Which? divulges a taste for independent coffee chains

24 January 2008
Which? divulges a taste for independent coffee chains

Independent shops serve better tasting, lower priced coffee than the industry big three: Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero, according to a study by consumer rights body Which?

In the February edition of the Which? magazine the consumer organisation compared the prices, taste and healthiness of products at the UK's top coffee shop chains with those of independent rivals and concluded "bigger is not always better".

Value-wise, a sample of 45 shops found overall independents were cheapest with a medium-sized cappuccino costing £1.48 in an independent coffee shop and £2.29 in Starbucks.

Of the big three, Caffè Nero was found to offer best value. It was also rated as serving the best tasting coffee of the big three with Starbucks in last place.

Four sandwiches at Starbucks and four at Costa Coffee have more calories than the 495 in a Big Mac. Five sandwiches in Starbucks, four in Costa and one in Caffè Nero contained more fat than a Big Mac and 32 sandwiches had more salt.

A spokeswoman for Starbucks said: "Starbucks is committed to making information on our products easily accessible so our customers can make informed choices. Nutritional information for both food and drinks is available online at www.starbucks.co.uk and on all packaged items as well in the nutritional leaflet in store.

"We believe that we offer good value, by providing the highest quality coffee, great food and a relaxing, comfortable environment for customers to meet with friends and relax."

Coffee chain Starbucks comes to Center Parcs >>

Caffè Nero reports sales up 20% >>

Starbucks continues drive to be largest coffee chain in UK >>

By Jo Chapman

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