To not be suprised AT ALL about Costa?

[AlexanderHalexander]

Couldn't see another thread on this, despite looking.

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/03/costa-coffee-to-cut-1600-jobs-as-covid-19-takes-toll-on-cafes

I go for takeout coffee quite frequently. Since lockdown I've been in Costa twice, both times it was so stressful, rude staff barking orders, being shouted at across the store for standing 1 inch to close to someone in the queue (despite standing on the markers!). The staff were slow and made one order at a time, meaning loads of people left the queue. And you could only get somewhere to sit once you had your FULL order, really stressful with children.

I've been to Starbucks and it's really chilled, smiling staff and no stress despite loads of customers, people served quickly.

AIBU to think Costa has handled the post-covid return badly, and not to be surprised their revenue has plummeted?

There'll be a lot of this. Customers won't forget which organisations handled covid well and which didn't.

I bought a great bean to cup machine about a year ago and haven’t bought a coffee out since. I reckon it’s paid for itself already as I used to buy a lot of coffees out. I think lockdown has made a lot of people reflect on their previous spending habits and stuff like this will never go back to pre covid levels. I’m sad for anyone losing their job but I don’t feel more sympathy for any one sector. All these chains had over expanded so having to close some branches was inevitable.

My local costa was packed on Monday for the last day of eat out and has been empty for the rest of the week.
Small independent further along the street still trading well as they have a loyal client base of pensioners who see it as their weekly treat when doing their food shop. They are in a good position to survive the down turn but they are unlikely to need extra staff. The place just isn’t big enough to have more staff in the kitchen or behind the counter and still comply with social distancing.

I don't think any of the chains are amazing. But often handy. However I really don't like Costa. The cafes are often really easy (way before covid) they are so unbelievably slow too!

I tend to find all franchise global coffee shop chains are much of a muchness and only survive on convenience rather than product quality nor customer service. I always gravitate towards independent and preferably artisan coffee bars who take pride in the coffee quality and service. Some long established original Italian coffee bars are unbeatable. The diminutive Bar Italia for those who recognise the authenticity and quality in Soho West End London springs to mind. The use of their original Gaggia manual barista hand pulled machine with traditional skill using nicely roasted beans takes some beating. Starbucks is average although the (moved) original in Pike Place market Seattle USA is not bad but all others are nothing special apart from the various high grade Starbucks Reserve Roasteries which are pretty cool coffee emporiums. If not for convenience I rather brew my own freshly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain with a La Pavoni than go Costa high street shop brought. Good coffee is important and poor or average coffee is nah! Just need to cut down on the too often Irish and bulletproof coffees!

Ow 8m not in the office it's a very rare thing for me to get a Costa. When I worked across the road from it I had one every day. My waistline and bank balance are thankful for the change!

I agree they survive on convenience! Although when people say the coffee is gross then will drink instant which is an abomination to coffee that makes me laugh. However independent coffee shops tend not to be in service stauons, malls, stations or airports so my love of iced coffee got stuck with the chains. People (including myself) do have strong preference between the chains too!

I've never been big on take out coffee (exception for Waitrose free ones, when are they coming back!??), but I do get them from time to time.
I took exception to costa after finally investigating what to do with loyalty card points and being told that I'd "earned" almost half an espresso in five years - I don't use it that infrequently! - well I've not been in at all since then, but before that I went quite regularly.

[quote Slippersandgin]@Rhine nearest one is 60 miles away [/quote]
They are literally ten a penny around here, the next town a long has a massive sit in one!

• a combination of lots of people not back in the office, and those that are realising that a coffee a day was probably in the region of £15-20 a week, more if they bought snacks with it.

The Costa near us is dark and dreary.

Shame about all the lost jobs, but doing it so badly customers were abandoning queues wouldn't have helped.

Agree re outdated decor and furniture l, the independent coffee shops round here are so much lovelier inside.

