Costa

[GinisLife]

£2.95 for a cheese & ham toastie !!! Cheap thin white bread, one slice of cheap ham and a sliver of cheese. And it's not even toasted on one side. It's still white, not brown. The hot chocolate isn't bad though I guess.

The lunch deal is ok. I love their cheese and tomato toastie.

Wow where do you all live??? there are a number of independent cafes in my area where a cheese and ham toasties is under £2.00

But not a single coffee shop where it is - you are paying for the mass produced ambiance - the coffee is pretty much the same everywhere nowadays.

I was having a moan that a big chain coffee shop makes such a poor toastie and charges so much for it

It's not really that much when you think about what it covers, though. Food, electricity, staffing costs, heating, insurance...

Eating out is always going to be more expensive than eating at home. You pay for the service and to not have to make things or wash up afterwards!

It's not really that much when you think about what it covers, though. Food, electricity, staffing costs, heating, insurance

Plus rent and rates on expensive prime locations so people don't have to go out of their way to use them. Plus VAT, marketing, etc etc.

I love the way people are telling you how much it costs to make a sandwich and sell it in a cafe.

You are totally right. There are loads of chains that offer better food at a similar price - Eat, Pret, Paul, Cafe Nero, Leon. Costa feels really outdated to me. I hope it doesn't vanish as we have one in our village and we need it, but they really need to sort out their shitty food!

I get it on the lunch deal - cheap and cheerful.

The cheese and tomato is better ... but it’s NOT part of their lunch deal.

Costa is a bit of an odd one. Their drinks are good and you know what you're going to get, anywhere in the country. They also have dairy-free stuff which they don't charge extra for. However, the food is mediocre at best and their toilets are universally disgusting. I boycott Starbucks because their coffee tastes burnt, I don't like the wanky way they serve brews and they charge for non-dairy.

These coffee shops are avoided by me most of the time. I would rather go into a Jim's caff type of place and ask for cup of coffee or tea. I then get what I want which is a reasonably priced hot drink without the need for what looks like a space ship enterprise control staion behind the counter.

I was out shopping one freezing day and felt rather peckish so called in to a basic cafe with plastic table cloths and unremarkable equipment behind the counter. I ordered a pot of tea and round of toast. Delicious and it cost me £4

Once in a while (maybe 3 times a year) and for no other reason than I fancy it I will step into a Costa or similar and pay over the odds for a coffee and fancy bit of cake.

Don't moan about high prices and then continue to pay them. Sup up eat up and shut up (meant in a light hearted way!!!!) or go somewhere cheaper.

2.95 is not expensive for a basic toastie tbh.

I work in an independent cafe and we charge £6-50 for a toastie !
It is served with salad , crisps and coleslaw though

I love the coffee's but expected way more from the food.

I do not frequent Costa, Starbucks or the other one whose name escapes me .
Nothing wrong with a good old local greasy spoon in my view and YANBU OP.

YABU, the cheese and tomato one is heavenly - it beats any artisanal bread shop's toastie by a mile. My only gripe about Costa is having the same tray bake stuff for months on end before introducing something new, the manager need to take a read of the Protestant tray bake thread on here for ideas.

I do think Costa is one of the worst, plus the food and coffee is absolute shit.

Yes @Doilooklikeatourist indies are so much more expensive and IMO the quality does not justify it either.

@Doilooklikeatourist
Can I ask why crisps? it’s always bewildered me, it’s an odd combo.

I can't believe you think Costa do nice hot chocolate, it's weak watery rubbish.

My costa gripe is they made a big song and dance about starting to sell gluten free wraps and sandwiches and then withdrew them all.

YANBU. Costa is awful. Currently sat in an independent coffee shop, cheaper and much better quality food and drinks.

I find Costa and Starbucks never seem very clean, I don't mind the coffee but near me at least they both always look a bit grubby. I hate also having to ask for basic things like something to drink a cold drink from or a knife. Much prefer independents or nice pubs. I often get a coffee from McDonald's, I don't think their Cappucino is any worse than Costa and it's cheaper and often cleaner in there at the right time.

My costa gripe is they made a big song and dance about starting to sell gluten free wraps and sandwiches and then withdrew them all.

That's not specific to Costa either. Most businesses will discontinue products that don't sell well.

Oh yes, I'm also down with the Starbucks haters. When I walk into a Starbucks I feel like it's 1999.

@JKScot4 I have no idea why the crisps either , most people wolf them down and leave the salad

Coffee drinking can be snobbery gone wild to be honest. I loathe the big chains, and it can be just as depressing a time going into one of the independents. Day trip to Yorkshire’s most pretentious town, Harrogate was the final straw for me. Sat down in a small cafe which actually advertised Barista classes. Had to send a simple Mocha back twice, the bloody place was incapable of producing anything hot. Too much farting around doing this that and the other, drawing pretty patterns on it etc.... I walked out in the end and left them a blistering review. It’s a simple life task not a bloody art form ffs. I take my own cup into Greggs now, much nicer coffee, always super hot, cheerful staff and a great price. Value for money, not pretentious snobbish crap.

£2.95 seems fine to me when you take overheads into account. I doubt the local greasy spoon would be much cheaper.

Their bacon and brie panini is to die for and I would dearly love to know what brand of onion relish they use as all attempts to replicate at home fall short on the onion.