Mmmmmm McAroma (Aroma)

Name: nedrichards

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Product:	Aroma
Date:	19.02.01 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lovely bright colours, fun teapots

Disadvantages: not so lovely coffee

This McDonalds owned chain of coffee bars are spreading rapidly across the country. If you like coffee bars (as I do) you might think that's a good thing, but be warned; they are not what they seem!

On first impressions an Aroma coffee bar looks very nice, bright blocks of primary colours are cheery and inviting (especially on those wet and gloomy winter evenings). The prices seem reasonable (about £1.50 for a cup), the music isn't too loud and the staff are cheery and eager to help. In short it seems like a perfect shop.

They sell all the usual coffee options (espresso, cappuccino etc.) as well as a good range of sandwiches (the Smoked Salmon in particular is very good) and some lovely hot soup. These, other food options, whilst slightly overpriced aren't too outrageous and could be worth a look. Do be sure to check the best before date of the sandwiches, as they don't seem to be overly hot on this. The brown bread sandwiches in particular tend to suffer from 'gas staleness' where the protective atmosphere they were packaged in makes the bread go a bit hard. Apart from this they're not a bad option but if you want really fresh sandwiches then go to Pret (co-incidentally now 30% McPret).

There's just one fly in this seemingly perfect ointment: the coffee. It just simply isn't very good. That's all there is to it really. They're a coffee bar (supposedly) and the coffee isn't very good. Oh dear. It is such an elemental failing that you would think they'd have it fixed by now but no, they still persist in trying to pass off water as coffee. Whilst this may have worked for Jesus, few people suggest that McDonalds is divine, so we have to look at why this is the case.

It could be one of many inter-related factors: They may have the temperature of their water too high or too low. Their staff-training program could be very bad. They may buy some really bad beans. Their washing up liquid
could be extra strong. I don't know, but it isn't as isolated occurrence. This happens consistently in all of their branches to such an extent that I now actively avoid them.

This coffee disaster has nothing to do with their cheerful and charming staff who are happy to replace your coffee and have another go, unfortunately it makes no difference. Their coffee isn't very good. That's all there is too it. In fact I would almost go as far as to prefer the filter stuff which you can get in McDonalds (it's a lot cheaper for one) to it.

As most coffee shops seem to these days they have a complimentary range of tea and coffee instruments. So far, so usual. However with Aroma the twist is that they are really craft designs in lovely bright colours and inspired dots. These are a cut above the usual Starbucks tat and look brilliant. I've never used one so I'm not sure how practical they are but they keep the bright and fun air of the place going and look really nice.

If you still want to go to one after all that (maybe you want to sample how truly awful it is for yourself) I'll tell you where you can find them. Mostly in London, as unfortunately almost all coffee bars are. There they do have some very good locations. In fact their branch in the London transport museum is really quite fun (so long as you avoid the coffee). If you want to have a look at it online then please look at the webcam at www.ltmuseum.co.uk. They do have some branches elsewhere and they're opening more all the time. They're not easy to miss in their bright yellow and blue livery so pop in if you do spot one: have a soup and maybe a smoothie, but please, stay off the coffee.

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