My Favourite Drinks

As a Barista I have tried and sampled with customers all of the drinks that my particular coffee shop has on its menu (as well as some made up ones), but that does not mean that I have a strict allegiance to my coffee shop - I am a fan of them all. 

Each coffee shop specialises in something and has at least one outstanding drink, I will detail the highs and lows of the main high street coffee brands for you; Caffe Nero, Costa, Starbucks and Coffee Republic. 

1) Caffee Nero (www.caffenero.com)

-The best drink by far is a latte with vanilla syrup, Caffe Nero uses the best syrups in the world! And, they are generous with them.

-On the website you can buy cute 'Barista Kits'

-A regular semi-skimmed latte from Caffe Nero with contain 69 kcals (on website)

-Won the Which? magazine coffee survey (www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3245914.ece)

-They put 2 shots of espresso coffee in every coffee drink unless you ask otherwise - this can be good or bad..

-It is rumored that they re-steam milk...

-Nero have a really good loyalty card, buy nine drinks get one free! 

2)Costa Coffee (www.costa.co.uk)

-My favourite drink in Costa is the hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream, Nero and Starbucks do not give marshmallows and Coffee Republic give pathetic ones.

-They do good syrups :)

-Costa seem reluctant to give out drink nutritional advice, could not find it on their site.

-Don't always grasp the Decaf concept - emphasise it!

-Pretty and clean stores

-Can get a 'Costa card' to load money on to

3)Starbucks Coffee Company (www.starbucks.co.uk)

-My favourite drink in Starbucks is the Caramel Macchiato. Starbucks describes this as "foamed milk marked with espresson and vanilla, then topped with a distinctive caramel pattern. Sweet, buttery and intense." Perfection!

-Tall semi-skimmed latte has 148 kcals. Is Nero lying? How can it have so few calories??

-Does not re-steam milk

-Free papers in most stores

-Quick service and the little green apron donning staff call you drink out really loud so you know it has been ordered right.

-The syrups suck

4)Coffee Republic (www.coffeerepublic.co.uk)

-My favourite drinks are the cold drinks, they do like Rolo shakes and Jaffa shakes, so they are really good for the non-coffee lovers, or those with kids.

-Can't find nutritional info :(:(

-They make the paninis etc fresh behind the counter 

-Usual have free news papers

-Don't put the lids on to go drinks, good or bad? you decide