I can’t stand independent shops. Never a decent coffee or tea in them.
I think you just haven't found the right ones! I've got loads of cafes where I live, almost all indie. Some are admittedly a bit mediocre considering they want £3+ for a coffee, but a few are really genuinely outstanding.

Staff do vary though, and a few individuals do act quite snotty and superior, I'll give you that. But on the whole they're lovely.

Costa sells foul coffee and godawful food in shitty, dirty premises.

No wonder they’re struggling.

My local Costa has been great. They’re doing their best to maintain social distancing but get orders through quickly - they had a staff member taking orders from the line, then the person on the till just ringing it through. The staff are lovely. We were allowed to get a table beforehand. They are franchises so there will be differences.

The Costa near my home and work (Oxfordshire) have been nice, clean and quiet with people following the rules. Easily depends on the area.

I way prefer Costa to Starbucks (would rather eat someone's toenails than give my money to an organisation that supports Mermaids).
I can honestly say I have never had a bad experience in Costa. And they have some great vegan choices.
I think it is just terrible that so many people are losing their jobs in travel and on the high street

I don’t like the chains, although I if I have to go to one, I’d go for Nero and Pret over Costa and Starbucks. Much prefer the independents, better coffee, better service and less likely to be avoiding paying tax.

I’m disappointed to hear this. I actually love the taste of Costa’s coffees and I like the decor. Can’t stand Starbucks, they always feel like dark, cold places to sit in.
Remember the staff are only administering what’s come from above and people will be losing jobs. I hope our small Costa doesn’t close :/

I made a beeline for ours when it reopened, it's fine in there, (and no dogs, unlike Nero's.) I don't drink coffee though, so can't comment on the quality of that.

I dislike all those chains - queueing and so much endless faffing to produce a cup of filter coffee - and no, I don’t want to call it a sodding Americano!

Such a pleasure a few yrs ago to spend a day in Palma, where we saw not one blasted coffee chain - instead plenty of ordinary cafes where you could actually sit down and have a waiter/waitress bring you a really nice cup of coffee within 5 minutes.

Costa, Starbucks and all the other chain coffee shops have the worst coffee. Foul overpriced shit.
And after what Starbucks did in the 9/11 attack I've never and never will set foot in their places again, let alone buy their shit. I'd rather die of thirst!

Not been in them much, but I'm not surprised, Costa's really gone downhill since it was bought out by Coca-Cola.

We are all different and have different tastes obviously. I can't stand Starbucks coffee compared to Costa. I'm always disappointed if I see Starbucks instead of Costa. Plus I find I wait a lot longer there generally (but not universally).

The Costas around here have opened up after lockdown and I've been in a couple of different ones. I have not had a bad experience at all and the staff have always been very pleasant. No one was wearing a mask at the tables-most were in the queue (which I personally think they should do). I did have one group of suited men wearing yellow high vis vests that were behind me, no masks and practically breathing down my neck (right at the start of easing lockdown) which out me off. But not the actual staff etc.

@AlexanderHalexander

Couldn't see another thread on this, despite looking.

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/03/costa-coffee-to-cut-1600-jobs-as-covid-19-takes-toll-on-cafes

I go for takeout coffee quite frequently. Since lockdown I've been in Costa twice, both times it was so stressful, rude staff barking orders, being shouted at across the store for standing 1 inch to close to someone in the queue (despite standing on the markers!). The staff were slow and made one order at a time, meaning loads of people left the queue. And you could only get somewhere to sit once you had your FULL order, really stressful with children.

I've been to Starbucks and it's really chilled, smiling staff and no stress despite loads of customers, people served quickly.

AIBU to think Costa has handled the post-covid return badly, and not to be surprised their revenue has plummeted?

So your local crappy Costa had brought down the whole chain or you assume that all the staff are expected to act like that across all their stores??

I dunno my kids on a table then queue so there's fewer people on the queue. If it's busy someone helps me find a spot or the politely explain its take out only ATM. The staff are behind a plastic shields and as friendly as usual. Someone brings me my food and drinks so I'm not loitering around. All table are cleared and cleaned before use. What more could I want?