Mystery Shoppers

Featured Article November '09

 

 

A Latte Problems

 

Ever had a hot milk? Perhaps when going to bed, but it isn’t really what you would expect when you are buying a latte from coffee shops that are seemingly springing up everywhere today. Indeed, it would appear the coffee shop is making a comeback as requirements for such establishments are on the increase. Even Coffee Republic, who have met with some trouble in the last few years, are back on the acquisitions trail with Arab Investments, wanting fifty new sites in the next two years and have even reached the ‘Pinnacle’ already!

Why this is the case is debatable. Is it because these coffee houses drive up rents with so many opening this year? Indeed 164 coffee shops opened in the UK this year, compared to 76 the year before. Is this then due to an image or convenience thing? Hanging out at the ever increasing numbers of these shops is easier than it has ever been and there is still something aspirational about coffee shop products and your morning coffee. Coffee shops then, have defied the recessionary gloom as operators have taken advantage to secure premium sites at less than premium prices.

Despite this I still have issues with finding the right latte. As mute a point as it might be with the numbers of these operators around, how hard is it to actually get this milky coffee right? Now I am not naming names but on a day trip up to Scotland recently it took four attempts at four different branded outlets before I received anything resembling a latte. Most of the servings placed in front of me seemed to simply be steaming milk (and on one occasion this was an issue), perhaps suggesting that it was my bed time!

Eventually, I am please to say, I was given a decent latte but these multi-nationals that frequent airports, train stations , food outlets and shopping destinations up and down the country have, it seems to me, a long way to go before they live up to the more local coffee operator I know I would prefer to visit.

 

 

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