Trivial things that make you annoyed beyond expectations?

[Dadam]

It should be hot water topped up with espresso, rather than the other way around.



I like some instant coffees. Nescafe is drinkable, but nothing special. Kenco Millicano is the one we use at home.

Not the same drink as "proper" coffee, but still an enjoyable drink. And we don't have a machine at home. If we are having anything other than instant, it will be filter coffee made in a cafetiere.

You might be right about the americano, but I suspect it makes next to no difference, and the principle is the same; espresso plus hot water. I’ve just recently got a bean to cup machine at home so I might try it.

I’ve tried many of the “full bean” instants, including Millicano. To me they tasted ok for an instant but with annoying sludge at the bottom. The only instant that has ever come close to a reasonable coffee for me is Nescafé Alta Rica. But its still an instant.

It’s all subjective though. I like nice coffee enough to pay a few hundred for a machine and give it counter space and maintain it, but not to the degree of spending thousands on a full barista machine. I like max coffee, minimum faff

 

[matticus]

And instant coffee is undrinkable. If I asked for a coffee in a cafe and they pulled out a jar of Nescafé I’d be going somewhere else.

But there is thing called choice! ;-)
The point being made is that the "proper" coffee sno... enthusiasts are delaying everyone else. It's a bit like the whole pub queueing while we wait for a Guinness to settle! In this case, tea-drinkers and can-o-coke buyers are all waiting for the Frappalattachipocinnos!

 

[Dadam]

But there is thing called choice! ;-)
The point being made is that the "proper" coffee sno... enthusiasts are delaying everyone else. It's a bit like the whole pub queueing while we wait for a Guinness to settle! In this case, tea-drinkers and can-o-coke buyers are all waiting for the Frappalattachipocinnos!

I'm well aware of the point being made. The counterpoint I'd make is that there is indeed a choice and the people who don't want to wait for proper coffee being made (in a coffee shop which exists primarily for that purpose), have the choice to seek out a cafe with a Bravilor drip machine or catering size tin of stale nescafe. The fact that they might have to go further to find such is indicative of the fact that there's clearly a bigger market for cafes with proper coffee than there is for the other type.

So it's not a minority of enthusiasts delaying "everyone else", it's the majority of customers.

 

[Electric_Andy]

So it's not a minority of enthusiasts delaying "everyone else", it's the majority of customers.

Costa coffee in my local hospital did me a good one in about 1 minute. Another homeware store took nearly 15. It's all about staff, training and equipment. Good coffee is often seen as an easy crowd puller but you need to be all in (which costs) if you're going to do a decent service. I also think in the UK we are just not good at fast food and drink. E.g. at McDonald's drive through I ordered 1 big Mac, and had to park up and wait 10 mins for it!

 

[Alex321]

I'm well aware of the point being made. The counterpoint I'd make is that there is indeed a choice and the people who don't want to wait for proper coffee being made (in a coffee shop which exists primarily for that purpose), have the choice to seek out a cafe with a Bravilor drip machine or catering size tin of stale nescafe. The fact that they might have to go further to find such is indicative of the fact that there's clearly a bigger market for cafes with proper coffee than there is for the other type.

So it's not a minority of enthusiasts delaying "everyone else", it's the majority of customers.

He isn't talking about the people who want a "lesser" coffee, but about the people who want some other drink entirely, which is available in the shop, and takes less time to make, but you have to queue for ages because the staff are busy making the coffees.

It doesn't bother me, but I do understand the point he is making.

 

[Dadam]

but you have to queue for ages because the staff are busy making the coffees.

Yes. In a coffee shop. You have to ask what did they expect.

It doesn't bother me, but I do understand the point he is making.

So do I but this is a thread for ranty banter innit*

*Surprisingly nobody on this thread has yet complained about the use of innit.