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 hate costa and the likes. Tasteless and overpriced. And its not hot enough.

i never buy coffee out.

I’m not a fan of Costa at all.

Agree that the cafes are cosy but you’re right - they’re often left to get dirty over the course of the day.

The food is meh and the coffee is crap too, IMO.

Yes agree op average coffee. I found Edinburgh great for cafes. I do go to costa in Dublin as its beside lidl so its all in same area. Its not cheap though.

Has anyone mentioned the raspberry and almond bake yet? That's why I go to Costa.

Costa near me is always unclean. I much prefer pret.

I hate Costa, prefer Cafe Nero then starbucks (if they make the drink correctly and don't freestyle without asking when ran out of key ingredients)🤔I'm not a hard-core connoisseur though; I like lattes, cappincino, mocha, latte style macchiato (so not a proper one 😳, flat white and again prob not traditional one!)

*cappuccino

I loved the Toffee Penny Latte they did last Christmas Sadly they are not bringing it back this year

If anybody likes a mocha, Cafe Nero do a luxury one at the moment made with liquid chocolate, it is amazing. I'm also looking forward to trying the new Praline cookie hot chocolate at Starbucks.

I'm not keen, but DS can tolerate Costa - I guess because they're all very similar - so it's where we usually end up. He knows he likes their cheese and ham toastie, and he likes the cakes.

I'm not a fan of their sandwiches and wraps, so usually just have a tea.

I go for the chocolate tiffin

I occasionally go in to buy a few Balocco vanilla wafers. They are in their own league of deliciousness.

I had Starbucks yesterday and wasn't keen, I much prefer Costa coffee.

Cheaper than independents around here, and there is a branch in my work so easy to pop in. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten in a branch, I just buy takeaways. I agree Nero’s is better but there isn’t one near us.

My local Costa is lovely. Clean, bright and spacious. It's very well supported by all sorts of groups and individuals.

I prefer the coffee to other chain coffee shops. I don’t eat there, not fan of the cakes, maybe the packaged wafers!

Their coffees don't seem to have coffee in them!! 🤷‍♀️Lattes are basically lukewarm milk and foam yuck!
At least Nero seem to have decent coffee beans.

I only ever go to costa/starbucks places if I'm meeting friends for a chat - basically a coffee shop is the only realistic alternative to a pub if you want to sit somewhere warm and have a chat for an hour or two but don't want to have a full on meal.

I would be happy to go to an independent shop instead but costa/starbucks etc a) usually stay open much later than independent shops and b) are easy to get to - mist independent shops are often in town centres or High streets etc whereas there are always chain coffee shops in retail parks, off motorway services etc. So easy to get to and you're not paying double the cost of a coffee again just to park.

E.g. on Sunday I met a friend at 4.30 for a coffee. Within 15 mile drive of me there were 3 starbucks and 4 costas still open all with free parking.

The independents were already all shut, further distance away and either closest parking in a side street 10 mins walk away or cost at least 2quid per hour!

So basically convenience!

They changed the soya milk to some cheap stuff ,half the price of alpro soya ,but nasty and didn’t pass any savings on to the customer.
so I stopped going in

People have low standards. Where is the incentive to better if they are always busy irrespective of the issues you raise?

www.thesun.co.uk/money/20085490/i-tried-costa-festive-menu-toblerone-latte/

We went to one on holiday during half term and in the half hour dh queued up I went to greggs and bought the kids drinks and food as they was moaning it took so long. They don't clear the tables in any of the branches I go to. There was three people serving and they still couldn't cope.

There aren’t many cafes/ restaurants in the village where I live. Two are Costas and the rest all serve proper meals. They wouldn’t be too happy with people just sitting around drinking coffee especially when it’s busy. I don’t go to Costa when I go to the town.

I love the one near a railway station that I use now and again. It’s not the coffee, it’s the drama between the staff. It’s like an episode from a soap, with shouting, passive aggressive harrumphing and performative table clearing. Hilarious.

Coffee is good. Some are lovely and clean others are grim.