High Street Coffee

[naomi24]

I went shopping with a friend today. We had coffee in Debenhams restaurant this morning, and later, for lunch, a very acceptable lasagne at ‘Ask’, but everywhere you go now coffee seems to be ‘Costa’ style. Horrible thick muck served in horrible thick cups. Is there anywhere in the ‘High Street’ that serves good, freshly brewed, palatable coffee? Grateful for any suggestions.

[ummmm]

Believe it or not I really like McDonalds coffee...

[hc4361]

Great big cups that a frog could swim in with teeny handles I can't get my finger through. Hate them all.

[Buenchico]

I find McDonald's coffee far too bitter for my taste. (Subway's is better).

Have you tried BHS, Naomi? You might like their coffee.

The Lavazza coffee in Wetherspoon's is also quite good (and cheap!).

[ummmm]

Chris....I like coffee sweet and milky...

[Buenchico]

So do I, Ummmm, but I find that I need 6 or 7 sachets of sugar (which is a bit much, even for me!) to counter the bitterness of McDonald's coffee.

[ummmm]

I just put it down to the sachets being small :-)

[naomi24]

I don't take sugar.

[hc4361]

I get quite nostalgic for the 1979s frothy coffee served in pyrex style cups and saucers.

[SpikeyBush]

Tins of pop if I'm out (or pints of beer if she's driving). When it comes to a brew I have very high standards be it tea or coffee. Tea has to be brewed in a teapot, ideally with loose leaves. Coffee has to be real coffee, I have no time for instant.

[mazie]

Find a nice little independent cafe like this one in Edinburgh.... None of the chains are going to serve great coffee or tea... or anything really.

http://www.havencafe.co.uk/

[Ann]

I quite like milky lattes Naomi, but I'm with you on the subject of horrible thick cups, some are too heavy to hold. BHS are the worst, like elephant's drinking bowls (as my Dad used to say!) I like coffee and tea in bone china mugs or coffee in a tall glass.

[HansUrbancka]

I gave up drinking coffee etc, in Bars & Restaurants, when Smoking became banned from the establishments. However, despite having stopped smoking when I had a heart attack, a year last March, I have no desire to have a drink of any sort when 'out of the house'. I am happy to remain with the memories of a coffee or a pint of beer with a few enjoyable cigarettes.

Hans

[waterboatman]

The only thing you should put in coffee is alcohol; then you leave the coffee out.

[naomi24]

Ann, I'm with you. I like coffee and tea served in a nice cup. Outside of a decent restaurant, all we seem to get now is something closely resembling mud - and tasting like mud - served in a lump of concrete.

[netibiza]

I also struggle when in UK to get a decent cup of coffee (something we take for granted here) When I ask for a coffee with milk, they look as though I am speaking in tongue, there is latte this and mocha that, I just do not understand it, so found Costa to be the best of the bunch and bless the chappie in there who told me to always ask for "one Shot" so not too strong. I have wasted most of my holiday time looking for decent coffee shops and ones who sell yummy icky cakes and not the revolting muffins or home-make carrot cake!!

[pixie373]

Don't go to Starbucks. Theirs actually makes me feel ill. Although I'm not a MacD's fan, I like their coffee.

[whiskeryron]

Best cup of latte for me is served in M & S.

[Maydup]

I suggest you try a nice independent cafe. Or if all else fails go for an Americano and add your own milk.

I too like Wetherspoon's coffee. Its a lovely flavour and very reasonably priced.

[heathfield]

Chris - try a teensy pinch of salt in your McDonalds coffee. Salt actually helps to reduce bitterness in any coffee, and just a very small amount will let you cut back on some of that sugar!