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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be fed up of coffee shops never giving me what I've ordered?

114 replies

BrightOrangeDahlias · 31/12/2024 22:40

This has happened several times over the last few weeks or so and it's really starting to annoy me! It's when I order a "fancy" coffee or hot chocolate etc, usually from the seasonal range, paying a price premium for it too. It never comes with all the bits it's bloody supposed to!

It's happened in Costa (gingerbread latte that came without the cream and gingerbread man, they'd run out of both). At a service station on the motorway the other day, Starbucks (who I usually avoid) fleeced me five pounds fecking thirty (!!!) for a Chestnut Praline Latte that was missing the cream and sprinkly bits. I handed that back and asked whether I could have the extra bits I'd paid for and the man grudgingly produced a squirt of cream and muttered they had ran out of sprinkles. And today, thought I'd be ok in a local independent and asked for a s'mores hot chocolate, which was missing any type of topping. This time they were out of cream, and the guy said "you have to ask specially for the marshmallows as they're not vegetarian so we don't put them on unless you ask us to". So why have a fecking massive telly behind you advertising them with marshmallows on then?!?

Fair enough that shops run out of things, but if you've run out of half the ingredients, don't let me order it and then charge me for something you're not going to give me!

It's not me, is it?!?

OP posts:
2025willbemytime · 01/01/2025 00:19

I've had one hot hot chocolate in all my life and McDonald's never has milkshakes. They are my treat for driving five hours and most of the time they are sold out.

ThisUsernameIsNowTaken · 01/01/2025 00:30

LaughingCat · 31/12/2024 23:06

Oh my god, yes, this, 100%!

This has happened several times to me recently, and always when I order the seasonal drink. Tell me beforehand that you don’t have the stuff to make it (I’m obviously still annoyed that Nero’s didn’t have the pistachio whipped cream last week).

Last week or any week it's been advertised! We got it served with flat white cream, which collapsed almost instantly, and sickly sweet hot "chocolate". We threw half of it away because it was undrinkable.

Original poster
BrightOrangeDahlias · 01/01/2025 00:55

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 01/01/2025 00:16

@BrightOrangeDahlias went into subway once for lunch with mates and after getting my coffee, found out there was no sugar in the whole place!! they werent getting a delivery for two days!!!!

Now that's really taking the piss!

OP posts:
hazelnutvanillalatte · 01/01/2025 00:55

I never get drinks from chains anymore. Starbucks especially always half-fills the cups and the prices are insane. Last time I went was over three years ago. Not worth paying silly prices and invariably feeling annoyed and ripped off.

Original poster
BrightOrangeDahlias · 01/01/2025 01:00

AsTheLightFades · 31/12/2024 23:59

@BrightOrangeDahlias as a coffee drinker who sticks to Americano with milk, i find the need to put tonnes of cream and 'sprinkles' just a ridiculous concept! Coffee's look more like puddings, bearing no similaritity to a simply brewed cup of decent (i.e. not starbucks or costa) coffee.

They all have their place though, don't they? After a meal, I'll get a 'normal' coffee. On a bog standard cafe visit I'll usually get a tea - generally an earl grey, or even a lapsang souchong if it's a posh place. But in the last few weeks I've been feeling festive and thought I'd treat myself to a faffy coffee or hot chocolate with all the extras. Except I've just ended up feeling miffed and short-changed each time.

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 01/01/2025 01:05

even the smell of milk in coffee makes me feel unwell - they never go far wrong with espresso or black americano.

HoppityBun · 01/01/2025 01:12

AsTheLightFades · 31/12/2024 23:59

@BrightOrangeDahlias as a coffee drinker who sticks to Americano with milk, i find the need to put tonnes of cream and 'sprinkles' just a ridiculous concept! Coffee's look more like puddings, bearing no similaritity to a simply brewed cup of decent (i.e. not starbucks or costa) coffee.

True but they look pretty and if I liked that sort of thing, they’re the sort of things that I’d like

HoppityBun · 01/01/2025 01:14

Grahamhousehushand · 01/01/2025 00:00

Because the optimum temperature for getting black tea to infuse is btw 90-100c so it's always made with boiling water.

And the suing people over hot drinks thing is an urban myth. There is a genuine case from the US of someone successfully suing McDonald's for serving coffee at a drive thru far too hot so when it split as they drove off they sustained severe burns but importantly a) a number of other people had already been injured, MacDonalds had said they wd sort the coffee temp out and hadn't b) it's foreseeable that serving very hot coffee to customers in moving vehicles places them at risk, this doesn't apply in coffee shops and c) it's the US where claims for personal injury are usually taken by medical insurance companies recovering the costs of the treatment the injured person received.

The idea that Costa can only serve lukewarm coffee here due to this is nonsense.

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I seem to remember that the poor woman eventually died of her injury

AsTheLightFades · 01/01/2025 08:32

Cherrypickled · 01/01/2025 00:17

Could be worse.I could be someone like you.

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Hanlon's Razor

Sidebeforeself · 01/01/2025 08:34

OP - all I can think about are your arteries!

Sidebeforeself · 01/01/2025 08:34

Didn’t mean that in a snippy way

AsTheLightFades · 01/01/2025 08:40

HoppityBun · 01/01/2025 01:12

True but they look pretty and if I liked that sort of thing, they’re the sort of things that I’d like

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Of course, product meets demand, and if you like those frou-frou-ed types of drinks, brill.
They are just so very far removed from a cup of actual coffee!

