To wonder why Costa is so popular?

[Pumpkinsspiceandallthingsnice]

I don't go in all that often but it always looks so cosy through the window.

Every time I do go in I can never get a clean table let alone a decent seat. There never seem to be enough staff to clear the tables. The cakes are always quite dry and not worth the money at all.

Yet it's always so busy.

I absolutely love their salted caramel brownies. To the person who said their cakes etc are dry, why wouldn’t you say something and ask for another? I’ve had a few dry ones where they’ve clearly tried to give me one that was on it way out date wise and I’ve always said something and got another. I know how they’re supposed to taste when they’re good!

Our local one is big, plenty tables, clean and inviting. I like the coffee and the cakes are usually lovely. But I wouldn't touch the toilets with a bargepole, simply based on previous experience of Costa toilets...

Chai lattes.

The lady in my local Costa always gives us a free babyccino when we go in. I think they're on a par with any other chain and they do M&S food too now.

I really like the coffee! Starbucks and Cafe Nero always taste burnt and bitter. Cakes are hit and miss but I love the cinnamon brioche bun but only when super fresh.

I love Costa. My local one closed down (thanks Covid 😕) and I miss it.
Love their toasties. Cakes are great. My faves are the lemon muffins, red velvet or a Tiffin.
If you have tea you get a pot so you usually get 2 and a half cups. Hot chocolate you can have cream and marshmallows. I like to scoop the cream off and eat with the cake.
All the various branches I have been too all over the country are clean and the toilets are fine.
Generally quiet or low level music (unlike Nero and their god awful jazz).
Can't comment on their coffee as I don't drink coffee.
I wanna go to Costa now....

I actually really like the taste of Costa coffee, but I very rarely go into one because I prefer to support small independents.

I've taken dd1 to two different ones as she loved the pink hot chocolate. The staff were always friendly, but I found the drinks such a let down. It's hard to be let down by a mocha, but i was, repeatedly.

Thankfully, no Costa's within about 50 miles of where I live. Last time I tried one in the city, I found the coffee insipid and the food equally bland.

Luckily, we have many excellent independent cafes locally who sell unpretentious and reasonably priced food.

My small independent coffee shop has halved the size of their cups and probably quartered the coffee or chocolate so the drinks just taste like hot watery milk. I’ve stopped going, I would have preferred them to raise the prices like everywhere else.

Never use Costa, Starbucks or Neros. Awful hot chocolate and food.

I only go in there if I have a discounted voucher or offer. The coffees are ok as long as they're hot enough. But they are v expensive. The new drive thru near us is lovely inside though and staff are great. I prefer our canteen at work though, and the coffees are nearly half the price

I had a very nice coffee in Dunelm cafe today, and my first mince pie of the season. I'm not picky.

They’re everywhere, open early and late. But I agree, they’re always messy…

It's the noise I don't like.
The banging and clattering and hissing.
I can't stand it.

You can sit in there for hours with your laptop and no one tells you to leave, which is why it is popular
I can’t stand the place tbh. The cappuccinos are vile. The cakes usually dry and horrible.
Furthermore, the toilets are usual filthy

MacDonald’s for a white coffee to have in my car. White coffee is really good and 99p (or thereabouts)! Costa coffee is rancid

I prefere pret. But Costa is the closest to train station.

I do not drink coffee so definitely not their target market but DD likes it and also Starbucks. What really pisses me off is when I actually go out for lunch and offer to pick up something for the team, if anyone asks for a coffee it takes forever.....Lots of our independent sandwich shops near work now can do a decent barrister style coffee (in a not up and coming part of leeds) but do not do vegan.

I like the vegan rocky roads, and the hot chocolate can be made vegan. My DD is practically addicted to the cheese and ham toasties and the chocolate fudge brownie frappes. We don’t go there for the atmosphere but it is fine as cafes go.

The hot chocolate tastes awful (better than Starbucks dishwater hot chocolate though) and ours is soooo loud.

It’s a handy chain. The one near me is as you describe, dirty tables and chairs covered in crumbs which I find extra gross for some reason. The Nero is worse though. Starbucks also has disgusting toilets and dirty tables and chairs. I don’t think I’m overly fussy!

I don't drink coffee so can't compare that but the other items seem expensive. The last time I went in one was probably when my dad was in hospital because there was one there.

I used to take DS in one years ago, when my DD had 30 min dance lessons and it wasn't worth going home from town only to turn around to collect her. The indie coffee shops closed at 5pm and Costa was the only place open to "hang around" for her. At any other time of the day I wouldn't have gone in.

I can't stand the coffee in Costa. It's horrible

It’s really grim. I don’t understand is popularity either.