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.

There are three fairly near to me. I'm not a coffee drinker so I only go there to meet friends.

Their tea is ok and I quite like their sausage baps.

However, their cakes are usually stale and very overpriced. I agree with others re their cleanliness and object to clearing away others' cups etc...
They also take too long to serve... endlessly banging things, tapping things, pulling levers, wiping down, more banging and clanking yet, they're quick to take your order and so a big group of customers is standing there in limbo at the end of the counter.

'At least Nero seem to have decent coffee beans.'

Yes the brazilian beans are amazing.

I like costa/starbucks coffee.

We used to have a subsidised Costa where it was £1.20 for a medium latte.

Now though I have my own Nesspresso machine and Starbucks nesspresso pods. The coffee is great and it saves me a fortune.

I agree and the raspberry and almond slices are nice too.

I also like Coffee #1 and a local dog friendly independent chain called Coffi Lab. Their profits go towards guide dogs.

I'm sitting in Costa right now writing this. Just had a lovely latte, cheese and tomato panini and brownie. Outrageous prices given the cost of living crisis but boy did I need a treat! Mum to two under 3, MIL staying wit lh us for 4 months, I'm craving some decent me time!

Nice and quiet and cosy for sure.

We go in the Costa inside the hospital when my ds has appointments. The hot chocolate is nice, the millionaire short bread is really nice, and my son likes the mac and cheese they do.

Oh my, I went to Costa recently and was waiting for the toilet, as someone was there. I can hear toilet flushing and someone leaving without washing hands (no water running and basically between flush and opening the door was 3 seconds). It was Costa employee wearing latex gloves, same gloves he probably wears to prepare food. I don't know if I ever go back there. Definitely not for food, unless some packed sandwich. But I won't eat mac and cheese, English breakfast or so.

😱😳

I hate Costa but I can't really judge it fairly as i don't drink coffee. I can only compare it on food and other soft drinks and ambience but I think the quality is poor compared to other independent cafes on my local high street. Friends always seem to want to meet there so the coffee must be fantastic to counter the rest of it!

Not so long ago a small Americano (black coffee) was £2. I got a shock last time I was in as it's over £3 now.
If I'm spending £3 on plain coffee, I'd rather support an independent coffee shop.
I've been once this month out of convenience when meeting friends in an unfamiliar city and I can't remember the last time before that, whereas I would probably have been at least 3 times in a month.

You don't know if he was cleaning and the last thing he did was flush the toilet cleaner away. I don't know, obviously. Just trying to think of a more likely explanation than 'person with absolutely no regard for hygiene wears latex gloves to hold their penis'.

Costa has changed since Coca Cola took over. The ingredients for drinks are cheap and nasty. Tea bags/alt milks are made by coke

Stock is constantly unavailable so cannot be ordered. Yet Costa still have NPS and stores are constantly getting marked down for things that are costas fault! Then they bollock the staff

Hours have been slashed horrifically but they still have click and collect, deliveroo etc.. and now they're trying to do click and serve. It's a joke

Staff are leaving in their droves

I would give him benefit of doubt if I didn’t see him coming to the kitchen after that😫

And toilet hasn’t been cleaned definitely. I walked in straight after him.

Tried the Toblerone latte today. Awful Just tasted like a glorified hot chocolate. It doesnt work as a latte

Ha ive always called.it that too.

I feel the same. Always feels grubby, their toilets are shocking, sticky seats, dry overpriced cakes and not great coffee!
Some people have more.money than sense

I prefer Starbucks but Costa is on the main road by our house and is often disappointing. I was so excited about the Christmas drinks starting yesterday but sadly the toblerone latte was very disappointing and the best thing about it was the snowman cup it came in!

I bought two hot chocolates out there the other day. Two medium hot chocolates to take out and it cost me £8.70. Couldn't believe it.