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?

oh yes open to at least 9pm so i can get away in the evenings and leave bath and bedtime to someone else! (occasionally)

I think, at this point, the coffee shop we all want would have to sell a cup of a coffee for at least £8 to cover costs.
evilharpy even though you admit your evilness, it's rather unkind to specify no screaming babies in a coffee shop. Just because your baby is "good" now, that can easily change. Try to have a bit more sympathy for the mums with "bad" babies who are just trying to get out.

Comfort is so important, I have such a bony spine and pelvis that I struggle with anything other than padded armchairs or sofas.
Also don’t burn my coffee or the plant milk.

Open in the evening too! I love getting away until 9pm

Having an online menu is really helpful. I like to know what's on offer before I go to a cafe. One cafe I love post their weekly menu like clockwork on their Instagram - it always excites people and makes them want to come in. Another cafe I really like is a bit confusing because they have a written menu on the wall which doesn't actually have all of their options on it, which I've heard other customers also get confused by.

I also love a good cake display and non-extortionate prices. The other day I was at a cafe and ordered a slice of carrot cake to go and was a bit gobsmacked when it was £3.80. And not a huge slice either!

A quiet section please for those of us trying to enjoy childfree time.

I live in Spain. Big things are good coffee & decent toilets.

God I'd love to open this coffee shop! But you're right, I'm going to have to charge £8 a cup to cover all the separate sections, constant cleaning, fresh cakes, extra space and what not 😁

I go in a cafe every day and have coffee. The standard is €1.20 a coffee. I'm curious, how much is it in the UK?

I want the option to have hot food / alcohol like like in European cafe-bistros.

Its about three pound fucking 50 where I am!

Near the £3 mark where I am. Does depend on which part of town I'm in though.

Wow, so expensive. Last time I was in the UK it was really watery too.

Here we have flatas, they are small baguettes (about the length of your finger) with ham/cheese fillings or croissants/pastries. We don't have cakes as such in coffee shops.

*flautas

I don't drink tea or coffee so would like there to be some juices available and in the winter hot chocolate - good quality - and also prefer not to have half the cup filled with marshmallows and the other half with squirty cream. A good variety of cakes, a couple of cosy sofas if there's room and, last but not least, child free so no dropped food underfoot or screaming.

Adequate space so you're not having to interrupt other people in order to just stand up from your seat.
Good well made cakes that are either a decent price or a decent portion.
A barista that actually knows how to make frothy milk and flat silky milk (yes, slightly different technique for both because they should in fact produce different results), sick of being handed cappulattes.

Proper coffee. All of my local coffee shops sell absolutely terrible coffee. Likewise, if they sell specialty drinks like matcha etc, they should know how to make them properly. Full fat milk as default-if I wants my late skinny I will ask. And a nice atmosphere.

Oh and no to those tall late glass things. It’s not 2003.

Oh and a take away counter is a good idea to avoid people causingnonstructions while waiting. Where I come from there is often a seperate till in a window kiosk for take aways. But you do loose the nice window seats if you do that.

Oh and no to those tall late glass things. It’s not 2003.

I remember drinking coffee from them in the 80's.

Proper coffee with milk alternatives.
Freshly baked cakes.
A selection of fresh hot food.

Genuinely friendly service

For it to be obvious how the set up works - is it table or counter service for eg.

Space

Cleanliness

Delicious homemade cakes

Does it annoy anyone when people queue down the middle of the shop for take away when your sitting trying it to have lunch

Reading with interest as an independent coffee shop owner!

We get loads of compliments on our coffee, wouldn't be cost or space effective to have numerous types of beans to, with grinders to match!

All my cakes are home made by moi, they change depending on what I feel like making although have a few firm favourites always available.

We offer a wide range of breakfasts, hot and cold sandwiches, hot meals, slimming world options...all mix and match, if I've got it I'll cook it.

We definitely hit the mark with customer service loads of regulars who come several times a week, some daily!

We are child friendly but I will tell parents politely to rein wild kids in! Also dog friendly.

We are very clean, separate toilets, disabled access, we run a little toddler group weekly, host baby showers, we have an alcohol licence...in summary I think we're doing pretty well and I'm proud of myself...and exhausted cos it's hard work so I'm afraid I can't stay open til 10pm

If you're going to have teas as an alternative to coffee then go for good ones like Yogi. They are really good, and taste great. Like this www.yogitea.com/en/products/ginger-orange-with-vanilla/
I drink loads of it.