Its amazing just how much coffee shops have exploded in popularity over the last ten years. I remember a friend taking me to the first ever (and then only) Starbucks in the UK on Kings road in Chelsea, must have been around 1999.
Most of the coffee sold by the big chains isn't that great quality wise. People should support the quality independents who often do better coffee for less price. Plus their cakes are often made locally and fresh, rather than in some far off factory and pumped full of e numbers.
I think in a lot of cases the people who frequent places like Starbucks don't actually like coffee that much... they only like saying 'I'm having this at Starbucks' or like posing walking around with one. I bet if you offered them a plain black double espresso, made the Italian way, they would turn their noses up at it
It seems in these hard times going to a place like Starbucks is a status symbol, like walking around sucking at a paper cup filled with a thousand calories of froth is something luxurious!!
I would be in Nero every morning if I could afford it. But I don't take away, I drink in. A fab way to relax into the working day. Sadly I have to restrict myself to once or maybe twice a week.
I think in a lot of cases the people who frequent places like Starbucks don't actually like coffee that much... they only like saying 'I'm having this at Starbucks' or like posing walking around with one. I bet if you offered them a plain black double espresso, made the Italian way, they would turn their noses up at it
It seems in these hard times going to a place like Starbucks is a status symbol, like walking around sucking at a paper cup filled with a thousand calories of froth is something luxurious!!
Not sure about the idea of people "posing" with their fancy coffee cups.
There's probably some truth in the idea that they're just fashionable places to socialise though, in just the same way that it was actually "cool" to visit somewhere like McD's or KFC back in the late 1980s.
Must say, I consider myself to be a big fan of coffee and I don't think you can beat a nice cup of black coffee, straight out of the pot.
When you start bunging milk and cream and sugar and chocolate and cinnamon and nutmeg and christ knows what else into it, all you're doing is detracting from the taste IMO.
Course, that's just me though. I guess I can consider myself lucky that I'm so easy to please.
Well I certainly can't make a drink like the ones I buy at Costa.
I'm not a big coffee drinker (actually don't like the stuff by itself at all), but I love a hazelnut or caramel latte from Costa when I get the chance. I'm a bit fed up of hearing people moan about what a waste of money it is to spend £3 on a drink or sneer at the fact it's not 'proper' coffee. I happen to just enjoy drinking the flavoured lattes that Costa make and I can afford to do so.
So, leave me alone coffee snobs!
I'm with you. I actually like the coffee these places sell. I've got a Tassimo machine at home but that doesn't taste anywhere near as good.
I think in a lot of cases the people who frequent places like Starbucks don't actually like coffee that much... they only like saying 'I'm having this at Starbucks' or like posing walking around with one. I bet if you offered them a plain black double espresso, made the Italian way, they would turn their noses up at it
It seems in these hard times going to a place like Starbucks is a status symbol, like walking around sucking at a paper cup filled with a thousand calories of froth is something luxurious!!
What a strange post. If anyone thinks drinking a takeaway latte is some sort of status symbol, they have something wrong with their mind.
For most people who are not coffee snobs, it's a decent cup of coffee and it's convenient. In Central London, there is one on about every 3rd street corner and most have queues out of the door. I'd be shocked if more than a tiny handful of these people are there because they think it's a statement. It's certainly something that's never crossed my mind and I was on at least 3 medium lattes a day until recently!
Well I certainly can't make a drink like the ones I buy at Costa.
I'm not a big coffee drinker (actually don't like the stuff by itself at all), but I love a hazelnut or caramel latte from Costa when I get the chance. I'm a bit fed up of hearing people moan about what a waste of money it is to spend £3 on a drink or sneer at the fact it's not 'proper' coffee. I happen to just enjoy drinking the flavoured lattes that Costa make and I can afford to do so.
So, leave me alone coffee snobs!
Apparently it's a status symbol, Mrs de Winter! :eek: Had you any clue you were selling your soul when you ordered that hazelnut latte?!
I think in a lot of cases the people who frequent places like Starbucks don't actually like coffee that much... they only like saying 'I'm having this at Starbucks' or like posing walking around with one. I bet if you offered them a plain black double espresso, made the Italian way, they would turn their noses up at it
It seems in these hard times going to a place like Starbucks is a status symbol, like walking around sucking at a paper cup filled with a thousand calories of froth is something luxurious!!
So what? Why the snobbery? Do you think that people shouldn't buy/drink something they like just because it's not 'authentic' in your opinion?
