Difference between Costa, Starbucks and Cafe Nero

Pret's filter coffee is actually pretty decent. For only 99p too. That said I'm a coffee nerd so I have an Aeropress at home and buy freshly roasted beans from a variety of sources (online such as Hasbean, Square Mile) and coffee shops near work (Monmouth, Nude etc.). At £6ish for 250g beans, 18g per coffee it's about 42p per coffee. Not as cheap as you'd think but I only have that at weekends so it lasts me a little while.
 
Never had worse coffee's than in Costa, so I avoid them at all costs.

Almost all coffee-chain's buy beans wholesale from all over the world and then burn overroast the beans to achieve their 'signature blend' taste. Pret are a little better (they at least usually say where the beans are from and the roast date), and there are a few small chains (Harris + Hoole) which are more aimed at the hipster/artisan crowd.

In the states Starbucks have actually started their own brand of 'artisan' coffee shops, I think there's a couple in London now.


The 'third wave' coffee establishments are on the up now, I'd maybe look to see how Costa/Starbucks/Nero etc are trying to cater to that market, whereas easyCoffee and McDonald's are specifically going the opposite way.
 
Do they still all falsely give the picture of being eco-friendly, when in fact their "paper" cups can only be re-cycled in by two specialists UK centre, so a vast majority of them go to general landfill?
 
I don't mind a McDonalds coffee, I drink it often actually. They opened a drive through 6 miles from home and I usually pass it to go places and usually take a coffee when I do. I think Starbucks coffee is garbage, would take the other 2 over that one.
 
Caffe Nero lattes have two shots of espresso as standard. They also have a loyalty card, which is a free drink after nine stamps. I find them pretty chilled out places with friendly staff. In comparison my experiences with Starbucks and Costa have been the opposite.
 
Regular visitor to Cafe Nero, I always find the staff friendly & pleasant to talk to.
Prefer the coffee in Nero's to costa, starbucks etc.
 
Some of them pay Tax in the UK mainland.
All of them in lLondon of full of 20 something idiots.
 
They're all bloomin hipster joints. Went into a 'Second cup' coffee place that had just recently opened in town and felt very uncomfortable as I sat down amongst Macbook toting students. They were everywhere!

There was a recent McDonald's coffee advert doing the rounds that couldn't be more true. I just want the f'ing brown stuff without studying a damn menu!

To answer OP, I find McD's just as good as Costa's stuff. Haven't tried Starbucks or Nero.
 
Kainz said:
They're all bloomin hipster joints.
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I don't get this. In London the hipsters are in the decent independent coffee shops. Costa and the like are full of business men in suits, tourists and pensioners that don't know any better :confused:
 
HEADRAT said:
This, I lke McD's coffee
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Not sure if it's caught on over here yet, but Maccas in Australia and a few other countries now have dedicated barristas. Had a latte in one and it was actually really nice. Seems they're trying to compete in the coffee market as their machine coffees aren't bad either.
 
They all sell horrid coffee but Starbucks wins the award. Also Starbucks do all the stupid multi flavoured and tailored coffee.

Nero is supposed to be more artisanal but isn't though they do an okay flat white.

Costa is a bit more generic but seem to have more presence.

I hate Starbucks, just don't like their image but most importantly I dislike their coffee the most.

As much as it pains me to admit this I love the now unfortunately named 'hipster' coffee shops that actually offer really good coffee where the staff are actually good at making coffee and are passionate about it. Much more enjoyable. Furthermore their pastries are also generally fresher and tastier.
 
I love how people can get so pretentious, angry even, about something like coffee.

Nero is definitely my favourite coffee shop of the bunch. Starbucks and costa have similar offerings but the former is marketed to be hip.

That said Pret, again slightly different market, is my favourite of the bunch. Their filter coffee for 99p is cheap and tasty.

I used to work in Starbucks - you would not believe how expensive the expresso machines are :eek:
 
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