AIBU to buy instant coffee for the builders.

[IloveConkers]

I’ve been giving the builders nespresso coffee and it’s grating on me and my pocket a bit! Is it super tight if go out and i buy them instant?

My discerning Latvian builder wouldn’t drink instant and I wouldn’t want offer anyone something I wouldn’t drink myself

My builder isn't Latvian, but I'm totally with you - I dislike instant, and I don't give it to my workmen! I have a Tassimo machine, and they get the Costa Americano pods if they want coffee, and PGTips if they want tea.

They don't take the piss either - they get a coffee/tea when they arrive, then take their breaks in their vans at 10, without asking for more drinks, and their lunches at 1 again, not asking for more drinks, and then I offer another coffee/tea mid afternoon (when, let's face it, anything they brought with them in a flask is getting a bit past its best).

If I can afford the building work to start with, I can afford to keep them in a couple of coffees a day each for the duration!

Yanbu. I've just bought a load of sachets of nescafe, milk sticks, sugar sachets and a catering bag of tea for ours.

I’d rather drink decent instant than tassimo pods. Disgusting stuff

I would give them what I have in the house, not buy special for them. So in my house they would be offered decaf proper coffee (bean to cup machine, not instant). If they don't like decaf, they wouldn't get a coffee at all.

All coffee is vile- as I don't drink it I wouldn't have the first clue how to faff about with any type of fussy coffee.

Our builders had instant coffee or tea, or cold drinks in the summer. They were happy to get a steady supply of drinks/ biscuits/ bacon sandwiches.

YANBU. I use a cafetière for my coffee. I bought instant coffee for the removal people when we moved last month. I was too busy to be brewing fresh coffee all day, they just wanted a quick brew before cracking on. Everyone was happy.

We had some in for a few weeks for an extension and I just put out a tray in the mornings with kettle, instant coffee, teabags, milk, biccies and let them crack on. I don't drink coffee so I don't have any special coffee-making gear.

If I came down to make myself a cup I'd offer but otherwise they happily just made their own. Much of the time they went to the local coffee shop instead on their breaks anyway.

Jesus - I already groan about my personal Nespresso bill let alone builders using it.

I'd get them a jar of posh instant (Lavazza or whatever it is) and leave them to it!

I would just get a jar of Nescafé in.

Hilarious!! I would make them a cup of Nescafé - which is what I drink most of the time myself.

Always had nespresso for all, I don’t have instant in !
I’ do have a filter machine tho hardly use it, be easier to use that, and cheaper, good coffee is a must here

Can’t you make up a cafetière?

@LizziesTwin

I’d lend them a kettle and put it on a tray with some mugs, sugar, a carton of milk & a jar of instant & let them get on with it.

We did this - I bought a cheap kettle from Argos which we now call the builder's kettle and gave them my oldest mugs in case of breakages. I wouldn't be making tea/coffee for builders all day

Just put a box of teabags, jar of reasonable priced instant coffee, sugar, mugs, spoons & maybe a pack of bourbons out near the kettle for them. It's probably more than they get at many houses. And if they're in & out of the house a lot, put newspaper down so they don't have to worry about taking their boots off all the time. It's a pain in the backside to be trying to take work boots off several times a day with cold hands in winter.

I like a good coffee, but percol espresso powder is good for instant, lavazza is ok too. I definitely think a good hot drink is appreciated by most people. Our gardener always says he loves coming to us because he gets a nice coffee and a bacon, brie and chutney sandwich last time he was here!
Just set up a tray with kettle milk, sugar, coffee, tea and some biscuits. As you've already established a pattern of making their drinks just say you've got a few things on so you've left the tea and coffee stuff out and to help themselves

At home we have a subscription for freshly roasted beans which we grind and use in an espresso machine…..however, I use instant at work. It is hot, wet, plentiful and caffeinated which is all I care about when I’m working.

I have only had a Nespresso coffee a handful of times and haven’t really enjoyed them. I’d much prefer the instant.

Last summer I kept the freezer stocked with Waitrose essential ice lollies for my builders. They didn’t mind not getting the posh ones…until they realised I bought the posh ones for my dog

Have Nespresso pods been made compostable yet?

It's fine. The ground coffee I like (costa) is considerably cheaper than the instant I like anyway (azera) I only buy both when on special offer.

Instant coffee? Ewwww. Just offer tea if you can't find some way to offer actual coffee.

A bottle of squash left out is usually welcome as well.

Honestly, I think it's bloody rude to serve something cheaper to staff or tradesmen and keep the nice/expensive stuff for yourself. The only thing I'd consider doing in this scenario is casually saying something along the lines of "is this coffee OK, or would you rather I bought some Nescafé or something?" Go with whatever they say and suck the cost up. And rethink whether you can afford Nespresso full stop.

My discerning Latvian builder wouldn’t drink instant and I wouldn’t want offer anyone something I wouldn’t drink myself.

I gave my Latvian builder instant coffee one day (it's what I drink myself) and he always brought his own flask or asked for tea after that

Completely fine!

My line of work means that often quite randomers make me hot drinks. As I say them them as it's handed over, I'm just glad it's hot, wet and caffeinated!

Lots of people prefer instant and ground doesn't have to be expensive, so maybe ask what he prefers