Reminded me of this from the airport thread. You can add the cafe's to your rant. I used to fly a lot, often getting one of the first morning flights out. After getting up early getting to the airport going through all the check-in **** you mentioned I now need a coffee, but of course the coffee shops arn't open yet and the queue is starting to build. Finally some oik turns up and as casually a sloth prepares for his work. Passengers nervously checking the time before they need to leave the coffee queue and go off to join the queue at the gate. Customer one now being served, What would you like sir? cup of coffee please, Would you like expresso, douplo, latte, americano or one of a list of 20 other types which he takes three minuets to read out. Never ask for an expresso its not.
So whatever coffee you ask for, the awkward galump who's designated to make it for you starts twisting handles on the big machine, presses buttons which release copious amounts of steam, decants a dubious looking froth into a cardboard cup - all this taking a rather unnecessary minute and a half - asks in a completely disinterested way if you want some chocolate dust on top of it (Why would you?) then plonks down in front of you something that tastes measurably worse than a cup of instant and yet costs you the price of a full jar. How did they make this business model work?
Its a genius really aint it Its literally a multi billion industry Its seen as a go to for first dates now Seen as a place you go to work and show off your fancy macbook Seen as a place to go read a book And having a membership card is seen as cool While its the most overpriced **** Hows it happened?!
Tbf, it can be one of life's great pleasures ... finding a nice 'coffee house' to chill in for half an hour enjoying a good coffee. Trouble is, they are few and far between in reality! And re price. It's only like restaurants. You aren't really just paying for the cost of what you are eating / drinking, you are also (even mainly) paying for the surroundings etc. Obvs. Ok, ok, I'm just an addict!
Think it was done by the same people who got people to drink water out of a bottle instead of a tap and got people to smoke those substitute cigs which you now need help getting off like you do cigs, all multi billion pound industries. All done by genius marketing.
It works because fools go in and buy it, when there are perfectly good pubs normally within walking distance. You’ll still get froth…but it’ll be better froth!
