going for coffee

I know there's one coffee place I avoid if in a hurry as they take an age but they do make lovely coffee. As I drink black Americano it is generally too hot so it takes ages to drink. Cannot believe all the varieties on offer now, more like going into a sweet shop half the time.

Just been to a hotel for lunch and paid £7:90 for 2 very small Americanos.
The baristo obviously flew the beans in from Brazil.

I often meet friends out for coffee. Usually at a garden centre, farm shop or antique centre. I would be very put out to be presented with an instant coffee!

Apart from catching up with my friends, the pleasure is in the good cup of real coffee and perhaps [cake]!

Yes I get fed up with it too. Never know what all those different coffees are anyway. We went to Bicester Village (its a discount retail shopping place) the other day for something specific,fancied a coffee and it cost us £12 for 2 so called medium (but smallish) cappuccinos and a small pot of chips for OH.. he was disgusted and we had to sit and wait to be waited on. Didn't realise we could of asked for it at the counter to take away cos no one asked us but just showed us to a table.. very annoying. Where did all the little normal cafes go?

I always have tea, not coffee, but one place that does offer good value are the cafes in Dunelm.We popped in there the other day,I fancied a mug of hot milk (89p) DH had a cappucino, and we both had really good bacon bap ...cost was about £9.

You should come to our part of France!
My friend and I go to the local market every Monday. I have a small cappuchino (1€20, about £1) and she has a large café crême ( 2.5€, about £2.60)

Ah yes, but add petrol or train fare TriciaF

I like the cafes which still have table service- going to one on Thursday to meet a special friend!!

I think we are lucky as our Church, in the town centre, has a coffee shop in The Meeting Place. Filter coffee costs £1.00 for a cup, or £1.20 for a mug. We also offer instant coffee, at, I think, 80p. per cup. Tea is 80p for an individual pot. You also get a small biscuit. ? . We offer capuccinos and lattes, maybe not as 'posh' as the widespread coffee shops, but popular. Toasted tea cakes are also well received at £1.20 each. Even when you are not hungry, they make my mouth water.

I live in a seaside town, hence we have no end of tea/coffee shops and I really enjoy taking the opportunity to meet my husband or friends in one of them. Not as expensive as a meal out, but still feels like a real treat. Prices range from really cheap to 'how much'?

I agree Rosesarered, our Dunelm has a good cafe. Last time we went the next table had filled jacket potatoes and the food looked delicious!

For folks who want a warmer coffee, you can ask the barista to make it with a higher temperature.

Also in a seaside town, lots of independents. Do enjoy Dunelm, comfy chairs. We also use The Range here, cafe recently refurbished and the staff are very helpful, always bring the coffee to the tables for us mature folk. On balance prefer the independents, particularly those with a sea view ?. Very lucky to have them.

I know where you mean Auntieflo.I have been there many times and really enjoy it.I also like going to the local library which does a lovely hot chocolate.

Yes, I hate all the queuing and faffing.
One thing I really liked about a visit to Majorca a couple of years ago - no chain coffee shops! Not one!
Instead there were lots of cafes where you just sat down and a waiter would bring you a cup of proper coffee - quickly - for about 2 euros. No queuing, no 'baristas' faffing about for ever. So civilised.

Speaking as a retired Barista I do not "Faff" when I make coffee! Admittedly I don't indulge in Latte art because I've never learned to do it, but really it's all quite straight forward _ one measure of espresso with either steamed or frothed milk, or water if you want an Americano. How hard is that? Much better than filter coffee that has been sitting in it's jug for half an hour and now tastes like Bovril.

We have five coffee shops in my little town, all independent. The nearest chain is about 20 miles away.

M and S is very slow I find.

Well aunty flo the church doesn't pay business rates and the staff are volunteers, not paying income tax or NIC.
I'm not saying you shouldn't support the church, they certainly need it but it's not a level playing field is it?
I do not own a cafe!

In answer to the OP , yes I do get fed up. If I'm in town shopping I want a QUICK cup of coffee, but it is impossible these days. Mind you I don't want instant, but it doesn't take long to do a small cafetière.

Isn't the faffing part of the experience though in some specialist cafes? There are so many options round here, nobody has to wait around if they don't choose to. Independent cafes galore, high end and more basic, as well as the usual chains, plus lots of church tearooms and coffee shops. DH loves his coffee, so tends to disappear for half an hour's peace when we're out shopping. I'm happier with a nice pot of Earl Grey.

Intolerant as I am of caffeine, I steer clear of coffee shops unless I know that they serve really good hot chocolate. If you want coffee in a hurry, Waitrose seems to be the place to go to in this town. And it's free.

After drinking huge amounts of awful instant coffee in both the army and at university I swore two things , 1. I would never drink instant coffee again. I really don't like it . And 2. I would never drink out of one of those coffee vending machines again.

I LOVE coffee in any shape or form so I'm prepared to pay and wait if necessary to get what I want. If I can I frequent small independent coffee shops . A barista recently explained to me that good coffee is never served with boiling water because it detracts from the sweetness of the milk and totally changes the flavour.

But would you really be happy with instant coffee if you went out to a coffee shop? I can't abide the stuff and it's so quick and easy to make real at home that we always do it. (Cafetière).

I never meet friends for coffee, as I rarely see them we tend to go out for a meal, but I do occasionally go out with my dad , his favourite cafe does amazing coffee but it takes around 5 minute form ordering to arrival, call me cynic, but as it's in an art gallery you look at stuff whilst you're waiting I'm sure some people must buy (it's not all expensive gorgeous earring are around a tenner)