Simonjt · 01/01/2025 08:44

Cherrypickled · 31/12/2024 22:59

Making it extra hot burns the milk, But if you liked burnt milk,crack on.

It burns the coffee too, so people who ask for extra hot are actually asking for their coffee to be purposely ruined.

iwasntexpectingthatoops · 01/01/2025 08:52

Costa dell gingerbread lattes year round, you have to ask for the Christmas one.

SolarWinds · 01/01/2025 08:59

CannotBelieveImAskingThis · 31/12/2024 23:19

Not sure if this helps but I used to work for Costa Coffee.

The milk is heated 140°F, or 160 if extra hot. Milk burns at ~180.

Costa have a no questions asked drink swap policy. They don't advertise it any more but it's still in place. (The last time they used it widely was introducing flat whites in 2010. They told customers to try it, and we'll make your normak drink for free if you don't like it.)

However, it still applies. So if it's not to your liking, ask for it to be remade. If you like to have very, very hot coffee ask them to heat to 175. (If you want it tepid and immediately drinkable 120 is your number.)

Why on earth are they working in Fahrenheit?

Sherararara · 01/01/2025 09:04

TomatoSandwiches · 31/12/2024 23:02

YANBU but to avoid disappointment get yourself a good flask and make it up with regular coffee and save the dessert type drinks for at home and get all the bits in so you can enjoy it.

Yeah cos that tastes so nice out of a flask…🤔🙄

ObliviousCoalmine · 01/01/2025 09:04

Nextyearhopes · 31/12/2024 22:41

Or when you specifically say ‘extra hot’ and you could literally stir it with your finger when it comes.

Coffee isn't supposed to be 'extra hot'. It's supposed to be a drinkable temp when it's made, or the milk is scalded. They're trying to give you a drink that doesn't taste shite.

CannotBelieveImAskingThis · 01/01/2025 09:07

SolarWinds · 01/01/2025 08:59

Why on earth are they working in Fahrenheit?

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It's just the units on the thermometer. At Costa the milk is steamed or frothed by the barista using a milk thermometer. Starbucks is done by a machine to a set tempreture.

smokeandflame · 01/01/2025 09:08

The worst thing is when you pick up your latte and it's so light that you know at least half of the cup is foam. By the time you drink it, the foam is gone and your cup is half full. Such a waste of money.

I only ever get Costa/ Starbucks at services when there's no other option, but it's become such a rip off that I'm going to start taking my own in a thermos.

smokeandflame · 01/01/2025 09:09

ObliviousCoalmine · 01/01/2025 09:04

Coffee isn't supposed to be 'extra hot'. It's supposed to be a drinkable temp when it's made, or the milk is scalded. They're trying to give you a drink that doesn't taste shite.

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Well yes, agreed, but the point is if someone does ask for it extra hot (which is an option at Costa etc), then it should be served extra hot.

DappledThings · 01/01/2025 09:12

smokeandflame · 01/01/2025 09:08

The worst thing is when you pick up your latte and it's so light that you know at least half of the cup is foam. By the time you drink it, the foam is gone and your cup is half full. Such a waste of money.

I only ever get Costa/ Starbucks at services when there's no other option, but it's become such a rip off that I'm going to start taking my own in a thermos.

Isn't that what a latte is meant to be though? If you just want a coffee with lots of milk ask for an Americano with extra room for more milk.

smokeandflame · 01/01/2025 09:13

DappledThings · 01/01/2025 09:12

Isn't that what a latte is meant to be though? If you just want a coffee with lots of milk ask for an Americano with extra room for more milk.

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No, a latte is a milky coffee with foam on top (normally a centimetre or so). Not half a cup of foam.

Balancedcitizen101 · 01/01/2025 09:19

BliainNua · 31/12/2024 23:01

'Cos they're too bloody terrified of getting sued for it being too hot 🙄😠

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Where there's a blame, there's a claim. People will sue for all sorts, including this.

daisychain01 · 01/01/2025 09:23

BrightOrangeDahlias · 31/12/2024 22:59

What would you say if part of the "extras" are missing? Would it be fair to ask for a refund for the difference (say) between a normal latte with syrup and the special edition latte? It seems so petty to quibble over a squirt of cream or some sprinkles or whatever, but when it happens every time it's really annoying.

I think I should revert to my standard, non-festive earl grey order anyway. Better for my waist-line and wallet...!

as it's happened quite a few times, I'd ask them to check if all the ingredients are in stock before you order.

"I'd like to order your nutty latte with creamy squirty blob and chocolate sprinkle hearts (made up drink!) but can you check you've got all the ingredients before I order".

if you were to take it to the limit on your consumer rights, you'd say they're breaching regulations by advertising a product that they can't supply, and try to take your money but fob you off with a lesser quality product.

if you can be bothered you could write to Starbucks/Costa HQ and highlight that their shops aren't able to supply the drinks according to the publicity and are therefore breaching the Trade Descriptions Act (1968) by misleading the consumer. I bet they get away with daylight robbery!

Ellie1015 · 01/01/2025 09:33

Our local Costa are good at letting you know if not available. You can take it with bits missing or choose something else. I would be very disappointed at no cream on a Christmas coffee!