Costa-lot Coffee (Costa Coffee)

Member Name: rob_writer

Product:	Costa Coffee
Date:	07/04/02 (5435 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It is nice

Disadvantages: But expensive

What is it with these coffee shops that are springing up in almost every town and city in the country? Could it be that we have finally turned in to America? Has Friends really got that much influence that we think it would be cool to spend half our lives in a Coffee shop? And something else, if they charge as much in the USA I must question how Joey can afford to keep buying coffee! (After all his acting skills leave a lot to be desired!).

Costa Coffee is probably not half as well known as the famous Starbucks, but it still pops up all over the place. And it sells coffee. Although to be honest, most of it couldn't be further away from some Nescafe and hot water if it tried. Everything's called latte, or expresso, or moca, or something. They don't mention the word coffee, that wouldn't be cool y'see. They have as many combinations of milk and different types of coffee as you could ever want, if you knew what the all meant that is. The worrying thing, I don't even know which one of them (if any) is a normal coffee. I should read the signs, but I don't, I just go for a hot chocolate. Better make that a large one though, as the smaller ones are just a bit small for me. Large is probably a normal sized mug (like you'd drink at home), only you have to pay around £2 for the privilege.

My biggest gripe with this place is the prices that they charge. Most drinks they sell cost between £1.50 and £2 or more, depending on what you get. A pint of milk is what, 40p. Water is free. Coffee in the amounts needed for one cup costs little. They must be laughing all the way to the bank. Of course, they give you some sob story about how they use the best coffee beans (and I'm sure I saw something about fair trade too). Sure thing, the best quality beans that must be mass produced to provide every one of their shops with coffee.

That £2 could buy me a pint (and I know which one I'd rather have) or for £3.50 I could go
down to the Whittards of Chelsea shop and buy a bag of their ground coffee, the stuff you use in cafetieres. They have lots of nice different types, with proper names, rather than moca-choca-expresso-latte with strawberry and chocolate.

Fancy some food? Then you can get some. How about a nice cake or muffin, at only double its normal price. A £3 sandwich that costs £2 anywhere else? The food is nice enough, it just also makes a big enough dent in your wallet.

I've been in a few Costas, and one of their good points is that they all look nice. They have a modern cool relaxed style (if that makes any sense). Gone are the days of generic seating in Bakers Oven, here we have comfy chairs, shiny bits and relaxed lighting.

Service is also good, and the staff friendly, it's a nice place to drink a coffee. But then you could go the local cafe, have a standard coffee and a snack and only pay half the price. Yes, you may sit in a dreary cafe on uncomfortable seats, and drink not so nice coffee.

All you gotta do is decide if you wanna pay extra to drink here, or save money and go to a local cafe.

Summary: