Coffee in London

[Hugo]

The thing that springs to mind about the NZ supermarkets stocking fresh roasted coffee is that in the UK quality will still be an issue. If Co-op or Tesco in the UK stocked it, it'd be as low quality as they can get away with....
I have the pleasure of a Co-op a couple of hundred yards from me...boasting an espresso bar serving hideous 'fairtrade' coffee and on their retail shelves they have Starbucks ground coffee that, I kid you not, is best before 19/12/07.
That sums up UK supermarkets, plenty of scope for good coffee retail from the independents.

[stuartlee]

I have the pleasure of a Co-op a couple of hundred yards from me...boasting an espresso bar serving hideous 'fairtrade' coffee and on their retail shelves they have Starbucks ground coffee that, I kid you not, is best before 19/12/07.

Our local Asda in Newcastle sells Pumphreys coffee in the supermarket 'best of local produce' bit.

I know for a fact that it's sitting on the shelf, bought in bulk, right until the last day before the BEST BEFORE date runs out, quite appalling. It's very easy to see why when you hook a customer in with 'proper' fresh coffee you should have them for life.

My guess, Hugo is that its probably been there for 6 month already 'in the back'.

I’m very much of the opinion that if I do open a café it’s going to be purposefully next to a Costanerobucks. I’ll gladly take the initial hit with rents because I know I can produce a better drink, and keep customers with coffee knowledge and quality. We all know what it’s like to have that first cup of coffee that isn’t swill. You can’t have coffee out again (like the restaurant health inspector tying to go out for a romantic meal, just not going to happen) You spend all the time just praying that you’re not going to burn your mouth, taste charcoal and wear your cappuccino on your nose. That’s why I’m confident that anyone producing better drinks will slowly increase their customer base. Every time someone has to wait in line for Costanerobucks they will think about going next door and if they do they’ll stay. They’ll tell their friends about their fantastic pretty rosetta, their great filter brew or that sweet espresso. Once you've got them they can't go anywhere else!

Here ends the rant!

By the way HI EVERYONE, I’ve been neglecting TMC again and must be punished.

[Gwilym]

when talking of the success of the chains i presume were defining this by number of outlets?
how are they doing profit wise? Coffee Republic for example - have they ever made a profit?

[CakeBoy]

By the way HI EVERYONE, I’ve been neglecting TMC again and must be punished.

Oh please Stuart don't encourage Dom ..... he'll only get his whips out again, and I can't cope with the sight of him in that leather 'suit' he insists upon!

[Gouezeri]

By the way HI EVERYONE, I’ve been neglecting TMC again and must be punished.

he'll only get his whips out again, and I can't cope with the sight of him in that leather 'suit' he insists upon!

Doesn't fit me mate, only you, I'm much more slender

[CakeBoy]

[dsc]

Hi,

Oh please Stuart don't encourage Dom ..... he'll only get his whips out again, and I can't cope with the sight of him in that leather 'suit' he insists upon!

is he going to speak in German as well?:) 'zis is gut ja'

Regards,
dsc.

[Gouezeri]

is he going to speak in German as well?:) 'zis is gut ja'

There's absolutely no proof of that, it's lies I tell you, all lies... and a gross and indefensible intrusion

[geedee]

is he going to speak in German as well?:) 'zis is gut ja'

There's absolutely no proof of that, it's lies I tell you, all lies... and a gross and indefensible intrusion

OK Max! ... we have blown your cover now ...

[CakeBoy]

Varrrrrrrrroooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ......