To think coffee from the chain coffee shops is poor quality?

[abacucat]

I don't really get the love of coffee from chain coffee shops. Fine if you like sugared drinks and go for all those flavourings. But in terms of actual coffee, the coffee from chain coffee shops isn't that great quality.

Pret is best followed by Costa then Starbucks last. Some independents serve much nicer coffee but some also serve disgusting burnt coffee or very small but expensive ones. At least you know what you're getting with the chains and can avoid Starbucks

Starbucks is far better than Costa.

Angie169 I’m a flat white girl usually.

YANBU. Coffee republic used to be good though. Even then they are ok quality.

@greendale17 they’re all better than costa

I always use an independent in my home town (we have a lot and some are excellent).

@mydogisthebest most people I know who like Starbucks go for seasonal drink rather than coffee coffee

I think all the chain coffee shops are mediocre at best. Some of the independents arent that impressive either, but some of them are incredible. If you like coffee, then you just have to know where to go locally.

Saying that, I do think starbucks and costa ground coffee to make at home isnt bad at all.

Greggs coffee is not too bad at all - had some at a motorway services once.

Starbucks is awful, though oddly their bagged French roast coffee beans are wonderful and what I make at home - don't know what they must do in their shops to get it to taste so horrible.

See, I like Starbuck's coffee most of all, but then I have lattes with syrup in so it's probably not the coffee quality per se but the drink overall that I like.

I like Cafe Nero.

For some reason when I have coffees from Costa I bloat up and feel sick. No idea why.

I’m not a fan of Starbucks but regularly grab a Costa coffee or McDonald’s coffee.

Best coffee I’ve had was at a friends house with stuff they’d brought back from Hawaii and I get a badger a work colleague of dp’s to bring over a bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee for our machine when he’s over from America. That stuff is delicious.

From an outside perspective, as someone who's never drunk/liked coffee, I have to say the mania for 'good coffee' has never been more nuts. People used to be perfectly happy with instant coffee. In fact they thought a cup of Gold Blend was super swish! Then thanks for Friends' Central Perk fantasies, everyone went mad for cappucinos and lattes, and now it's all hipster 'good coffee' sobbery. I'm sure there's good coffee and bad coffee, but from where I'm standing you're all just hooked on caffeine and dressing it up in different disguises. Which honestly isn't judgemental - I'm hooked on cola for the same reason so no high horse here. But it's just like the mania for fancy gins in pretty bottles and frosted glasses, when Gordon's in a plastic cup will do. Whenever the next wave of brand extension hits, today's 'good coffee' will be tomorrow's Gold Blend and on we'll all go, into oblivion...

Cafe Nero is quite good. Not a fan of Costa or Starbucks. Our local deli does amazing coffee!

I find Starbucks vile. Costa is nice and Cafe Nero is ok.

I agree re Gregg's coffee, surprisingly good.

I like Starbucks, Nero is nice but strong so I need sugar. Costa is meh.
The last Mcs one I had was gross.

YANBU
Although I quite like coffee from Nero.
I go for the ‘cafe culture’ thing really. Coffee and cake is our new out for a pint since having DS!

I drink americano with no milk so you can taste the quality of the coffee!

pinkdelight
Of course you don’t get it - you don’t like coffee.
I never understood the big deal about tea - bloody hate the stuff and I’m sure there is no difference between loose leaf and smart price tea bags. Everyone is different and some people pr get to pay to get better quality coffee. It’s not hard to understand!

I prefer Gregg's and MacDonald's to the chains, too.

Starbucks is like dishwater. Costa is better. Gail's is the best of the chain coffees by far. It's a small chain, though.

Macdonald's is ok.
I find both Costa and Starbucks over priced and unpleasant so dont buy them

Caffè Nero is the best, Costa is okay, Starbucks so-so. Caffe Nero’s pastries etc are vastly superior to Costa’s, especially the almond croissant.

Starbucks vile, Costa OK, Cafe Nero best. When I want a coffee, I just want a coffee, not a flavoured milky foam, and Cafe Nero seems the only one who doesn't add any crap. Iced coffees are a nightmare, all the other chains add syrup and foam, and god know what, Cafe Nero just gives two shots of espresso in cold milk, perfect.

Yes, chain coffee is usually vile - combination of burnt and weak. I drink my coffee black so maybe I notice the deficiencies more when it is without milk or other additives. I’d rather a good quality instant than most of what it sold by these outlets. I also hate getting a bucket of it.

Not all independents are shining examples, either, but I have found a couple of good, covenient ones that serve a decent cup.