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February 16, 2006
Starbucks vs Cafe Nero
‘Some’ (actually, most) of the youth-workers I know are devotees of the coffee bean, further to this, they tend to love and frequent funky places in which it is served well, they are a vital venue for youth work and for meetings. For example here, Doc Sarah H got invited to a staff party at her local coffee shop! (I remain uncertain as to whether this was because: a) She is such a good customer or b) She is in their so often they thought she was staff).
Now I’m actually a BIG advocate of the classy independent coffee shop BUT these are rare (at least good ones) so I regularly find myself in that classic dilemma, Café Nero or Starbucks? As this is probably relevant to at least 15 of the readers of Youthblog, I thought I’d articulate my (very subjective) thoughts on this in case you face just such a dilemma.
Starbucks
Coffee Good
No free Newspaper
Non Smoking (Huzzah)
No loyalty card
Standing around like a muppet waiting for your coffee
Wi-fi that accept roaming partners and hence more accesible
Café Nero
Coffee Good
Newspapers available
Smoking area which you often can’t avoid if you want some sugar, a newspaper or the toilet (Newbury is especially bad on this)
Loyalty Card (which therefore makes them a bit cheaper)
Standing around like a muppet waiting for your coffee
Expensive and limited Wi-fi
So the coffee is great at either venue and I'm a bit torn really. I love cafe Nero's loyalty card, always having newspapers to read AND the Apricot Croissants BUT loathe the smoky atmosphere and the limited wi-fi option. I love Starbucks being smoke free and the fact that you can use the wi-fi via a number of different subscriptions. Overall Nero has much more going for it but the wi-fi and the smoke mean that for my vote: Starbucks is the 'Wizard' Choice.
I have tried to let Nero know some of my critiques but the comment section is in the smoking area (duh!) and in the Newbury one I have never ever seen any comment cards available there. Oh and if Starbucks are reading this and feeling smug, ONE THING! The practice of selling the Times for 50p is OK, but putting the discarded ones back on the pile and selling them again (and possibly again) is wrong, so wrong!
Posted by ian at February 16, 2006 12:31 AM