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?

I learned a simple way to make my cafe lattes at home during Covid using a drip coffee maker. Just double the amount of coffee to water, ie I use 1/2 cup ground coffee to 2 c water and I set the machine to "bold". I get espresso strength. I make hot and iced lattes with it. It's always just to my liking, so perfect, Every. Single. Time. And waaaay cheaper. After having kids I just can't justify spending the same amount of money as milk for my kids on a bloody sub-par coffee and standing in line, etc (I'm in Vancouver, CAN). I make lattes for friends when they come by and they cannot believe it's from a basic drip machine.

(sitting smugly now with iced latte and caramel drizzle)

@Mumtobabyhavoc

Yes - I think filter machines make nice coffee.

What a silly thing to say.
I'm sure the OP has other things to worry about. She just put this one on MN. That not OK with you?

Yes, it's SO demanding to want a coffee that's not fridge cold 🙄

She likes it very hot, yes, but she expects it (as would in a cafe) to be made in a coffee machine

I experienced the same a few years ago. The same member of staff kept making my coffee lukewarm. The third time I asked him to warm it up and he didn't look happy but he threw it away (wasteful) and made another. The same thing happened the following week so I just stopped going in.

That's not how the machines work, they won't produce the steam needed to heat the milk unless they're at the right temperature. I have a triple machine, so pretty big, and it only takes about 15-20 minutes to be up to temperature. To be honest, it sounds more like a useless batista. Maybe they're using a jug that's just been used so it reels hot, even though the milk isn't?

I own an independent, I'd be mortified if my staff were sending out rubbish drinks, but perhaps that's why they're struggling...!

Coffee isn't meant to be hot hot, but if it was actually cold twice then fair to ask for a refund.
I think not boiling hot is fair even if that's not how you like it.

I’ve experienced Luke warm coffee myself but to be honest the best coffee is when I make it at home anyway - cafetière so really simple and boiling as I drink it black

Agree! If I'm paying, then I'm paying for it to be good. In fact, better than I could do myself.

I’d stop going. What a waste of time and money.

I sympathise - even when I ask for “extra hot” it’s mostly warm at best. In Italy the coffee is properly hot even if you have a latte or cappuccino so I’m not sure why we aren’t allowed it hot too!

I've stopped buying coffee out and make my own and bring it out in a flask. I hated paying stupid prices for lukewarm coffee. I started asking for it extra hot as it wasn't warm enough. One place I asked them to microwave it once, as I hated 'making a fuss'. Definitely ask for a hot one or a refund now at current prices.

Why not buy a posh coffee machine to make your own exactly how you like it at home? Almost a fiver a time you are spending at the coffee shop and not even enjoying it!
I have the opposite problem i drink black coffee and it is always way too hot to drink takes at least 10-15 mins of waiting around for it too cool enough that i dont burn my mouth

Not unreasonable if asked twice and still not to your liking but as a coffee shop owner myself for a cappuccino, they either just didn't steam the milk for long enough to your liking or they arent letting the machine reach the ideal pressure before using so the steaming is inefffective. That could knacker their equipment and is a false economy. Keepine it on all the time is marginally more expensive than having to repressure and heat every single day, assuming theyre open 7 days a week.
Our machine times out when it reaches optimal temp as its thermometer is intergrated but we also have a manual setting to override when a customer would like it extra hot. People like it how they like it, it's our job to deliver as best we can to the varying tastes and it really does help when customers specify else they will get it to our standard

This happened to me at Upper Crust at Euston. I've never gone back.

Well, if you feel guilty about not supporting the business, then carry on paying for drinking cold coffee at £4.2O with a clear conscience. Your choice.

Tea, coffee - if it doesn't burn, I don't drink it.
I would've asked for a refund, especially after it being the 2nd bad coffee.
But I wouldn't go back, is given it up ages ago and found somewhere new.
Do you take a decent keep warm cup? That helps a lot!

So many people complaining about the cost of a coffee, that will no doubt complain that their local high street is either a) dead, or b) taken over by chains.

OP, if you're not getting what you like, yanbu to stop buying it

I’ve said YABU simply because you have given them chance after chance. Should have taken the hit on this one and simply just not gone back.

Is there legislation governing the temperature of coffee?

They can serve it extra hot - I always ask for takeaway coffee to be made extra hot and have never had anyone refuse. As long as they’re complying with H&S regs in the way they handle it, there’s no problem.

Yes I completely comprehend & empathise with liking my coffee immensely warm 🤗God Bless You
You're paying enough money to expect your coffee to be to your liking
£4.20 is a lot for one cup, especially keeping in mind, you can purchase a complete 100 grams jar of Nescafe for less at just £3.74
Yes it's nice that the staff members were apologetic & they don't make the rules, they have to follow, but it's not your fault either & it doesn't seem they're going to be able to meet your requirements, unfortunately
Please don't feel shame or guilt for deciding to stop forking out the cost, of something which doesn't make you content
Wishing You&Yours all the utmost very best 💚

Blimey, have you calculated how much that’s costing you in a year? Over 52 weeks, that’s over £1k 😣
And it’s cold ☕️

Some people will find this sacrilegious, but (with one exception in a tiny cheap café in Rome) I haven't found coffee in Italy to be that amazing. I much prefer coffee made in the kind of UK cafés that are influenced by Antipodean coffee culture.
I don't want my coffee lukewarm, but I do think things like flat whites become unpleasant if they're too hot.

Paying £4.20 for a coffee is mentalist behaviour. Just make it at home and put it in an insulated cup.