Yet another coffee place has just opened near us and we just went to try it out. As usual, plenty of time and money have been spent on the interior and equipment. Huge Vitamix mixers for iced drinks, couple of Ceado’s, I didn’t reocgnise the machine but it was three group and looked Strada-esque. £3.10 for a flat white. Tasted like it took about 4 seconds to extract and the milk may as well have come out of a whipping syphon. This has happened in almost every coffee shop in town but have I said anything? In classic British fashion, no. I can obviously get good coffee at home but it would be nice to get a decent take-out occasionally if I’m out and about. Has anyone else said anything when receiving a terrible coffee?

@"Ernie1"#p11759 - I never say anything, but then again, I tend to watch he customer before me and order a tea if I find it won’t be up to my expectations. Most likely the poor barista never saw a coffee machine ever before, and received very little training. Like most places these days in the catering and hospitality industries, prices are going up whilst quality in general is going down as businesses try to make ends meet. Sadly a double-edged sword as customers might then look elsewhere. A phenomena certainly happening to me. Places I usually went to for a meal now are in my no-return list.

@"Ernie1"#p11759 Twice, once in Starbucks, they have me another, as bad as the first. At Disney Florida in a world of coffee event. The barista pulled me a shot that came out and about 6 seconds pushed it towards me me.and I just shook my head. She then adjusted the grinder and pulled the shot in 26 seconds, which I accepted. It was clear she knew exactly what she was doing, but couldn't care less if the customer didn't complain. I guess if the truth be told, most coffee shops of their to make money on the food and other beverages.

There's a new cafe opened up near me so me and nurse went for lunch. I asked for an Americano and the girl just froze. She looked at the menu then asked me if it was just a black coffee. She wrestled the portafilter out of the Eurobar machine and pressed it into the grinder. Just then another member of staff came through and the girl serving me asked her "what do I do next 'cos coffee is all piled up in the handle and I don't know what to do with it." The other girl said, "have you squished it yet? You need to squish it with the thing sticking out of the machine!" I knew that I was in for a terrible cup of coffee, and it was! I didn't complain, she was a young girl doing her best. Things have got a lot better now as we regularly visit and have got to know the owners. They are starting a new business in difficult times, money is tight, good staff hard to find, trying to train on the job. I have made the point of telling them that the coffee is getting better, a little bit of encouragement goes a long way!

@"DavecUK"#p11772 - Disneyland… Florida… Starbucks…. Coffee… what could possibly go wrong…. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Well this is interesting. In West Sonoma County California we actually have some places where they know what they are doing and care. Nonetheless, my wife is used to what I make now, so most places she rejects. But we have a few where they do it right. Some even use naked portafilters!

@"dndrich"#p11779 Naked portafilters?! As if I needed another reason to want to move to CA! Really interesting to hear others experiences. There’s a really great place in the Southwest run by two guys who really care- Beacon in Falmouth. They rotate the beans regularly, often from small/new roasters and you can tell they make sure every single shot that passes the counter is as good as possible. However, the one guy said it was a labour of love and often a thankless job which just about broke even. I think as above, unless you’re running a big specialist coffee shop with massive foot traffic then it’s usually profits/efficiency before quality.

I usually just spit it in their faces and toss the furniture around on my way out.

> @"Ernie1"#p11759 Has anyone else said anything when receiving a terrible coffee? If I ever buy coffee outside (an extremely rare thing), I will assume it is going to be terrible. On my way out I will say to myself that I had it coming and I should have known better.

@"Doram"#p11791 Lol. Returning home to give your back a darn good thrashing with a birch in the garden

I’m fortunate to work near some very good ones, but one that is sadly no more occasionally got it wrong and if my first taste was 2 mins down the road I would walk back and let them know and I’d get another one that was generally then very good. But only as I knew what their coffee should be like. I’d not do that too a new place as likely that was all they could manage.

Do you ever say anything when you get served terrible coffee?

Systemic

Visited a trendy 3rd wave joint co-owned by a high profile name in UK coffee. Placed boasted a Black Eagle and Clima Pros offering two SOs as espresso. Coffee was awful - pointed it out and was told is was the roaster’s fault!!!??? Later contacted the ‘name’ privately. He apologised saying he had withdrawn from the partnership but was powerless to stop his name being used.

Hotmetal

I’m one of those who probably overdoes the compliments when it’s good, but too reserved to moan if it’s pants. I also worry that it’ll get deducted from some poor sod on minimum wage. Unless their demeanour suggests they don’t give a rats ass (but then what’s the point of saying anything?)

It is a hard line to draw for someone with integrity and compassion. I rarely complain, but I just don’t go back if service and flavour is bad. But in truth that’s almost worse - no feedback, just instant withdrawal of custom. For that reason I usually give a place a couple of ‘strikes’ before they’re out.

Let’s face it, most of us can make espresso better than the majority of shops, unless you’re talking those boutique places who show us how the real pros operate. I’m gutted that the tiny little Amoret in Hammersmith closed down. They had one chair! But boy they made good coffee!

Systemic

Hotmetal They had one chair! But boy they made good coffee!

Not quite that small but Mount Zion in St Ives is the same. One man operation and he crafts each shot as if it’s his last.

