What’s the worst coffee shop do you think?

[Soubriquet]

I needed to kill some time before my bus and the nearest shop was Starbucks.

I don’t drink coffee but I thought a cup of tea would be fine. Nope. It was horrendous. It was honestly the worst tea I’ve ever had in my life. I couldn’t drink it and I had to pay the pleasure of £5 for it!!

Next time, I would rather walk 10 mins to a greggs

I don’t drink any of the fancy coffee or even late or cappuccino so in my opinion for a standard black coffee with a splash of milk with no sugar (which means you can taste the actual coffee and can’t avoid it if it is bad) it Starbucks, Costa then Nero.

chains I think this is the actual coffee but also quite often the actual cleanliness and comfort of seats, layout etc
Starbucks is the worst followed by costa then Nero.

I know some people think Nero is too strong but that’s how I like it so if I had a choice of the three that’s where I’d go.

I mean obviously if there was an independent that did good coffee that would be my actual preference but I’m ok with a Nero

Eveeryone is different - I hate Starbucks coffee - costa is OK if desperate, Caffe Nero better than the other two! For tea I like Burger King although I'm sure they only use the same bags as everyone else! Apparently McDonalds coffee is nice but I've never tried it.

I've given up with Starbucks /Costa. A McDonald's Flat White is usually a decent coffee I've found. Tea - I don't trust anyone with 😅

The last time I went to Costa for a herbal tea, they presented me with a cup of hot water with the teabag on the side 🤨 I asked for it to be made again.

Greggs coffee is awful , got one at Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station and even though I really wanted coffee I couldn’t take more than a sip.

Theres a new coffee shop near us very ££-and completely forgettable. Cannot remember the name even (helpful)

Costa because the coffee is unpleasant, it’s ubiquitous and a bit down at heel.

Nero because their cafes are often dirty and coffee is a bit bitter.

Starbucks because their standard coffee is unpleasant and you have to wait then wait again then do your own milk and sugar with no spoons at a mucky station.

Pret a Manger. Coffee is weak and I suspect they usually give me skimmed milk which makes it seem even weaker. Plus eye watering prices.

Best coffee is Starbucks blonde roast which costs a little more.

Tim Hortons, then Starbucks

Costa's team is the worse. They do t put the bag in when filing the cup or pot. So it's really weak.

Isn’t it all subjective really? And probably area and shop dependent. There are always these types of posts (snobbery) about how people wouldn’t lower themselves to enter such a chain establishment!

We regularly go to a Costa not too far from us and it’s always really nice, although we haven’t got any nice independents near us to try really. We also have a bean to cup machine at home and like trying different beans in it. But with the Costa we know what we’re getting.

A few years ago, when I was condemned to getting the bus home from work every day (interminable delay between end of work and bus home), I decided to liven up the time one winter by 'testing' every establishment in the city centre to see which had the best hot chocolate (you can imagine what a thrilling life of passion and intrigue I must lead 🙄). There's a Pret, Starbucks, Costa, Nero, McD's, Greggs and numerous independents.

A couple of the independents were the clear winners, but I have to say that of the bigger chains, it was Greggs that impressed me most. Reasonably priced and a nice drink. I'm not just saying that because I was mean about them in a post yesterday (on the thread about a bizarre and useless "life hack", when I said 'Easily boost your self-esteem by looking at the people queueing in Greggs' - clearly I am one of those to be found sometimes queuing in Greggs; I'm a devil for their potato wedges), it was genuinely good.

Not in the same city, but reasonably local, we've also got a Coffee#1 which is consistently good (and lovely staff too).

Agree with @Easipeelerie about Nero - our one is always filthy within.

I've never asked any of them for tea though.

Costa. The beans always taste burned and even their flat white is too milky. I always think it's coffee for people who don't like the taste of coffee.

Chain coffee is gruesome, like it is aimed at the milk by catapult and sometimes it colours the milk, occasionally you can taste it! Often the staff chuck it at you, with a snarl!

I agree that Starbucks coffee is disgusting. I don't understand why they're successful.

I loathe Starbucks. Well it is American and god knows what they do to coffee. I guess all the added flavourings are to disguise the taste of the coffee!!!

Much prefer Cafe Nero. I think it is the closest to Italian coffee.

I think the water comes from an urn and is kept hot rather than freshly boiled and that makes it taste wrong.