Caffe Nero

I like Caffe Nero so much more than the other chain coffee houses. Caffe Nero base their coffee shops on European cafes, and this particular branch, with its outdoor seating and large windows really has a great feel to it.
It’s hard to find anywhere that doesn’t sell Fairtrade coffee and tea these days, so there isn’t any particular need to get excited about it, except to say that, for some reason, the coffee tastes so much better here than anywhere else.
However, it’s not the drinks that are important here. It’s the food. I’m not usually a fan of food sold by coffee chains; I find it to be bland and extremely overpriced. Caffe Nero does great food though, and their paninis are especially wonderful.
The best thing about this place though, is the service. Unlike Starbucks where you can wait forever for a basic hot chocolate, the service in Caffe Nero is fast, the staff always friendly, and the tables are always clean. I swear they have tiny magic helpers that keep everything running so smoothly.

I really like this Caffe Nero on a warm day. They have a large outdoor seating area, which is pretty unusual for a coffee chain in town. Also, when it’s really hot, they open up the front windows and you can imagine that you’re in some Parisian café front. Lovely.
The staff in this particular store are fantastic. One girl was on her own behind the counter and making coffees, and was the fastest, most efficient and most polite café worker I’ve ever seen. I didn’t get a chance to tell her though; I didn’t want to interrupt her flow!
The coffee here isn’t as good as in Starbucks, I think. But the food is tastier and service far more considerate. Plus, I prefer a simple stamp card rewards system, none of that Starbucks top-​up card nonsense here!