So what? Why the snobbery? Do you think that people shouldn't buy/drink something they like just because it's not 'authentic' in your opinion?
The point is it's not actual coffee in most cases, is it? There's nothing 'snobbish' in saying that I bet before these places came along, a lot of people never touched coffee.
You certainly can't get a decent plain strong black coffee in one of those places
The point is it's not actual coffee in most cases, is it? There's nothing 'snobbish' in saying that I bet before these places came along, a lot of people never touched coffee.
You certainly can't get a decent plain strong black coffee in one of those places
Again, so what?
Have you ever been to a cupping? Do you think you could tell the difference between Kenya AA and Tanzanian peaberry? How about Brazilian vs. Colombian?
I'm addicted to Greggs takeaway coffees, I just have to go in and buy one whenever I pass the shop. Whats anyones opian on McDonalds coffee. I'm not a huge fan of McDonalds but went in to a store a while ago for coffee, and was quite surprised as I quite enjoyed it
I think in a lot of cases the people who frequent places like Starbucks don't actually like coffee that much... they only like saying 'I'm having this at Starbucks' or like posing walking around with one. I bet if you offered them a plain black double espresso, made the Italian way, they would turn their noses up at it
It seems in these hard times going to a place like Starbucks is a status symbol, like walking around sucking at a paper cup filled with a thousand calories of froth is something luxurious!!
You and I live on a different Planet!
Absolutely no idea how you draw such wild and extreme assumptions at all.
Personally I only drink espresso, usually doubles......and I couldn't give a flying fig what name is on the cup as long as it's good. And that's not down to the name over the door or on the cup.....it's all down to the machine and if the people operating it know how to use it.
The best coffee is served in Europe though, not America.
A good strong cup of black coffee can be found easily in Italy, Scandinavia and even Germany and the Netherlands.
Starbucks coffee is revolting, Costa and Nero are okay as places go
You are right - but the thing is that in the US, Starbucks is pretty good by their standards. The coffee is most other places is even worse. Americans like their coffee very weak and in large volumes. You'd never see anyone in Italy drinking coffee by the pint.
Americans haven't a clue about cofeee - and their tea is even worse!
I'm addicted to Greggs takeaway coffees, I just have to go in and buy one whenever I pass the shop. Whats anyones opian on McDonalds coffee. I'm not a huge fan of McDonalds but went in to a store a while ago for coffee, and was quite surprised as I quite enjoyed it
BIB......only ever had one in a McD which was over boiled black water. Proper coffee shouldn't even see boiling water.
You are right - but the thing is that in the US, Starbucks is pretty good by their standards. The coffee is most other places is even worse. Americans like their coffee very weak and in large volumes. You'd never see anyone in Italy drinking coffee by the pint.
Americans haven't a clue about cofeee - and their tea is even worse!
Bit of a generalization there.
Tell me what's wrong with Stumptown, Espresso Vivace, Batdorf and Bronson, Victrola, Ladro, Lighthouse... ??
Tell me what's wrong with Stumptown, Espresso Vivace, Batdorf and Bronson, Victrola, Ladro, Lighthouse... ??
Never heard of any of them
Of course it's a generalisation. It's like saying "all American beer is crap". That is true for the national brands, but seek out the local and regional breweries and there is some fabulous beers to be had.
Of course it's a generalisation. It's like saying "all American beer is crap". That is true for the national brands, but seek out the local and regional breweries and there is some fabulous beers to be had.
Oh, I see you added.
IMO, it's a generalization that's as true here as it is there. There's good and bad to be found wherever you go, but if you are a true aficionado you'll look beyond the chains.
We have a coffee bar at work. They installed one when the staff restaurant was refurbished. It's been a huge success, though the lines can get a bit long when the manager types all come out of meetings about about 11am or 3pm. I tend to avoid those times.
I've now moved over to drinking coffees there instead of buying cokes (I'm a programmer and we mostly run on caffeine), so my actual expenditure has remained the same. I think coffee is probably an improvement over diet coke. I certainly feel more grown up drinking it, though that's not always a good thing . I tend to prefer a standard black coffee, but I do have the odd latte every now and again.
I drink 2 a day on average.
It's definitely not as good as the coffee from the our staff restaurant at our offices in The Hague or Berlin.
We have a cafe at work which is some kind of Costa franchise. I'll buy one occasionally but I couldn't justify the cost to get one everyday. Too expensive.
I have an espresso machine at home but it's a bit of waste to get it properly warmed up just to make one cup in a morning, so I usually just use a small Moka pot.
The espressos over here are terrible anyway. In Italy it's more like a ristretto which I prefer.
Whoever won euromillions a few months ago could have bought the whole of Britain their coffee for a week and yet didn't. Rude.
How much is spent on take-away tea?
Comments
I think in a lot of cases the people who frequent places like Starbucks don't actually like coffee that much... they only like saying 'I'm having this at Starbucks' or like posing walking around with one. I bet if you offered them a plain black double espresso, made the Italian way, they would turn their noses up at it
It seems in these hard times going to a place like Starbucks is a status symbol, like walking around sucking at a paper cup filled with a thousand calories of froth is something luxurious!!
I don't drink tea at all.
Not sure about the idea of people "posing" with their fancy coffee cups.
There's probably some truth in the idea that they're just fashionable places to socialise though, in just the same way that it was actually "cool" to visit somewhere like McD's or KFC back in the late 1980s.
Must say, I consider myself to be a big fan of coffee and I don't think you can beat a nice cup of black coffee, straight out of the pot.
When you start bunging milk and cream and sugar and chocolate and cinnamon and nutmeg and christ knows what else into it, all you're doing is detracting from the taste IMO.
Course, that's just me though. I guess I can consider myself lucky that I'm so easy to please.
I'm with you. I actually like the coffee these places sell. I've got a Tassimo machine at home but that doesn't taste anywhere near as good.
What a strange post. If anyone thinks drinking a takeaway latte is some sort of status symbol, they have something wrong with their mind.
For most people who are not coffee snobs, it's a decent cup of coffee and it's convenient. In Central London, there is one on about every 3rd street corner and most have queues out of the door. I'd be shocked if more than a tiny handful of these people are there because they think it's a statement. It's certainly something that's never crossed my mind and I was on at least 3 medium lattes a day until recently!
Apparently it's a status symbol, Mrs de Winter! :eek: Had you any clue you were selling your soul when you ordered that hazelnut latte?!
So what? Why the snobbery? Do you think that people shouldn't buy/drink something they like just because it's not 'authentic' in your opinion?
The point is it's not actual coffee in most cases, is it? There's nothing 'snobbish' in saying that I bet before these places came along, a lot of people never touched coffee.
You certainly can't get a decent plain strong black coffee in one of those places
If it wasn't from a chain, would you actually have the same drink though? Mmm...
Again, so what?
Have you ever been to a cupping? Do you think you could tell the difference between Kenya AA and Tanzanian peaberry? How about Brazilian vs. Colombian?
What?
Absolutely no idea how you draw such wild and extreme assumptions at all.
Personally I only drink espresso, usually doubles......and I couldn't give a flying fig what name is on the cup as long as it's good. And that's not down to the name over the door or on the cup.....it's all down to the machine and if the people operating it know how to use it.
You are right - but the thing is that in the US, Starbucks is pretty good by their standards. The coffee is most other places is even worse. Americans like their coffee very weak and in large volumes. You'd never see anyone in Italy drinking coffee by the pint.
Americans haven't a clue about cofeee - and their tea is even worse!
McD is not a place to go for real coffee.
Bit of a generalization there.
Tell me what's wrong with Stumptown, Espresso Vivace, Batdorf and Bronson, Victrola, Ladro, Lighthouse... ??
Never heard of any of them
Of course it's a generalisation. It's like saying "all American beer is crap". That is true for the national brands, but seek out the local and regional breweries and there is some fabulous beers to be had.
Your loss.
Me neither. Never spent 1p on coffee or even bought anything in a.coffee shop. Never drank it either.
Oh, I see you added.
IMO, it's a generalization that's as true here as it is there. There's good and bad to be found wherever you go, but if you are a true aficionado you'll look beyond the chains.
I've now moved over to drinking coffees there instead of buying cokes (I'm a programmer and we mostly run on caffeine), so my actual expenditure has remained the same. I think coffee is probably an improvement over diet coke. I certainly feel more grown up drinking it, though that's not always a good thing
I drink 2 a day on average.
It's definitely not as good as the coffee from the our staff restaurant at our offices in The Hague or Berlin.
The coffee (cappuccino) in Italy is
lovely.....:p
Starbucks ....Yuk...::
Costa.....Awful.....;)
I have an espresso machine at home but it's a bit of waste to get it properly warmed up just to make one cup in a morning, so I usually just use a small Moka pot.
The espressos over here are terrible anyway. In Italy it's more like a ristretto which I prefer.
How much is spent on take-away tea?