Costa Coffee

[Barsel]

Yesterday I had a Costa coffee, the first one I've ever had in my life!
I must admit I'm not one for going out for a coffee, and when I do, I never know which to choose so I just go for an Americano.
Usually have 2 or 3 coffees a day at home, but just made with instant coffee and milk.
What can I do to make it taste different?
Not wanting to buy an expensive machine for fresh coffee, I was wondering is there something I could do with the milk, perhaps make it frothy.
Pretty sure the Costa coffee had frothy milk in it and although I thought it tasted 'different' I wasn't over impressed.
It was just a takeaway though and not made in a Costa shop.
How do you like your coffee?
I'm open to suggestions even if it means buying a machine although I don't want anything big or too expensive.

[bednobs]

if you want a change from instant, but a cheap french press and a pack of ground coffee. If you want frothy hot milk in it, milk frothers are very cheap

[mallyh]

lidls and aldis do a tin of barista premium americano coffee it's lovely
cost about £3

[bednobs]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Barsel]

bednobs, I've had one of these before, but I never know which coffee to buy. The number of times I've bought ground coffee and had to throw it away, whereas I usually buy instant and apart from the cheapo ones, they seem ok.
mallyh I've heard that coffee is nice so I might try it.

[Barsel]

Which coffee do you drink at home, ground or instant and which do you think is the nicest?

[mallyh]

the tin with the orange lid x

[Redhelen72]

I have a lovely coffee machine that froths my milk and makes great espresso and I mess around with different blends of coffee to find my favourite.
Dark, strong with a bit of sweetness - just like my men

[gingejbee]

Re frothy milk...I bought a "milk frother whisk" from amazon about six months ago. It's used every day and gives excellent results (it's usb rechargeable and a charge lasts for weeks). Tips...heat milk to about 50 C and froth in a jug (inward sloping sides) - otherwise you WILL make a mess! It's surprising how a small amount of milk turns into a jugful of foam/froth!

[Barsel]

Helen can you tell me more about your coffee machine, is it big?
I'm open to suggestions even if it means buying a machine although I don't want anything big or too expensive.

[Barsel]

mallyh //The tin with the orange lid//
Is that the one from Aldi?

[Barsel]

gingerbee, does it make the coffee taste nicer?
Can you remember how much it cost?

[Redhelen72]

No actually its very compact - I got it from Amazon

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[mallyh]

aldis or lidls do it but i normally buy it at aldis as my grandson loves it x

[Barsel]

One of my neighbours shops at Lidl's, so I might ask him to get me a tin of it.
Helen, that is probably compact compared to some, but my kitchen is small and I don't have enough space I'm afraid.

[Hopkirk]

You need to go on a trading course to learn the language if you go into a coffee shop these days.

I don't understand the words they use at all.

[Hopkirk]

.... training..... ( not trading )

[Redhelen72]

My kitchen is very small - its not much larger than my kettle.

But if you are short of space I would get a milk frother whisk and a cooker top espresso pot

[Barsel]

Hoppy, I don't aim to be a connoisseur,:-) I just want to drink a nice coffee that isn't going to be too much of a faff to make and tastes good.

[Redhelen72]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Barsel]

Would I need to buy ground coffee for the cooker top expresso pot or do you just use expresso coffee. I've never heard of those.