Er, Coffee Please...?

I visited two coffee shops in the past two weeks, meeting a chef friend for great conversation, the other, with family on the weekend;

The first, my only local independently owned coffee shop, its a train museum, stunning venue, with bar, upstairs seating and meeting rooms, open fire, and a good breakfast, we were warmly greeted, asked if we were staying all day/working from there, and offered a table, great coffee, great atmosphere, warm, and welcoming, were were upsold, breakfast, coffee syrups, cakes, you name it! I always see the same staff, always smiling, always buzzing, drinks brought to me at the table, even stayed for a second round too!

The second, a branded one, "Italian coffee company" I was pointed to cakes and syrups, not really spoken to, no real warm welcome, there was someone asleep snoring in the corner, there was little or no atmosphere, and one of the baristas insisting on spraying everywhere with sanitiser as a process to cleaning down rather than service and sales care, it wasn't clean, the baristas were not great, but the coffee art was great, I could go on - but not great tasting at all, and didn't feel like staying ...

Heres the thing, my local, the first shop, we were asked to move 3 times, it was loud, it was noisy, the coffee "art" wasn't great, it could have done with a little tidy, but where would I rather go? 100%, my local, they know me, they care about you coming back, they want to make conversation, and actually like knowing about your day, and every time, give a warm greeting and goodbye too.

It doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be sleek with the greatest systems, or the best efficiency, but you do have to care, want it to work, and be passionate about service, the rest will come, time and again.

Whats my point? Fancy labels, bright signs and sexy adverts, dont bring passion, it should bring standards, but doesn't promise them, hit your local pub, coffee shop or restaurants, they might not get it perfect, but they might just try bloody harder than any with the perfect shiny system and label, and you will see exactly where the revenue/support goes, back into the place you've grown to love!

Mines a flat white please (and occasionally an espresso) 🍪🫖☕️