Coffee shops

[Kingoftheroad]

What do you expect from a good quality coffee shop?

I was having a discussion with a friend who owns a small chain of independent coffee shops. I mentioned that I’m not keen on having people queue up behind me for take away food whilst I’m enjoying either a peaceful few minutes to myself or chatting with a friend etc.

What, in your opinion makes for the ideal coffee shop?

I think a lot of places don't mind if you take a pram in but they should if they haven't enough room.

Somewhere for pushchairs outside if space is limited inside

Something savoury/low carb on the menu. There is literally nothing I will eat on any coffee shop menu near me.

Decent dairy free options that are also soy free.

Tables for 1, so that people who are there working alone or just eating/drinking alone don't use up a table for 4. These don't need to feel like 'billy no mates' tables, but just smaller tables specifically demarked as 'individual' (maybe near the plug sockets etc for laptops?)

Good cups. Most cafes serve coffee in cups about 2" thick. The coffee goes cold very quickly as a result. I'd rather have a bone china mug than a great fat cup.

Our local coffee shop is almost perfect, fantastic coffee, home made cakes, biscuits and bakewells, lots of quirky and interesting things relating to the local area, they bring your order to you, keep the place very clean and tidy and the staff are wonderful. The only downside is that they only take cash, but there is a cash point two shops along

Cups/mugs with handles you can use to pick them up ie you should be able to get at least two fingers through the handle.

No music, people just raise their voices over it and it gets louder and louder.

Curtains to absorb some of the sound.

Rubber feet on the chairs to prevent that awful scraping sound.

Put those horrendously loud coffee making machines out of the main eating area or at least mitigate the noise in some way.

More than one toilet.

I can cope with any dry cakes, burnt coffee etc if the above conditions are met

They have dairy free mills and gluten free and vegan cake options too

I was in a costa yesterday and asked for a coffee and a tea and some cake for my husband. I wasnt offered or given any milk, sugar or napkins. These are all kept behind the counter and it seemed to be a big bother when I asked for milk. It’s not particularly cheap in Costa but I think in future I’ll use the local family run cafe.

Decaf coffee that doesn't taste like grape seeds (bitter). Clean tables. A toilet.

Fresh scones every day
Clean
Enough space to be able to move between tables without bumping into people
Nice staff

Controversial one - but one of my favourite coffee places doesn't play any music. It's so peaceful. That being said, I appreciate that if you're having a conversation it can feel awkward if there's not a background sound to make it feel more private..

Coffee1 do seem to have really poorly trained staff, I used to use them when they were a new chain, approx 10 years ago and they were so much better before they expanded and became like every other faceless chain.

There’s an Italian coffee shop/deli round the corner from me which is superb and has in fact won awards. Organic coffee which is the best I’ve ever had, great range of panini and salads and home made cake to die for. Also spacious, garden out the back, nice music and very friendly. And dog friendly. You can buy stuff there like ground coffee, crema di balsamica, growing bags of basil, olive oil and Italian biscuits. It’s a bit expensive to pop in on a daily basis but very nice all the same.

ALL hot beverages to be served in a cup with a handle. A flat white isn't so much cooler than a cappuccino that you can pick it up in a stupid little glass. And by handle, I mean one that you can get a finger through, not those clonking great cappuccino buckets that weigh a ton yet have a teeny tiny handle that you have to pinch to lift.

Most of the good independents near me support local dairies, coffee roasters, veg suppliers, cake makers, etc - it's good to feel you're contributing to the local economy instead of just funnelling money towards big corporations.

Space between tables.

Noise levels. Make sure the room isn't too bare so that the noise seems to reverberate around the room.

Clean tables and chairs. I don't want to see the remains/stains of the last customers on 'my table & seat'

Noisy scraping chairs on the floor that sound like nails on a blackboard every time someone pulls it out to sit down. Can't bear it.

Comfortable chairs and if you have material covered ones keep them clean.

Several Vegan options and not just soya milk and a chocolate brownie.

Don't have a table right next to the toilet door.

Blinds at the windows so if it's very sunny they can be lower slightly if needed.

Enough staff.

Clean toilets.

Smiling staff
Not too cramped; not too many people squashed in.
No music unless something special like a live saxophonist or a choir at Christmas.
No paper cups.
Clean lavatories
Decent coffee served hot enough
Good selection of fresh bakery; preferably homemade
A few choices of savoury items such as homemade sausage roll or rolls.
Clean tables, clean counter, clean staff.
Local suppliers is a bonus.

I don't drink coffee so in the colder months I want a nice hot chocolate. That means no Cadbury's hot chocolate (it just tastes of oil) and not using Costa (not enough chocolate and those annoying tall glass cups with useless handles drive me mad).

Visually appealing space and shit hot coffee. Laid back efficient staff.

I take it black, so there’s no hiding the taste behind a bucket of milk and some syrup.

Vegan cafes or hipster places do the best coffee for me usually. I’m quite near Bristol where great independent cafes are frequent.
I’m not a vegan and I’m soooo not a hipster, but I do appreciate that they do things properly.

Plain filter coffee.

Savoury options like cheese scones

Quality and range of coffees. I'd expect you to know your cortado from your macchiato from your flat white. This is where the chains really get it right. Also to offer dairy free, sugar free options.

I have a HUGE list

Independent
Clean and comfortable environment- with a choice of sofas, chairs and armchairs to relax in
Well maintained toilets
Homemade cakes and pastries
Baby/ child friendly
Pet friendly
Outdoor seating area for those rare sunny days
Locally produced ingredients
No faux friendly American style customer service (I want a coffee not your life story)
PROPERLY trained baristas
Interesting choice of soft drinks (not just Coke and Fanta)
Great selection of sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, salads, soups and breakfasts
NO MUSIC

I don’t ask for much do I!?

Another tea drinker here. A proper pot of proper tea (Yorkshire or similar, not something weird in a muslin bag) and made with boiling water - lots of coffee shops use their coffee water for tea and it isn't hot enough.

Room for more than 1 pram
Highchairs that have working straps, are regularly cleaned and can be pulled right up to the table or have a tray
Decaf tea and coffee
Good loos with baby change big enough to keep my toddler with us when changing the baby
Babyccino a pound or less!

Clear the tables and clean to floor, regularly. Nothing worse than having a coffee surrounded by the detritus left on the chairs and floor by the previous customer.

Coffee shops seem to think sweeping is a once a day activity. If I drop stuff I pick it up. Hard to do when it’s already dirty.

Have options for just “a coffee” black or white. And for small, medium or large. The language of coffee shops is annoying and servers seem to be quite irrational if you don’t know what it all means. I just want a cup of coffee.

Invest in decent decaf. I can’t have caffeine, and 90% of the time decaf comes from a sachet or is weak as dishwater. I know decent decaf exists as there are some places which do it well.

Have a wheelchair accessible table near the counter, with a bit of space, which is clearly marked for wheelchairs / mobility restricted people. I love an independent coffee shop but they tend to be really poor for accessibility. If we can’t see a table near the counter, with space, we can’t go. A DDA counter is useful too.

I don’t know the location or how much space they have, but look into having a changing places toilet put in. A cafe in Dumfries did it, with the help of a grant, and her takings went through the roof! But, you do have to dedicate space to it so it isn’t for everyone.

Space, clean toilets, a decent selection of leaf tea instead of a box of twinings nonsense, fresh baking, lovely! I also prefer staff that will leave me alone unless I go up to the counter. A cat would be a plus :p