Hotmetal Let’s face it, most of us can make espresso better than the majority of shops

With you there.

Ernie1

@Systemic

Not sure if you know it but the Jaunty Goat serves what I would say is the best coffee in Chester!

Not a local but have visited a few times as the pizza place Stile Napoletano and Up North Records shop are both worth the pilgrimage for us! There’s also a cracking beer place whose name escapes me. Set in the vaults and enormous beer selection.

Systemic

Ernie1 Not sure if you know it but the Jaunty Goat serves what I would say is the best coffee in Chester!

Agree. When I’m back in Chester, always drop by. Seem to recall that the place offering ‘best coffee in Chester’ was next door but it’s changed hands since.

Dumnorix

A few years ago in a pub I was staying at my wife asked for an Americano. When I saw it being dosed out of a doser grinder I asked how long it was since it had been ground and the employee was unable to tell me. They asked if I would like to offer my assistance- any sarcasm was promptly lost on me as I leapt behind the bar and dosed out all the old coffee before saying it would now be OK to grind. I thought it was a bit cheeky only to order one coffee after my intervention, so I asked for one for myself as well. Surprisingly enough it tasted OK, so it was lucky I had cleared out their dosing chamber!

Dumnorix

Also don’t get me started on Costa’s teapots- that’s another story and possibly worthy of a thread of its own if anyone’s interested!!

DavecUK

Dumnorix Also don’t get me started on Costa’s teapots- that’s another story and possibly worthy of a thread of its own if anyone’s interested!!

OK you got me…what’s wrong with Costas teapots, I’ve never seen one?

I remember the old steel ones cafes used to have, the ones that were specially designed to dribble hot tea down the side and onto the table

Dumnorix

Apologies for the delay- COVID took over!
I was served peppermint tea in a teapot in Costa that had an absolutely filthy spout. When I complained they said it wasn’t dirt, just staining from the tea, so I helpfully put my little finger in the spout, which came out filthy, to prove it was in fact dirt. I was then told that they are not allowed to clean the spouts. When I said that the manager needed to reassess that decision, a lady who had been standing in the corner piped up, identifying herself as the manager. She went on to say that the decision not to clean the spouts of the teapots was a corporate decision, not a management one. At no point did anyone simply apologise and replace the teapot, until I asked them to, at which point they gave me the teabag in a Latte glass and dumped a load of boiling water on top of it. Appalling customer service.

DavecUK

Dumnorix at least in they were wearing masks…if it was during covid

Petre

Ernie1

Hahaha I just saw this now, funny to see him actually make a video on the subject.

I must’ve misjudged his audience if he thinks enough people can’t tell between a badly made coffee and one that’s ‘not to their taste’ that it features in the top three reasons a coffee isn’t good.

I know an under-extracted coffee when I taste one thanks Mr. Hoffman.

CoyoteOldMan

Ernie1 I must’ve misjudged his audience if he thinks enough people can’t tell between a badly made coffee and one that’s ‘not to their taste’

He’s got 1.3 million subscribers. I daresay he’s probably right.

-Mac

In an independent shop I always ask when the last time the beans were dialled in. If I get a blank look I leave.

Achrys

You certainly get spoiled by home roasting and extraction.

I live in Barnet, and my wife and I had a coffee recently in The Spires, a local shopping precinct. Wow, just Wow, in the terrible sense.

Picture a weathered old guy (which I thought would be good), flicking the lever twice to his pre-ground container, straight into the portafilter. Okay so far’ish (no scales, but forgivable). He then proceeded to just bung the filter under the group head, and flick the switch… 🤪 He then went to the milk, poured enough for 3 coffees, froth the hell out of it (raising to nuclear levels), then waiting a couple more seconds for the auto function to stop the water.

Hot frothy milk, on top of what I’d say was about 100ml+ of coffee which had just gushed out.

It was bloody terrible, and like an idiot I sat there complaining to myself, and just laughing. No f@cks given as they say…

Got back home, and made my own… bliss.

RDC8

Confession time - I once got thrown out of a coffee shop for suggesting they might want to clean the steam wand before making my coffee! Shame, as the cakes looked rather good :)

woodbar

RDC8 Confession time - I once got thrown out of a coffee shop for suggesting they might want to clean the steam wand

Probably just as well - if they don’t care about a mucky steam wand then who knows to what standard the cakes were made!

Did you get a “How DARE you”😉

whinmoor85

I wouldn’t say anything, I just wouldn’t return either. The problem nowadays is some third wave shops serve overly acidic espresso because they think it’s good.

dfk41

whinmoor85 But there is a difference between something made properly that is not to your taste, and something that is just bad. Years ago I went to a well known local coffee shop where the owner had competed at WBC level. I asked for a ristretto and watched him make it. I shook my head. He said yes, I had better adjust the grind, which he clearly did not want to do. Never been back, with an attitude like that

woodbar

whinmoor85 I wouldn’t say anything, I just wouldn’t return either. The problem nowadays is some third wave shops serve overly acidic espresso because they think it’s good.

Actually I always go for acidic/fruity coffee beans and brews - I hate the chocolatey ones!

whinmoor85

woodbar Fruity/acidic is one thing, vinegar is something else 😷

« Previous Page Next Page »