The Times newspaper has reported that Starbucks (the mediocre coffee chain) has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority because it disagreed with a claim by Costa Coffee (the mediocre coffee chain) that people prefer one type of mediocre coffee over another.
In other news on the company, they’ve just launched a “flat white” mediocre coffee, it’s CEO has announced he’s leaving, and the man in charge of easyJet is to take charge at Costa Coffee.
It’s allso came to light that the people who taste-test Costa Coffee love their jobs so much, one has insured their tongue for £10m.
That’s the corporate face of Costa Coffee. The face of Costa Coffee that I see is very different. I’m lucky enough to live near three of their coffee shops. The coffee giant that I see provides overly-heated milk (if you overheat the milk, it doesn’t taste nice and sweet, leading to a sour coffee). The outdoor seating areas are always a mess with napkins and empties, obviously they can’t be bothered to clean up. Then there’s the deliveries…
I’m not sure how clear this one is. It’s well after 6:30pm, and those double yellow kerb markings are accompanied by a sign on the lamp-post which says “no loading or unloading at any time”. This is the mediocre Costa Coffee on the corner of Euston Road and Duke’s Road in London. The manager of this particular place – Premier Inn London Euston (doesn’t that spell PILE?), and his area manager Peter, deny that this ever happens.
Costa Coffee park here, and deliver to their mediocre coffee shop every day.
This Costa Coffee truck is delivering to the new Marchmont Street mediocre coffee shop. The double yellows are “no parking at any time”. You may also notice the cycle lane the truck has parked over. Its a one-way street, with parking bays on the right as you drive.
Camden Council are in the process of re-paving Marchmont Street outside the Brunswick Centre, because of the dropped pavement, caused by the Costa Coffee deliveries. Who pays for this new pavement? Well, let me put it this way, Costa Coffee aren’t paying for it.
Whitbread, which owns Costa Coffee, contracts out its logistics and deliveries to Kuehne & Nagel. I’ve spoken at length to Whitbread about their deliveries, they try to pull up their socks, but it only lasts 5 minutes. I’ve emailed Kuehne & Nagel, they aren’t interested at all.
So it looks like it’s you and me, the respectable taxpayer, left to foot the bill because Whitbread, who own Costa Coffee, won’t take corporate responsibility for their actions.
Do yourself a favour. Buy your coffee independently.
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