Walking past the Bear Market coffee shop in Blackrock yesterday I see that it was packed as usual. I think if people have to spend €3.50+ for a cup of coffee now, they are going to ensure that they get something other than what the big chains are dishing out.
traNot sure why people believe that the coffee of some random "artisan" coffee shop is somehow superior to what comes from a big chain. You might prefer (or not) a certain type of roast, but making coffee is normally not rocket surgery.
For example, I don't usually buy coffee from insomnia as for me it is too bitter. Some acquaintances prefer that taste.
I personally like Cafe Nero coffee and would get my coffee there rather than go to Kaph (to use a "artisan" coffee shop example) for my regular fix.
Not sure why people believe that the coffee of some random "artisan" coffee shop is somehow superior to what comes from a big chain. You might prefer (or not) a certain type of roast, but making coffee is normally not rocket surgery.
For example, I don't usually buy coffee from insomnia as for me it is too bitter. Some acquaintances prefer that taste.
I personally like Cafe Nero coffee and would get my coffee there rather than go to Kaph (to use a "artisan" coffee shop example) for my regular fix.
Walking past the Bear Market coffee shop in Blackrock yesterday I see that it was packed as usual. I think if people have to spend €3.50+ for a cup of coffee now, they are going to ensure that they get something other than what the big chains are dishing out.
The bag of chips has turned into the cup of coffee. How did that happen? Anyway, what you pay for both is, I repeat, pure EXTORTION.
It's all down to taste. I wouldn't presume to say which is "better", but I found that once I'd tried it, I would find it very hard to go back to the likes of Starbucks/Caffe Nero/Insomnia and the like. For anyone who hasn't had a coffee from one of the independents, I'd recommend you at least try a couple. With one or two notable exceptions, they're not that much more expensive, if at all.Yeah I agree. I don't like Starbucks or how they operate but their coffee is not worse than the small independent shops. I agree about Café Nero. There is a certain level of misplaced snobbery creeping into coffee just like it has with beers as well.
You should try some: you obviously care about the taste, and I think you'd be pleasantly surprised. I used to think Insomnia great, but after switching I found it incredibly bitter and lacking real taste.I personally think Starbucks is one of the worst tasting coffees out there, Insomnia is more to my taste and I can't really speak of the independents
Although it's changing a bit now, I have to say I agree with you. It's strange, as it's usually the last thing you have so tends to distort your overall view of a place; you would think they'd put a bit more effort in.Most of the times that I would order coffee in a restaurant I don't finish it for one reason or another usually its down to taste
They do indeed have surprisingly good coffee compared to their peers. I've heard they put a lot of effort into making it so.But there is one place that always serves a great cup of coffee not only here but all over the world and that is McDonalds
And in America the last two times I was there, its one dollar for any size coffee with a free refill
Anyway, what you pay for both is, I repeat, pure EXTORTION.
I don't like Starbucks or how they operate but their coffee is not worse than the small independent shops.
Yes, and No
Starbucks are an easy target for many reasons such as their size, pincer tactics, constant upsizing/upselling, asking for your name. If their coffee was consistently good, I would not care about the other aspects, but they fail that standard.
I tick a lot of boxes when it comes to coffee snobbery, but am often happen to go with what's convenient. The last time I had a cup in Starbucks, it was literally devoid of taste. I might as well have being drinking warm water with colouring.
I bring a small cafetiere and bag of ground coffee to work with me. The cafetiere has paid for itself at this stage, with the savings from not popping out to a coffee shop. The bag of ground coffee costs less than a fiver and I get at least 5 working days out of it.
My cappucino was 3.10 and ironically I got back the wrong change, I got a euro too much. I handed in a fiver and just put the change in my back pocket, when I took it out at home I noticed it was too much, I feel better now over having been stung for the unexpected recent increase of .50 the other day.