) But I haven't been there for a while.

DD told me 😁