To ask for a refund for cold coffee

[Poorqualityequalsfewercustomers]

Disclaimer: I love my coffee hot to the point where if it’s not burning my mouth, I don’t like it. This means I only go to a few coffee shops that I know will give me what I want.

My local coffee shop is clearly struggling. They have raised prices and shrunk the size of the takeaway cups. Six years ago it was £3.00 for a cappuccino now it’s £4.20, which is expensive but it’s a local business so I have tried to keep supporting.

However, they have also started switching their coffee machine on later in the morning which means it’s not fully heated when they open their doors.

I arrive at doors opening at 8 and then take DC to school and walk the dogs before I log on to work. I can’t go after the dog walk/drop off. Several times recently my coffee has been less than hot (to me), but probably still drinkable to most people. But I haven’t enjoyed it and have mentioned it wasn’t very hot, which is how I know about them not switching the machine on until later as they told me that was likely why and they would switch it on earlier again. However yesterday my coffee was cold. And I do mean cold - the milk was fridge temperature - not just not warm. I grimaced but bared with it. But the same thing happened today, so I asked for a new one. I was served a new one right away with lots of apologies. But the new one was also cold so I asked for a refund.

I’ve already told myself I won’t go back as £4.20 is far too much for a cold coffee which I think is mostly down to their turning the machine on later. I also won’t be going at weekends with DC anymore as I’m unwilling to spend so much for something I don’t enjoy
.

But I’m just wondering what others would have done in my place. They seemed really upset I wasn’t happy and even more so when I asked for a refund and I know they are really struggling. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re gone within the year as every time they have raised prices they seem to have lost the morning ‘regulars.’ But I don’t think it’s unreasonable when you’re paying for something to expect to be given what you want (and more importantly, what you have always had).

Just wondering if others would have done the same? WIBU to ask for a second cup and then a refund? At what point would others stop supporting a local business to try and help it stay open?

The cost of coffee has gone up. A standard Cappuccino or Latte costs around £4.40 at Costa.

I’m glad I don’t have a coffee habit!

If they were serving coffee as hot as you say I would not have gone in again. Scalded coffee, imo, is disgusting. That may be why customers are not returning and now they are making good coffee to win customers back.

I’m surprised at the amount of people you can throw away £4.20, that’s nearly a fiver!
I’m a wimp because a coffee shop I use to love now can’t seem to make a cappuccino.

Now is milky coffee with barely a centimetre of foam.
I just don’t go now, last time I complained the barista said I asked for latte!
I would stop going (but feel guilty).

Couldn’t you ask for it to go in the microwave?

I’m surprised they even sell coffee that hot, given the case where a fast food chain was sued by a customer for serving coffee that scalded a customer.

No you aren't being unreasonable, they had a chance to make it right and it was still cold, struggling or not they can't serve cold coffee. Turning on the machine at a time that means it will be hot enough when they open is a must - and what they will save in electricity they will rapidly loose in refunds. That said no coffee machine will make the coffee "hot" as it burns it and makes it very bitter, so you would be better asking them to pop in in the microwave for you, or save yourself a fortune and get a machine at home to make one to take with you instead

I wouldn't continue to support them for bad coffee, but then again I'm always thinking about the long term cost of daily discretionary purchases.

£4.20 each working day over a working life is £47,250 total (assuming it doesn't grow). Drip feed that £47250 into a baby's junior SIPP pension investments over 40 odd years, it may be worth around £143000 in today's money.

Leave it to grow from around the age of 40 until retirement age in their SIPP pension, then it might be worth £383000 at age 68 to them, or about £15000 annually in additional pension in today's money.

I do feel sorry for cafes that are struggling but this is why I make my coffee at home.

I don't understand the idea of buying a coffee anyway. Have one at breakfast and another when you get home, especially as you WFH.
I am very fussy about scalding coffee so I get it, equally I wouldn't dream of buying coffee out unless I was actually sitting in a cafe. Even then I generally avoid because it's never hot enough.

Yep, even in central London or somewhere like Hampstead, I've paid I think £4 for an oat flat white. Locally, rather less.
If they are 'at a loss' as to why they can't make their coffee/milk hot or even warm, then I think it's time for you to go elsewhere. I do know what you mean about supporting local/family-run businesses, but there's a line, I think.

Vote with your feet - try elsewhere or make your own coffee. No need to make such a big drama.

