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 have a choice (in certain area of SE London) of several chains or independent which now have 4 shops I think...

The independent was great until one day tea shot up from £1 to £1.20 and they stopped selling newspapers at their station branch....

I then wondered why I was paying that much every day for tea and brought my own!

We have a few nice independents but some are dire (lunch) and one great cafe that did brilliant brunches had to move as it shared with a furniture etc shop... That was a pity as it did great coffee and tea too!

Where I work I sometimes buy independent tea/coffee but on way home sometimes also a costa or caffe Nero.

I agree about Starbucks tea tasting like someone has put antibacterial soap in it, used to buy and will buy if desperate but otherwise buy from Costa etc...

I did have an experience the other morning in Thornton Heath as at the station there as had medical appointment there, there was NOT ONE cafe in the area (no Starbucks etc) didn't know of any independents and ended up buying an overpriced tea from a shop inside the station (it was ok to be fair) and an overpriced pain au raisin from the cafe downstairs. Pretty unimpressed with the area to be honest, if I'd had more time I'd have gone to Norwood Junction station and Yeha Noha (amazing arty cakes!) or to Selhurst and popped into Sainsbos (which has a cafe inside there too).

I like them - the coffee's fine by me, the cakes etc are lovely and you can't beat a cheese & marmite panini for a hangover. The stores are clean and comfy, the staff are pleasant and you know what you're going to get although I do think they're fairly pricey.

I do try to support independents too but often it's just not practical eg the ones in our local town close at 2ish on a Saturday and aren't open at all on a Sunday. Costa is open something like 9-9. I'd rather, in that instance, support the independent but I can't if it's not open when I'm there!

I do admit to being a bit baffled by the recent trend for walking around with coffee though - I prefer to sit down and take my time over mine unless I'm travelling which again brings me back to the big chains - that's all there is at our local station.

Balletgirl i agree with you re shutting early with independents there is one where I work (Hammersmith Brook Green) that's still open when I leave work at 5.30 but have never popped in for tea or coffee!

Polar bear, you can get collapsible cups. This is one sort stojo.co

But there's lots of other ones.

Or change your bag?

Traveling for work with allergies it's easiest to eat something safe rather than having to go through the faff of explaining especially in other countries. Also with a picky child I know that a Costa cheese and ham toastie would be fast and acceptable.

They definitely have their place. If I was meeting up with a friend and no children in tow I'd probably make the effort to find a nice independent, but with dd, I'd be more likely to plump for a Costa or similar. You know exactly what you're getting and they tend to be clean and used accommodating small children and associated paraphernalia. I get the impression they're quite good employers too who can afford to be picky as you can generally rely on the staff to be polite, cheerful and efficient, which isn't always the case elsewhere.

Because you obviously really really want an answer, deedeedee!!

I have a contigo reusable, for homemade coffee, but it is too tall to fit under a lot of the cafe machines. So I have a reusable coffee cup from Waitrose, which I use to get my freebie Waitrose coffee on the way to work. It is a faff when it is finished, because it is wet and dirty, so I shove a napkin (taken when I get coffee) in it, and try to keep it upright in my bag until I get to work. But if we are off out for the day I wouldn't carry it around with me because my back is crammed with stuff anyway.

I'm surprised that not many people are answering my questions

Decent restaurant meal £60 a head...what on earth are you buying in coffee shops to total that?!

Will look at collapsible ones thanks I did wonder if you could get them but decided it was a stupid idea :)
Not changing the bag I like , mainly because of the shape, to accommodate a bulky cup!

Why do people love independents. The ones round my way have terrible coffee.

I had half hour to kill in town yesterday . Went to the newish independent for coffee and cake. Was told it could be 10 mins wait as they were busy, there's only 6 tables and there was no queue. After 25 mins I gave up, left and went to Costa down the road where I was served a decent cup of coffee in 5 mins.

I will continue to support the independent cafe but it needs to drastically improve service or it won't last.

Deedeedee - what do you do about the coffee dregs? I can't justify buying another bloody reusable cup!

I used to love a a Costa but I don't bother now, not sure what changed. I think this sucking on a takeaway cup mentality is a self soothing action like a baby's dummy. Life is hard for most people and I think it's somehow calming.

I used to feel a bit the same but I have unfortunately become addicted to Costa coffee coolers. They're gorgeous.

I'm in a Costa once or twice a week, when I meet my friend. There are a couple of independent local cafes, one does fantastic scones and cupcakes, but their drinks aren't great. The other is just too small to get a pram in. She looks after her baby GD, and Costa also suits my GD if I have her with me, she loves a babychino! Half term next week, it'll be Costa.

As we have no childcare today, we're meeting for brunch at a garden centre. The food and drinks there are lovely.

Hazey I'd wipe it with a napkin

Deedeedee - most people on the thread imply they sit down to drink which in Costa and Starbucks means a proper mug rather than a paper takeaway one.

I like costa/Starbucks because they have a good selection of cold or non milk based drinks, where as independent coffee shops tend not to

Yes, I shove a napkin in, but still get leakage, unless I try and keep the cup upright. It isn't a big deal though! Just trying to keep deeedeeee happy by showing an interest!! (although, apologies to deeeeeedeeee for getting her name wrong every time!)

The ones I go to give you the same disposable cup whether you sit in or leave

I don't really get the wandering about holding a takeaway coffee thing.

I see a lot of the school run mums doing this, particularly the SAHMs. It seems like it's a bit of a 'look how busy I am, I don't even have time to sit down for coffee'.

Sorry, that's really judgey I know but.....meh.

The only occasions where I would but tea in a takeaway mug are quite specific.

On my way to watch a sports match (Costa cup doubles as a hand warmer). On my way to collect dd from dance (I drink it in the waiting room then throw it away)
On a train.

One none of those occasions would I want to be carrying a large often heavy mug around for the rest of the day

Deedee it may be that people are embarassed about not using a reusable cup. Not me though. I never take my own cup, and drink quite a lot of take away coffee.

I have a reusable cup made of bamboo that I bought at Oxfam which I use to get my coffee on the way to work. It's easy to wash and doesn't make the coffee taste of cardboard or plastic so I'm pretty happy with it.