Costa Coffee

Hidden in the Met Quarter, this Costa is an ideal place to take mums and aunties between bouts of shopping. Saturdays and Sundays can get pretty busy but between Monday and Friday, it’s usually pretty quiet. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed and there’s usually lots of clean tables and comfy arm-​chairs.
Of course, the coffee isn’t as good as Oomoo or Brew but when you’ve been shopping for six and a half hours, who cares? It’s hot, wet and usually comes served with a smile. More importantly, Costa sell a wide range of baked goods from chocolate chip cookies and muffins to carrot cake, lemon drizzle and chocolate fudge cake.

Sometimes, shopping and travelling takes it out of you, and while you’ll seek out lovely little independent coffee shops you might plump for convenience over integrity. When the brunette and I were new to Liverpool, we didn’t really know where to head for the cool places, and we’d found ourselves oohing and aahing at all the expense and finery of the Met Quarter so when we spotted the Costa we hopped in for a little R&R.
Not bad, actually. I’m not a huge fan of coffee chains as you know, but Costa isn’t too terrible and what I grabbed there really hit the spot. She took on a blueberry muffin and a hot chocolate, I plumped for a green tea and something I’d like to buy an entire loaf of and take home. Yes, surprisingly I’ve found an amazing coffee house treat. Costa’s breakfast loaf, a slice of which is packed with sultanas, carrots, seeds and moist goodness, was just what I needed at that moment. The glazed icy topping makes it feel naughty enough for a guilty snack but it’s guilt-​free in fact due to being packed full of such amazing goodies. Even the brunette who raised a wry eyebrow at me going for the seeded fruity thing and the herbal tea («You just don’t do this stuff properly! You’re the girl who keeps Quality Street in your fridge for MONTHS!» It’s true) started to gaze at my slice and look slightly envious.
She wasn’t envious of the green tea though. I wouldn’t have been either, I mean I can get Twinings at home through the unbelievable use of my own kettle. Coffee houses would gain so much more respect from me if they took a leaf out of The Quarter’s book and had some more unusual herbal teas on offer. Or heck, even followed what Teacup in Manchester has done with Mr Scruff’s home brews being on the menu. Does Twinings have a monopoly on coffee chains like Coca Cola and Pepsi do on fast food franchises? I do hope not. Not that I mind Twinings, it’s just I’m so darn used to it.
Aside from that her hot chocolate with massive marshmallows was amazing, the muffin exactly what you’d expect (I’m always wary that they’re so… glistening and overly moist) and the service was tip top. Plus we had comfy seats and a great view for people watching. Not perhaps our first choice, but not one to be sniffed at.