Take-away coffee

[OnTheRoll]

Had a late night working util 1am, then was up at 7am to drop off DD to the train station and looking at a very busy day ahead. There is a Costa at our train station, I hadn't had any breakfast and for a few seconds I contemplated getting myself a coffee - to pick me up and to spare the effort of making one at home. I love take-away coffee, it always feels like a treat. Then I remembered that this coffee would now be in the region of £4.50. And decided that for this money, I can wait until I get home and make one there.
If this take-away coffee had been £3.00-ish like before I would not think twice. I can still afford it technically but just can't justify this cost for a cup of hot drink.
I wonder if coffee chains will feel the impact or if there are still enough customers paying these prices?

I'm a sucker for a Latte but have found I don't find the price too painful if I get a meal deal from Tesco or the Co op and use their Costa machine and my store card.

I'm sure not everyone likes the machine coffee but I really enjoy it.

£3.50 for a sandwich, hot coffee and snack (like chopped watermelon or a chocolate bar) isn't too bad at all.

I very rarely have a drink when I'm out. I keep a big bottle of water in the car so don't need to. I do love a nice coffee but I have an old bean to cup machine so I don't need to go out for it. I've perfected my coffee so much that I prefer it to shop made these days, which is much easier on the pocket.

It's been £2.80 for an americano at Costa for as long as I can remember...

My local independently owned skate shop makes the best coffee in town and depending on what you have it varies from £1.50-2.50.

Support independent, they're generally cheaper and better.

The Costa machine in the petrol station near me is less than £3. Granted, less choice, but very nice imo.

Definitely need to a decent reusable cup. I love my thermos king cup, totally leakproof and keeps it properly hot for a good 6 hours and lukewarm for longer.
Used to get a coffee every morning but rarely get one now. Cups not cheap but worth the investment.

My sister has a chillys reusable cup. Absolutely loves it but it’s £30!

I have an old contigo one which seem to do the job. I don’t really worry about it being hot for ages. I’m more worried about leaks.

I do have a collapsible cup too which is useful for packing away when Empty.

I used to regularly buy a costa. Every few days. Just checked my app - last bought one in May and that was because we were travelling.

I have bought other takeaway coffees maybe once or twice.

I was “rewarding” myself previously cos of pandemic working but now with CoL cant afford it but also am not looking for it.

I buy my breakfast on my work from office days. I have a medium flat white with almond milk and Vegemite toast on grainy sourdough, costs about $10.20 Australian dollars. The cost of your coffee alone OP sounds exorbitant!

If I want a morning pick me up I go to greggs and get a morning meal deal - sausage bap and coffee for £2.70 (was £2.30 though)

I found it too expensive even at the old £3 prices! We hardly ever get coffee out, but we had some last year when DD was napping and I wanted to sit indoors in the rain. I was surprised at the price but it had been years since I'd bought a coffee so I thought I was just out of touch.

I just carry a water bottle for drinks now. A hot flask is too heavy to carry (we bring packed lunches for 4 people going out, and we're on foot).

I got out of the habit of take away coffee in lockdown and usually make at home and edge with me as I really enjoy a walk with a coffee. Have various travel cups / flask cups.

im currently on mat leave and do go for coffees weekly for something to do. I often walk home now instead as the cost has gotten so high it takes away from the experience a bit!

Why not?
I love a cappuccino made with coconut milk - if it’s a Starbucks I get the blonde roast. I cant reproduce it at home, and McDonalds don't do coconut milk.

An Americano in Costa is £2.85 here. If you use your own cup you get a free drink after 5 visits.

A lot of the expensive coffees are just desserts masquerading as a coffee.

That sounds like an error. My son and I go on occasion as a treat. I have the mango and passionfruit cooler (what your daughter had), my son has a large hot chocolate and we both have 2 slices of toast. That costs £12.10.

The cakes are slightly more than the toast, but not THAT much more. Did you get a receipt?

I met my best friend at lunch time for a Costa coffee seasonal drink and I had a brownie £6.65 and wasn't even that nice. Until recently I brought them quite often but at not much change from a tenner for DH and I it is just too much now.

I don't buy them to take away any more. If I'm up early for an airport run or whatever I make coffee in an insulated mug and take it. My favourite coffee beans are £2.80 for a whole bag so I resent £4.50 for one cup!!

I swear because less people pay with cash now, money is more readily available on a card and so they tend to tap and pay without much thought. This goes for coffee I think.

Totally agree with this. Especially when it's contactless. There's no friction. Mines on my watch so don't even carry a purse anymore.

I'm a tea drinker...I cant stand coffee but even if i did i wouldnt pay those prices...i'd rather spend that money on lunch out...a sandwich or jacket spud etc.

Dh asked me to get him a Costa at a service station the other day, £4.69! I was outraged

Was this in central London? Because the Pret near me wouldn't be over £8 for those two things. It would still be around £6 which is bad enough! It's annoying that they can't just have a set price menu, but I guess central London branches are way more expensive to run...

Have never seen a costa with £4.50 coffee prices - unless you’re having all sorts of extras, that can’t be right!

I think costa charges you 50p for plant milk. Starbucks doesn’t, but I don’t know if it works out cheaper or is just hidden cost.

Not in London but in a train station in the South East.