Coffee Rip Off Britain

vikingaero

SSB wrote: »

The experience of drinking coffee/tea etc at a Cafe is not just about it's price; it is often a social occasion. You meet friends, family, read, watch the world go by...
My children love the experience of going, it is a good way for us to sit and chat whilst enjoying a nice drink and a cookie. OK, maybe some establisments are expensive but there are still plenty of cheaper corner cafes left. Uhhh, I need a cup of tea now, must go and put the kettle on.

But your tea won't be as nice as the tea made in a coffee shop by someone else!

I agree with you that it's part of the ambience to drink coffee with friends and sit back from the reality of life for 15 minutes. That's what you are paying for. Imagine life pre-Starbucks/Costa/etc. Most cafes used to sell instant coffee. Or if you were lucky you got a place with those Rombouts filter though instants. And restaurants used to hate you blocking their valuable seats just for coffee. At least nowadays we have the choice.

foreign_correspondent

Why should we have to accept that the only alternative to starbucks is cheapo horrible coffee? In the netherlands you would never be served instant coffee even in a cheapo cafe or bar!

It seems that the 'choice' in the UK is to either have crap instant coffee in a chipped mug, or pay through the nose to enjoy starbucks (half) decent coffee in the marvelous ambience - which in the starbucks local to me means bored, teenaged staff, screaming kids, discarded newspapers and sticky tables.

Fabulous.

trisontana

A few years ago I spent a week in a factory in Italy carrying out acceptance tests on some equipment my employer had just bought. Even the coffee out of the machines in the factory was superb . You could get "real" espresso plus various combinations with milk. Why can't we have the same high standard for vending-machine coffee here ?

lemontart

there have always been places to get decent coffee and starbucks costas do not serve decent coffee they are over priced undertaste - there is a proper espresso bar by leicester sq that has been there at least 30 yrs and many small places dotted around if you look - I live in a small town and there is one eatery that has always served decent coffee at a fraction the the costamortgages coffee places and it comes with biccy too, the indian resturants serve good coffee too so could get a meal for a price of some costamorgage coffees

stamford

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

cool, was it good? - haven't eaten there yet, but it is a lovely place! there are lots of excellent placs to eat out here without breaking the bank - if anyone is visiting rotterdam and wants any eating out tips I am happy to oblige!

I find that supermarkets and markets are cheaper over here too (even Aldi and Lidl - 2 part baked baguetted for 17 cents - about 12p), as well as having loads of variety cos its such a multicultural city!

Turkish bakeries are great, but lots of huge loaves and fattening syrupy sweets! I love dutch cheeses and belgian/german beer (which is less than £3 for a crate of 24 bottles from the supermarket!!) :beer:

Turkish food is also great for quick snacks on the run - a turkse pizza (turkish pizza) which is basically a flatbread spread with a thin layer of tomato and meat spicy sauce (bit like chilli) topped with salad, then garlic mayo and sambal (hot sauce) and rolled up - very tasty and fills you up - average price E1.50-2 (about £1 - £1.35)!

I cannot see why food would be so much cheaper over here - wages etc are pretty similar, so yes it does suggest that we are being ripped off in the UK. However, all this food isnt doing much for my finely honed (ahem) physique!

Although all that seafood and lobster you describe is making me a bit peckish....

The Hotel New York is great. They also do a good breakfast in there. Our friend lives south of the river along by the island to the left of Erasmus Bridge. She's not sure but she reckons the Aldi on the island has shut down.

That area by the HNY is very up & coming what with that big skyscraper Montivideo apartment building and new bars & restaurants. They've just opened up a Gaucho's beneath I think the Port Authority building but it charges more than the one in the city. We walked along there Friday night and they were filming some Dutch TV Celebrity Chef thing in a fancy building - saw the main man outside big fat bloke with a cigar.

I think Rotterdams a great place for a short break, bit light on culture and old buildings cos the Nazis did their best to wipe it off the map. Easy to get to and looks to have an abundance of Hotels. Excellent for shopping, eating & drinking. FC went to a good restaurant called Grannys Grill - Westerstraat. Hoping to get out there again in about 3 weeks.

RoxsiScotland

tescos cafes good for a decent latte, really cheap too. plus its not in a cup the size of your head like costa, starbucks ect so youre not a space monkey for the next our, coming crashing down from the caffiene lol

skintlass

Another starbucks fan here. I get a venti (yup thats right the pint-sized mug) of their fairtrade filter coffee with a biccie on a Saturday and "borrow" a book from borders (Starbucks is inside borders) and read in a comfy chair. Its my personal time when I don't have to think about anything else and I love it.

dangeroussports

trisontana wrote: »

A few years ago I spent a week in a factory in Italy carrying out acceptance tests on some equipment my employer had just bought. Even the coffee out of the machines in the factory was superb . You could get "real" espresso plus various combinations with milk. Why can't we have the same high standard for vending-machine coffee here ?

Because we Brits, as GENERAL, will drink, eat, kill and buy anything.

If you were a business and you could churn out slush, cheapo goods, frankenfoods and still get the public to buy it, would you change unless forced by competition?

Just look at the likes of our supermarkets, electronic retailers and small independent shops........

Quality! Not

uktim29

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Why should we have to accept that the only alternative to starbucks is cheapo horrible coffee? In the netherlands you would never be served instant coffee even in a cheapo cafe or bar!

It seems that the 'choice' in the UK is to either have crap instant coffee in a chipped mug, or pay through the nose to enjoy starbucks (half) decent coffee in the marvelous ambience - which in the starbucks local to me means bored, teenaged staff, screaming kids, discarded newspapers and sticky tables.

Fabulous.

If you think theres a gap in the market why don't you open a coffee bar then?

I'm not joking. I would if I thought it would be worth it.