To think £2 for a babycino is extortionate

[Prrambulate]

The lovely independent coffee shop near me has raised the price of its babycino from £1 (already steep imo) to £2. Babycino in this case = an espresso cup of frothed milk with a dusting of cocoa powder on top.

This place has a selection of toys in a dedicated corner so lots of parents tend to go there to unwind and have somewhere their kids can play for a short while. I sense the business opportunity here but it also seems exploitative to me! Especially since their usual coffees are all at the £3 - £3,50 range.

Working up the courage to complain…

Yes...how silly buying a hot drink that a child likes and drinks, that's full of nutrients and isn't sugar/sweetener laden...

If the posters happy to buy the product for her daughter what’s it matter? It’s not the word ‘baby’ the daughter hears it’s babyccino which sound similar to mummy’s drink

You sound very moany about everything, perhaps just stay at home then you will have nothing to complain about.

Don't, definitely don't send this. For one thing, they'll know what their prices are. No need for anyone to bring it "to their attention."

No need to write an essay either. Just don't go if you're not happy to pay.

I was responding to another poster moaning. We were moaning in unison. I guess you adore every single item on every single menu everywhere 🙄

This is the corner in question. It’s great but not comparable to a stay and play or soft play of course.

I think you need to lay off the caffeine

I'd imagine they loose a fair amount of their tables and space to women and children coming in if they've advertised themselves as child friendly, and spending not much. I'd assume it was a way to actually make a bit of money from those groups as they usually don't buy much unlike single customers or 2 customer groups. Large groups tend to buy less and stay longer

Apologies, I thought it was clear this wasn’t a serious suggestion- it’s a Chat GPT output!

Fair enough. Sorry. It's hard to know on here sometimes.

Taking kids to a coffee shop sounds crap!
Can’t really properly sit and enjoy your drink because you’ve got to keep your eye on your kid, small kids wandering about near hot drinks also sounds stressful.
I don’t drink tea/coffee/any hot drink so I’ve never gone to one anyway - if im thirsty I pick up a bottle of water and drink it on the move.
£2 sounds fine - probably the same as something like a fruit shoot or whatever drink is marketed at kids these days.
Just find somewhere else to go if you don’t want to pay, don’t whatever you do send that email as suggested above, it’s cringeworthy.
Vote with your feet and spend your money (or don’t!) elsewhere.

ETA just saw it was a chat gpt generated
email - it’s awful 😂

My 2 y/o loves a “chino”! And where we go it normally comes in an espresso cup so he gets to practice drinking from a cup properly too.

don’t be coming for our babyccinos 😂

Moaning in unison is still moaning so my point still stands. Crack on, make your complaint and show yourself up. Not sure what you are on about saying i adore everything on every menu but you do sound slightly odd believing that businesses should be supplying your kid free/cheap refreshments.

They are free in starbucks but the coffees are like £5 and over so maybe it balances it out! Lol

Still free near us! The coffee is more like £4.50 though, so evens out.

That's what the cafe will be hoping.

Two of my daughters had uni jobs in cafes and they were horrified at the mess that little kids left. Obviously the parents fault not the kids.

I wouldn't get one if it costs that thou, but then I don't buy starbucks coffee either I just get water and fruit bread as love it from starbucks! Since investing in a milk frother at lockdown I don't buy a lot of coffee out too expensive!

Vote with your feet.
Complaining about it will most likely achieve fuck all. No business puts up prices for shits and giggles. There is usually a reason.

Margins on coffee are fucking massive BTW, so don't feel too sorry for them...

You should always do the bare minimum of tidying up large crumbs and spills after small kids, and putting toys back in this case. But yes some parents leave a ghastly mess

Having an area with toys is their choice though, and probably one that has made business sense for many years otherwise they wouldn’t adopt it.

I accept that prices elsewhere are more expensive for adult drinks to compensate!

I think you're missing the point of a café..

I don't consider it a gimmick or that I was a mug for the many banychinnos I bought over the years. I like a coffee in a cafe. £2 for my child to have a drink they want at the same time which makes for a far more pleasant break is fine by me.

What can you complain about OP? It's up to them to price things as they want, they aren't providing an essential utility. If it drives people away they might reverse it but you've no grounds for complaint.

Oh come on..£2 for your child to play with the toys for a good half hour or more and a frothy milk isn't extortionate.

Just pay the £2 and enjoy your coffee and supporting a local business.

Presumably you make your own coffee at home and take it with you to save some dosh.
🙄

A fool and their money... Look at all those fools PAYING FOR TEA IN A CAFE.... honestly some people are idiots... I just bring my own teabag and a thermos of hot water...