COSTA~ DOESN'T COSTA'S MUCH AS SOME OF THE COMPETITION. (Costa Coffee)

Member Name: saramac

Product:	Costa Coffee
Date:	05/08/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hot, strong, tasty coffee.

Disadvantages: The cakes are highly addictive and the coffee can be expensive.

As a sometimes coffee drinker, but full time tea "belly", I can tell you exactly when things changed~ within a week of working in a small family run Italian Restaurant, I was converted, and very soon became a total coffee snob.

I was astounded at care that went into each cup of coffee, in all my years of working in the catering industry, I had never used a proper Italian Gaggia machine"my eyes were opened".

Also I couldn't believe how long it took until the Italian family I worked for would even sample my carefully, lovingly brewed coffee and to this day I feel proud that I can make a cooffee that passes all the strict Italian guide lines as dramatic as that sounds to you "coffee haters" out there.

This is where we lead to my Love of Costa Coffee~

History~
~~~~~
The Costa brothers arrived on our shores and opened their first coffee shop in 1971 at 9 Newport Street London. Now a few metres away from this shop is the Costa Rostary where all the important stuff like roasting and blending happens.

The Costa Foundation~ builds, maintains and improves schools within 5 coffee growing communities in~
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ethiopia
Guatemala
Uganda.
It has made a big difference to areas that had little or no~
Education
Clean water
Sanitation
Transport or food for school meals.

If you wish to find out more, have a look at their website~ www.costa.co.uk.
They also have the Costa Book Awards which I don't know much about but the said website will enlighten you if you so wish.

Costa Coffee~
~~~~~~~~~

In my opinion is the best of the coffee shop chain offerings on the high street apart from their unique blend of coffee ~"Mocha Italia" first blended 37 years ago by Sergio and Bruno Costa which is a closely guarded secret (like most Italian recipe's in my experience)
All they will divulge is ~It is slow roasted to give a unique, strong, full flavour.

The coffee is always hot not lukewarm as some coffee shops"Starbucks" will have you believe the coffee can't be served too hot as it will burn (and the milk if you have milk).

Rubbish!

What they really mean is ~ if we serve you lukewarm coffee you will drink up and go, they want a fast turn around.

Rubbish!

Coffee is to be enjoyed, slowly in a relaxed state, especially as its not exactly cheap for a cup. So get your book or newspaper out and savour every last drop, give yourself a smidgen of "time out".

Staff~
~~~~

It can't be a coincidence that the vast majority of staff in Costa's shops are excellent~ polite, clean and tidy, friendly and know how to make a damn
good cup of coffee in my experience. Anyone who passes muster with me is a "good un" as Im very fussy about staff after years of training them.
So they must choose carefully and train them well.

The Shop's~
~~~~~~~

Are always clean, tidy and very welcoming and friendly(even in Hale where you need a pass to enter or sneak through the borders as I do).
They are well stocked with a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, panninis,
and flat breads.
Cakes don't mention their cakes they are second to none in my eyes~ delicious~ just like Mama makes.
I recommend the Raspberry and Almond Slice, Chocolate and Caramel Shortbread and the new addition Lemon and Coconut Square(the tartest lemon curd~ divine)
In fact don't sample them as you may become "hooked" like me.

Drinks~
~~~~
They offer all the favourites~
Espresso~ 4 different variation's are available.
Cappucino
Latte
Americano
Mocha

Available in 3 sizes the largest has 2 handles so you can imagine how big that is.
The Americano is approx £2 for a medium which is a fair size coffee.

Hot Chocolate, Tea, Herbal Tea, Iced Coffee (lovely when its sunny), and Frescato which is their take on milkshake really, all add to the choice for your selection.

Fairtrade, or Decaffeinated coffee and skimmed or soya milk are offered at no extra cost.

A variety of flavoured syrups are also on the menu if you fancy a "flavoured coffee" not for me thanks! Not sure how much they cost because I don't buy them.

Price's~
~~~~
Although the prices are by no means cheap they are on the whole cheaper than some of the other coffee chains, the coffee I drink is always one of the cheapest. They do have special "deals" for coffee and a sandwich or cake. At the moment I believe they offer~ Any drink and a sandwich~£4.95

Conclusion~
~~~~~~~

Costa Coffe in my opinion the best choice in the coffee shop chains available on our high street.

If there is an independant coffee shop around, I always like to give them a try, but in my local area we don't really have a choice unless I go into Manchester, where I have a few favourites~ I always like to support independant business when I can.

I award 5 stars to Costa Coffee.

Please remember this is only my opinion and I don't mean to upset anyone with "strong opposing views".

Thanks for reading my rambling's, I might just go and brew a coffee now .

Summary: A lovely friendly shop to partake of a coffee and cake whilst relaxing.