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.

I drink coffee black, so you really taste the difference between different coffees.

Because I drink black coffee there’s no hiding. Starbucks is really bad, Costa is just bitter with little flavour.

McDonalds tea is better than some of the more expensive chains as well.

pinkdelight, in my home only instant coffee was ever drunk and I thought it was awful so stuck to tea.

As I got older I tried proper coffee and realised it can be really nice and that instant coffee tastes nothing like proper coffee.

I mainly drink decaffeinated tea at home and the occasional coffee using coffee beans. I drink coffee mainly when out because if you can find a place serving good coffee it is a treat.

DH drinks instant at home as he is not that keen on tea but he admits it doesn't really taste like coffee.

I am certainly not addicted to caffeine but I know what decent coffee should taste like.

I like coldbrew coffee and every time I've bought it from Starbucks/Costa it's disgustingly weak. I started making my own and it's a lot stronger, I even went into Starbucks and asked for a bag of their strongest coffee beans suitable for coldbrew to make myself and it that was weak too even though I'd made it the exact same way I usually do. The colour of the coffee concentrate wasn't even dark brown, usually my concentrate is almost black.

I drink my coffee black so maybe I notice the deficiencies more when it is without milk or other additives.

I also drink my coffee black but will only buy black coffee from trusted independents. The rest of the time I drink a flat white as the sweetness of milk neutralises some of the appallingly made coffees by the chain coffee shops. I think McDonalds coffee is rank (as is Dunkin Donuts). I find Costa is the best of the rest but "best" is very relative!

Best coffee round here is an independent

Worst coffee is another different independent!

Starbucks tastes of piss - never, ever buy it. If it’s only Starbucks somewhere I’ll have tea as they can’t fuck that up

Of the chains I don’t mind Cafe Nero or Costa

@pinkdelight I don't drink instant coffee anymore. It's awful once you've tasted the real thing and it's readily available, consistent and easy to brew at home. If instant is the only coffee offered, I have tea.

I’m getting more and more fussy about coffee the older I get. Can’t stand Starbucks or Costa, both taste sickly and too milky to me. Nero is the only chain coffee I will buy, it’s not amazing but it’s drinkable, I also find their service to be better.

I saw an episode of Dragons Den where a coffee brewer went on. Apparently there are 5 grades of coffee & none of the chains serve a decent one.

I like harris and hoole coffee :)

I'm in Spain at the moment and haven't had a bad coffee yet. I avoid the milk though.

Our nearest (first reached) local independent costs £3.95 for a coffee. It tastes like tar.
I’m all for supporting small indys but... nah.

I like Morrissons cafe😔

I love a McDonald's flat white. Wish you didn't have to queue so long for it though with the new ordering system.

I am suspicious that those saying the indie coffee tastes like tar, don't actually like real coffee.

I generally avoid chains but had surprisingly nice coffee in Coffee#1. However I thought it was an independent, so my son laughed at me.

I like harris and hoole coffee

That reminds me, there was a load of uproar when some coffee snobs found out it wasn't some little independent chain but was actually owned by Tesco (owned by Nero now)

McDonald's tea is PG Tips.

Costa - crap
Starbucks - crap

Coffee#1 - good
Neros - very good, my favourite of the chains

The best thing about Nero is a free coffee every Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon if you're with O2 then every 5th coffee free if you take your own cup and get two stamps every time. I've had a coffee every week for the past 5 weeks and it's cost me absolutely nothing

Costa blends are lovely, Starbucks is grim and Cafe Nero is in between. We have a local independent that serves their coffee Luke warm and it's not that great. I've never tried the syrupy additives they put in coffee because I don't like the thought of ruining my coffee with gloop.

I forgot, Asda coffee shops, I can't remember what they're called, well their coffee is surprisingly good.

Didn’t Starbucks and Costa dumb down the coffee they use in their usual coffees a few uses back as most customers are not that interested? I agree Nero is the best coffee and best loyalty scheme, I’ve had some awful coffee in independents, it is high variance!

I’m just glad the Nescafé instant days are gone

I find the quality in many independents very poor. Their is a uniformity in quality to the chains- hence my preference. But sadly having spent too long on Australia, I find myself not liking any UK coffee 😂😂😂