Safe Speed Forums

The mind boggles lately at how in recent years the coffee industry has taken off in the U.K., especially in a recession, yet people appear to be happy paying way over the odds for something you could make for about 30 pence..

Today I went to a local town I enjoy visiting with its own medium-sized shopping centre and thought I’d have a coffee to sit and chill for a while and do some people watching. There are several to choose from with familiar names, (no, not people! ), and I went from Costa to Coffee Republic and another I can’t remember now but the cost of medium, (mug size or what they call "regular"), was fairly consistent between them all at about £2.50 or more. I got to thinking well how much would this cost me to make?

Boil the water, two pence worth of milk perhaps and the main ingredient of coffee at maybe 20p? Is this a licence to print money or what? But never mind that, it gets better - or rather worse..

They had a selection of cakes and muffins and things to temp us which were equally overpriced. The cheapest slice of ‘something’ which looked quite interesting and fairly edible to go with my ridiculously overpriced co££ee was also £2.20 to £2.70! I'm taking about a slither of something here which you'd get the whole cake, 8 slices worth, from Aldi for about £2!

Now then, let’s say that I'm also paying for the surrounds and the experience shall we? You know, the ambience and special occasion. In each one I went into, (on my day off), there were only a few seats left and the best experience available was next to a young mother, (yes I’m picking on them again folks), complete with screaming brat. The comfy chairs were taken so this wonderful experience is something I would have to 'enjoy' on a hard wooden chair.

“Will I ever find solace at a sensible price?”, I thought to myself. Yes, and you won’t believe where, especially coming from me.

I left each one with utter disdain and went instead to the town’s central church where the Lord saved me. (He/She/It cares about Atheists too you know ). They have a small tea shop type place with drinks and nibbles. There were only a handful of people, friendly and happy looking, and I got a cup of tea for which they only wanted a donation and included a couple of complimentary biscuits. Asking price? 20 pence in total!!!

It gets better... There were three people having a bit of a sing song there; two men and a woman. One guy was on guitar the other keeping in rythm with a small drumb and a lady singing, I have to say, with a lovely voice. I think and suspect Jesus was in the lyrics but I didn’t mind or care; this was a nice place. I sat there reading today’s Daily Mail, which was also free sitting on the table, about how many Health Care Professionals, (doctors, clinicians etc.). are alcoholics and other news items.

And you know what the most amazing thing for me was? The rest of the world were/was, (I must brush up on that English usage one day), out there with more money than sense drinking their pretentious, small, overrated coffee and their ridiculously overpriced muffin while I was: -

In a nice place amongst people who are friendly and smile upon eye contact, or when I smiled at them they didn’t think I’m a nut.

Not £2.50 for a coffee, but simply a token offering of 20 pence. (I actually put £1 in the honesty tray)

A variety of biscuits; I had a NICE one

Free newspapers from today’s events.

What I can only call pleasant background music from a live show.

Oh, I nearly forgot, I wonder if you agree with me.. Tea just doesn’t taste the same unless it’s in a proper cup. None of this polystyrene or waxed cardboard crap advertising how 'great' they are It came complete with a saucer too, so when I spill a bit I can pour it back in my proper cup made from clay type stuff fired at 2 million degrees. Some think that’s gross or uncouth for some reason. Hey, I’m not the Queen or King trying to keep up appearances you know.

I looked at all the names and tributes outside afterwards from the wars on a small cenotaph and I wondered what they would have thought of my simple humble experience of today's society and what they fought for. I bet they never imagined this wonderful country of ours would turn to such greed, avarice, waste, disrespect for elders...........

I’m not sure what this says about our society but I came home afterwards feeling quite depressed if I’m honest. But if I ever start dating again I know where I'm taking her on the first outing I think

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

(hence how it got it's name)That's the COST of a coffee

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Well, they’re all the same Botach and I did use them occasionally up until about three years ago. I think I’ve touched on this once before somewhere, but it used to be a treat and I don’t know how everyone has been duped into what I can only call a rip off.

In The States I used to pay about a dollar, but then they have a ‘stack ‘em high sell ‘em cheap’ policy. We, G.B, still don’t get that idea but it’s not surprising if they can pack the place out with people prepared to pay over £5 just for a coffee and bite in what are usually cramped surrounds. I guess it’s an example of something is worth what people are prepared to pay.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

On top of the ingredients cost you have energy, staff wages, rent/purchase cost of building, rates, cost of meeting legislation, taxes and then profit. You can see why a basic coffee is £3!

Costa coffees are usually in main high streets. Cheaper places are usually off the main streets as they have lower rents and rates so can afford to charge less and make the same profit margin.

If you ever get stuck in Nantwich on your travels then the coffee shop above the book shop in the tudory looking building by the main square is the best place to go. Fine cake and reasonable prices. They do a decent bacon butty too as they get their meat from a good local butchers. It's right next door to one which is all chrome and glass.

My argument is that in trying to portray themselves as Italian, they are misleading.
Also, they are NOT all the same - the ones on the motorway are run differently!

I DO use them as a treat when we take my mother in law shopping. The one in Southport has real cups, not cardboard - and the environment is comfortable.
There is a range of different coffees, as well as iced drinks, and syrups - and the service IN THAT BRANCH is better than others I have visited.
You can also take advantage of the Costa card - register online to get additional points, and then when you have collected enough, you can redeem them for further purchases.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy church halls and coffee mornings too - but they are a different sort of experience - like watching a film on TV instead of in the Cinema!
My mother in law would not venture into a cinema - and is careful with her miney - but she DOES enjoy her Costa - although she DOES share a toasted panetone rather than having one to herself!

Finally, the cakes served are very nice - the muffins are made by Bells of Lazenby - a local firm to us, and not cheap even in the supermarkets here!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

You'll get a much cheaper, and probably no worse, coffee either in McDonalds or in Wetherspoons. If you want to pay more for image, that's up to you.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

It depends on where you are.

I'd have no problems with McDonalds in Kendal, but the Maccy Dees on East banks Street in Southport is always full of chavvy kids - I hesitate to describe them as youths - who I would rather not be rubbing shoulders with!
Lord Street has loads of places where you can get a coffee - but I think Costa is the most amenable place to spend a while over a coffee. However, I appreciate that not all Costas have the same atmosphere - or friendly staff!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

We tend to have what we like to term as "approved coffee suppliers" in various places we visit, which range from traditional tea shops to occasionally st*rbucks.... i have a general aversion to c*sta tho.

If i'm paying for posh coffee I'd much rather pay for posh coffee from an independant or at least smaller chain (which usually have free wi-fi too which for me is a positive differentiator!). Found a nice place in brum the other day (down the road from the st*rbucks who's coffee machine was broken last time i went!), and preferred place in cov is a franchise owned by a very nice young (even by my standards) chap who gets alot of respect for starting & having such a succesful business so young.

That’s what my work colleague said earlier Peter, when we went out in the car and I asked his opinion. In his words, “it’s a way of regular guys feeling like they can buy into a club intended for the more well off”, or words to that effect.

I did wonder that Teabelly but then I thought to myself the same could be said of SubWay yet they make fresh meals, until recently, for just £1.99 which seems cheaper than I could make one the same for myself. That's a meal for less than one posh coffee! So I’m not sure what the difference is between a rip-off coffee shop and a good value Sub when they are on the same high street employing people at the same rate and overheads etc.

I’ll check out that place ed, the next time I’m in town. Like you, I’m all for backing the small business’s.


Oh I know! Can I name and shame? Yeah, why not and then maybe someone will do something about it. Co$ta, for all its expense, usually have consistent quality but as a franchise, (I think that’s correct), any smeghead can operate one with no quality check.

There’s a big Health Centre in South Brum where my friend trains and likes a Mocha afterwards. It should have a proper head, so he tells me, and be made in a specific way but it’s absolute It's flat and tastes like nothing on Earth! He’s not one to complain but he physically couldn’t drink it and told the young girl how it should be made and look. Long story short, he just doesn’t use it anymore and the manager, if you can call her that, is completely disinterested.

I thought, with a franchise, someone from the business periodically checks these places for high standards? Not there they don't.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

On the road, usually the motorway ,not coffeshop stanard ,but nice andd cheap usually find that near most junctions you'll find mobile places .I judge the quality by the number of trucks parked nearby .Not something posted anywhere -it's info you pick up on the road .Most places you'll find one in an industrial estate .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Anybody tried "Betty's Tea Shops" in Harrogate and York?

They were so popular, they simply could not get enough customers on and off the premises quickly enough, and people queued out onto the street - so they put their prices up to scare off all but the most hardy tea and cake consumers... works quite well - more money for less work!

I daren't tell you how much for tea and a bun, but it makes Costa look like a cheap dive by comparison!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Yes and no. I said to a work colleague years ago we, (me and my main squeeze at the time), we’re going to York at the weekend and she said “oh, you must try Betty’s Tea Shop”. I’d never heard of them before but soon found out they are famous for being famous for some reason. So after trudging through the streets and finally spotting it on the corner, I was put off by the sheer numbers in there for a start. (I don’t like crowds and hate queuing). But my gob has never been so smacked as when I looked on the board outside at what they serve and at what price!

I went and took said main squeeze to a Subway they have there instead, the first time she tried one and has loved them ever since. So it’s funny you mention that Ernest because I did go there and, just as with the co££ee places, they sell on some name or reputation while serving you something quite ordinary if you are honest with yourself which you can get just as well, and better value, from ‘little people’ if you look around. I think what it says is there’s a lot of snobbery or wanabe’s aspiring to be something they’re not.

I’m happy being tatty Tone; no airs or graces. I don’t mind good ole grub served by a hag complete with warts and a hook nose. I do draw the line at seeing a pubic hair in the cottage cheese on my baked potato, but whenever I put one there it usually gets me a free lunch.

We have a Betty’s by our work place which we call Sweaty Betty’s. It’s been there since forever and you are served by retired-looking women who have lovely old values with questionable storage hygiene. I half expect to find a pair of dentures in my sandwich, but they’re cheap and cheerful and who knows - I may need them dentures one day.

And speaking of culture and OTT hygiene.. These chav places have staff with anti-static gloves and military grade stainless steel tongs as they wrestle with a cake from under a protective tray cover filled with argon. On more than one occasion I’ve said “look, I want that one there and I’ll pick it up without touching anything else and place it on my plate OK?” I'm going to eat the damn thing after all. (I also hate faffing around).

So where was I? Oh yes, anyone fancy opening a coffee shop with me? We’ll be driving a Merc this time next year – promise.

P.S. Where do we stand on libel here?

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.