So, in August I was to Riga, Latvia. They don't have coffee places like Costa Coffee on every corner. Instead, they have those horrid coffee machines where you press a button and get an instant coffee. Yuck! But it is a land of instant coffee drinkers after all.
As a coffee consumer myself, seeing Costa makes me want to pop in and get a cuppa (although, I would avoid Costa back in the UK). Shall we explore what Costa got on offer outside of the UK? Shall we?
Firstly, you see the same cake display as in the UK (pardon, was not worth the snap). No Latvian desserts, just the same standard you get over here. No problems there.
Then, you see this wooden box of treasures. But wait a second... that's not a Latvian language, that's Polish. Other than random labels in the background, there is no chance of knowing what that is.
Common Costa, you can do better. Pick something local, something Latvian that people understand!
Finally, got to the till ordered my coffee and paid the bill. Moving along, received my coffee (can you spot it in the bottom left corner?). Wait a second... what's that on the counter! Is that a beer tap?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Nooo waaayayayay....
Very unusual...
Moving on!
Once I was united with the coffee, I went up the stairs and sat by the window. The view was a delight! And the coffee was really nice too!
So, apart from some "unusual" items in an otherwise usual place, it is alright 👍
P.S. - this particular Costa Coffee shop was in the heart of Riga, near the House of the Black Heads.
I miss the costa coffee, don't have them where I live now, I remember them being a bit expensive though.
I think, in general, they all charge too much for a coffee drink.
It's nice that you found a proper Cafe instead of just an instant coffee machine.
The beer tap is a cool feature.
I agree, it is 🍺
I have not been to a costa in such along time!!
You have not missed much, it doesn't change! 😄
Which one is your favourite chain?
I don't really like franchise, I enjoy much more going to smaller coffee shops.. I find their coffee much more delicious!!
I had to google Costa Coffee we don't have them over here but sounds like Starbucks. Crazy about the Polish labeled coffee and beer tap. Looks like a quaint, nice neighborhood perfect for a quality local coffee shop 🙁
Not quite. More like 7-11.
Yikes!
Costa uses Robusta coffee, so it is not the same as Arabica beans. Starbucks would have Arabica. But generally, yeah, a coffee chain like Starbucks.
The beer tap there was a big surprise, and yeah, it would have been nice if the souvenir items were in Latvian.Hello @rimicane
I bet that Costa is a treat for real coffee drinkers there 😁
Good coffee is more than a blessing...
💯
It is nice to have a coffee shop chain. But seeing only a handful of them in Latvia tells a lot about what type of coffee people tend to drink.Hello @millycf1976
Yeah, I realised that 😂
...I might have to go there on a mission. 🤣
Well if it isn't my favorite Latvian who went all the way home for a cuppa Costa and Polish trinkets.
hahaha, hello @dandays!
No Costa Coffee in Canada... But cool idea to have tap beer after an expresso 😀
hahha, use beer instead of water to flash down the espresso. I like that!
How funny that even the cake display is the same as in England :) Yes, I was able to catch a glimpse of the cafe in the left corner :)
Yeah, I guess it is profit driven to keep it all the same. Makes it easy to manage too.