To want to give a standing ovation to the lady in Costa who screeched "HOW MUCH'???

[Sparklingbrook]

When buying three hot drinks this afternoon. She's not wrong.

I went in to be intentionally ripped off as DS1 had had his brace tightened and wanted a passion fruit and mango smoothie, and I am a soft touch.

But there's always a queue so I must be missing something?

I know. I am a grump about it really. I just sometimes think people prancing around with their sippy cups look like ponces. And I hate queuing when all I want is a cup of tea.

^^ that was to Cailin

What's wrong with a nice flask?

I'd rather have a mug of tea in a greasy spoon than drink the shite they serve in costa.

The best cup of tea IMO is in a polystyrene cup at the park.

I do like Illy coffee. As someone who doesn't really like coffee, I have noticed that this one is quite smooth

i do agree the cost is blardy high but i do like the odd treat so i do ingulge sometimes

Weatherspoons do a large latte and is only £1.29 but at ten in the morning you do have to put up with pissheads that have been on it since opening at 7.30am and i dont have the kids with me as their in school

so im 50/50 on this really

Starbucks are the worst there Choca mocha is vile

Have never understood people going into coffee shop chains when there are plenty of good pubs/winebars available who sell coffee as well as plonk.

i refused ot buy water at 1.35 a bottle the other day. Its more than bloody petrol

Anyone else worked on a checkout somewhere and silently thought, "I am going to STAB the next person who goes HOW MUCH when I tell them the price?"

You KNOW drinks in cafés are going to be expensive. Same as when you're merrily tossing groceries into your trolley you're probably mentally adding it up. It shouldn't be that much of a surprise when you're quoted the price!

Polystyrene in the park? Nah, our park just up the back road so we take our drinks in proper mugs .

We are lucky here, lots of lovely cafes with great drinks and amazing fresh homemade cakes and I need never venture into one of the chains. And yes as mentioned further down the independent places tend to not have space for pushchairs etc but if I happen to have one I take the baby out and fold if necessary. Far rather a bit of juggling that bloody starbucks with some prepackaged bar of something distantly related to cake.

I am more likely to remark 'Is that all?' as most transactions anywhere involve me thinking 'How much?' nowadays. I wouldn't say it though.

Jamie... My parents serve illy in their internet cafe.... Tis lush

Well people can be busy and stressed and absent-minded Fermez, and frequently full of wishful thinking!

i used to work in a bar at lunchtimes were there were alot of office workers

my boss used to make a huge thing of us selling coffes as he said the mark up was huge compared to alcohol and bar meals

SummerRain

Anyone else know/miss Tchibo? Now that was good value. And I did not feel out of place with my shopping trolley

The problem I find with many independant coffee shops is that they won't do skimmed milk. I'm a latte fan, but not with whole or semi skimmed, it has to be proper skimmed or the creaminess seems to outdo the coffeness. That makes sense in my head btw. I have walked out of coffee shops before because they don't have fresh skimmed milk.

Nope, not being unreasonable at all...

Costa is overpriced, and their cappuccinos so huge and hot that they give you the runs.

That reminds me ... I am Outraged at the price of Freddos!!!!!!

I've worked in an independent coffee shop for almost half my life, I was always amazed at the prices people pay for the shit we sold. None of the staff eat or drink anything in the place, we had our own fridge to store the food and drink we brought in from outside for our breaks.
Costs about 20p to make and the rest is profit for the owner. And people buying one tea for the same price as a BOX of teabags... The mind boggles.

I pay about 85p equivalent for my divine americano in the mornings at my local bar here in Italy. Nothing beats it and I was bereft of decent coffee in the UK when we were over recently. The closest to a half decent coffee surprisingly was Macd

I can't go back to our local Costa - when v heavily pg with DD I ordered a milk-based ice drink thing and when told the price, may have said 'fuck me! do you want my liver and first born son too?!' 'WHAT? I only want one of them, not one for everyone in the shop!'

I was very shrill and indignant until I remembered the poor person behind the till had nothing to do with pricing, and I grovelled pathetically

mentioned this earlier in the thread but got ignored

Reasonably priced independent coffee shop owned by moi, could be convinced to give mner discount.

Just out of curiosity, how much do you all think is a reasonable price for a latte/cappuccino?