I wouldn't make more problems for them and ask for a refund, I'd simply stop going. Or if I desperately wanted to do my bit in keeping them going, I'd just give it a blast in the microwave when I got home!

It can be hard to watch a business you've supported for years slowly tank. But it really isn't your problem. One drink, however expensive, isn't going to be the make or break point.
I think it can be really hard to make a coffee shop viable, especially without the backing of a big brand behind you. Friends of friends launched a coffee shop just before covid. They managed to survive by diversifying into a wellness/self-care/mental health hub, but their marriage didn't survive. They managed to keep it going another couple of years, "as friends", then they announced they were closing for good a few weeks ago.

You really really don't understand why people do, just because you don't?
Off the top of my head:

• I can't make a flat white at home like a trained pro with a proper machine can
• I don't keep in all the syrups, cinnamon and chocolate for the top etc, and it's nice to have the option to add those to my coffee (disclaimer: I never actually add flavours, but a lot of people do)
• it's nice feeling that you've had something made for you
• It's an affordable but luxurious-feeling treat once a week or so, or on a tough day
• I like to support cafes run by a family, or a couple of friends, like a lot of my local ones
• again in my local ones, you get a warm welcome and good chat. Good music, nice art on the walls, shelves of books. If you're taking away it's a quick social pick-me-up and if you're sitting in it's half an hour of people-watching/idle chat with the staff and other customers/browsing books/looking at the art

Those saying microwave it – microwaving coffee destroys the flavours and makes it taste bitter and burnt.

I get why you feel guilty but you’re a paying customer and £4.20 is a lot to spend on something you won’t enjoy!

I have the opposite issue: I can’t stand coffee or tea
too hot, and I like it quite milky. However, I’ve had to refuse drinks a few times because I’ve been given a coffee with almost no milk in, asked for a bit more milk and they’ve dumped basically an entire pint in, so the coffee is then both cold and too weak. I much prefer it when shops let you add your own milk for that reason!

Often with milk based drinks, they do not want to overhear the milk as it impairs the flavour. A lot of serious barista types only heat the milk to between 60°C and 65°C, which can obviously drop off quite quickly if you do not drink it straight away

I hate tepid coffee and always ask for it extra hot. And have sent it back plenty of times if it’s still too cold so I’m afraid asking twice, I don’t blame you for seeking a refund. If it’s somewhere you like going, I’d be tempted to go back for one last time and explain what happened and quite how hot you like it and ask if this is something they can do for you. If not, accept you’ll have to make your own coffee or go elsewhere

You can ask for it extra hot. They still won't overheat the milk (if they're good) but you won't feel you have to down your expensive coffee in one!
I'd say though that I only ask for extra hot with cafes/baristas I trust; some places take you too literally and overheat it to the point of burning or scalding it.

Stop ordering a cappuccino if the heat is important to you. Burning the milk is gross, and the air bubbles in the foam will cool quicker than straight coffee. Maybe switch to an Americano with hot milk?

Obviously don't pay that much for coffee that isn't what you want. Go somewhere else that makes coffee to your satisfaction.

Op please take the pressure off your own shoulders to support local businesses.

I think it’s great to support local, but not when they give shit service and charge £4 for a drink you can make at home.

It’s also fine to have a mix. I support many local businesses but I also have no problem supporting companies like McDonalds and Costa because they have good business models. And also provide jobs for young people.

Trouble is it doesn't sound like they can heat any milk in any context!

That’s the price of a coffee these days tbh.

I love mine super hot too - I always say before hand “pls can you make extra hot” and I just don’t go to the one place on our high st that didn’t deliver on that. We have lots of choice though for
Coffee shops

Many don’t do extra hot because it changes the texture of the milk, breaking down proteins in the milk can make it taste bitter. Heating milk brings out the natural sweetness but overheating breaks this down so it looses it’s sweetness

Don't ask for a refund. If the coffee isnt hot enough tell them. If they can't fix thd problem stop going. You should have said something before. But you're not unreasonable to want your coffee piping hot.

I definitely think you right to ask for a refund. £4 is £4. You don’t owe them anything just because they are a local business.

I once went to a local cafe for brunch with my baby. I ended up walking out as they wouldn’t let me keep her in the pushchair at the table but also didn’t have a suitable high chair. Chain place down the road had no issue with the pushchair so I was pleased to give them my money. Local doesn’t always mean good or deserving.