Not to understand the appeal of Starbucks, Costa, etc.?

[Nataleejah]

What is the thing with them?
Drinks are nothing special, food is not the freshest, yet you pay for a coffee and a sandwich just as much as for a decent restaurant meal.
Or it its an adult version of a "happy meal" ?

I can't understand why anyone would care if I drink pumpkin spiced latte instead of an Americano

I love coffee, I probably would have had 3 before having the latte out in town

Why so sniffy?

I'm just drinking a cup of tea in bed!

That's to cdtaylornats

I'd like to use a reususable for my Waitrose cuppa, but don't know what to o with it when I've drunk the tea- I don't want the drips in my handbag!

I do like the fact that the chains can be relied on to have some kind of gluten free cake, even if it is usually the exact same brownie! I do have one independent that does a variety, but in an unknown place sometimes there isn't anything. (And pret are crap for gf cake, though okay for salads).

Deeedeee Ha ha. It's me I've gone mad!!! I thought You** had posted on the wrong thread. Omg, so sorry. I think I need a coffee. Might pop to my local Costa for a nice Gingerbread Latte!!!!! My apologies Deeedeee

Where are all these independents? Are there any in Kings Cross, if so I will try it?
There definitely aren't any at my local station where there are two costas, one for each platform.

llBuster, do you think I'm being odd?

Why Is it an odd question?

Do you use reusable cups?

If not why not?

The coffee isn't great but there aren't any others so no choice.

I long for the day we move somewhere near any indy.

I can't drink coffee out a papercup...i want to sit down and have it from a nice cup
The mugs in Starbucks are so thick.

Deeedeee it's me being a twat, read my post a few before yours. I've gone mad. Sorry!!!!!

For me it's not just about the coffee, it's the atmosphere. Our Costa is very friendly, I've made a whole load of 'Costa' friends I never see elsewhere. It's a place to relax and watch the world go by for a bit. Excellent atmosphere draws me back.

I don't like Starbucks much. The ones near me always have debris piled up on the tables. I went to one in a different city a couple of years ago that had the same problem, plus the sanpro bin in the toilet was overflowing. Gross.

Costa is nicer. However, I try to support indie cafes.

I don't use a reusable cup because I will then have to lug it round for the rest of the day in my bag ,which is usually quite full. When I can I re use the cup I'm given, so it will have the normal coffee in it followed by 3 or 4 instants, before being thrown out.

I am 60 and remember coffee in town centres before the big chains - instant, weak and watery as the only option so I will always be grateful that the big coffee chains changed that. I don't use often but do at motorway services. I don''t like the huge sizes though so Costa cortado is perfect for me

I think some people get confused about 'travel' and think it just means holiday.

Cities and towns the world over predominantly cater for their locals. Never once have I heard anyone visiting Milton Keynes having travelled from abroad loudly declare 'take me to your local cuisine'.

I'm also quietly confident that being patronised by independed coffee hipsters isn't on the average holiday bucket list either.

It's a drink and a light bite, dh drives to the nearest BP garage in whatever area he finds wants a coffee as he likes Wild Bean.

Yanbu. Party because I drink tea and they all make the most dire tea I have ever had. I go once in a blue moon and it's a waste of money.

Thanks polar bear!

What else do you carry in your bag? Is there anything you could swap to make room for a cup on days you are going to want a coffee?

I use a metal Starbucks tumbler if I'm going to the one around the corner from my house.

I would love to know where you can get a "decent" restaurant meal including a drink for under £6 which is what my latte and cheese/mushroom croissant costs! Wetherspoons doesn't count.

The first Starbucks in the UK opened in 1998 so I don't think you can call that a trend - that's 18 years of popularity.

Frankly, it's somewhere nice to sit out of the rain and no different to having a pint in a pub on a Sunday lunchtime. People don't tend to get sniffy about the fact that it's cheaper to get a can of Tetleys out of the fridge and sit on the sofa. I also like that I can pay with the app whether I'm in LA or Luxembourg. Our independents are nice but charge a fiver for a filled croissant and almost 4 quid for a coffee.

For me, I'm paying for a place to sit, with wifi, where I can drink a coffee while catching up on some work. Not really the same as a restaurant meal. Or I'm getting a coffee on my way into work (there's a Costa in the building) and want something that isn't instant for a change.

I do have a reusable cup, but have had some very faces when asking for takeaway coffee in it, so that culture change is taking a while to - wait for it, wait for it - filter through. (Ba-dum-bum, tsch)

I can't understand why anyone would care if I drink pumpkin spiced latte instead of an Americano

I can't understand it either. I drink Americanos. It's never occurred to me to judge someone else's drink of choice or wether it's a 'real coffee' or not.

It's so odd. When did judging someone's hot beverage become a thing?

Of the three or so independent coffee shop in my town only one serves a palatable (Imo) coffee. It is also very reasonably priced and quite small so getting a table can be tricky.

Chains may not appeal to you, OP, but they are generally accessible (especially with a Pushchair/ Wheelchair) they have baby changing facilities and although they are generic you know what you are getting.

Independent over chain every time.

Purse, phone, tissues, umbrella. It's the shape more than anything, because they're wiDe at the top I can't zip my bag up with one in there.
I also have a laptop bag which is narrow and crammed with my stuff.

Ok Bruce! Fair enough!

Anyone else use a reusable cup?

Or if not, why not?

Yeah, most of the time I'm travelling it's for work. I don't want to saunter around comparing niche, out-of-the-way independents - I want some caffeine to wake me up because I've been travelling since 5am!

For me it's about predictability & convenience.

When you are having to kill time on a Sunday afternoon in obscure places waiting for your children to finish an activity you know that Costa is going to be the one place still open at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon or 6pm on a Tuesday night after V school.

Most of the independents I've come across start shutting up shop at 4pm.

Our favourite place at the moment is an independent but it's only ok for Saturday mornings. Dd wanted to go last Sunday before the cinema & they don't open on Sunday's