1/5 CJ S. 4 months ago on Google • 9 reviews
After
navigating
past
two
other
coffee
chains,
I
reached
this
Costa
in
Asda
with
a
singular
craving
for
a
salted
caramel
frappe.
I
eagerly
placed
my
order,
observing
the
meticulous
preparation
by
the
attendant.
However,
the
spectacle
quickly
turned
into
a
peek
behind
the
scenes.
Running
out
of
caramel
became
a
grand
affair,
with
the
ceremonious
replacement
of
the
bottle
complete
with
a
day
sticker.
Yet,
this
prompted
me
to
scrutinise
the
rest
of
their
stock.
Despite
the
place
being
open
for
just
an
hour,
the
muck
encrusting
the
bottles
and
the
pumps
seemed
to
have
settled
in
for
a
week’s
residency.
A
mere
swap
of
the
pumps
was
the
protocol,
no
fresh
pump
and
certainly
no
time
for
a
thorough
wash.
Every
nozzle
of
every
pump
on
every
bottle
appeared
filthy.
Contemplating
accepting
the
drink
just
to
discard
it
quietly,
I
paused,
not
wishing
to
orchestrate
a
scene.
Others
around
me
didn’t
deserve
their
day
to
be
potentially
marred
by
a
bout
of
botulism.
The
server
presented
me
with
a
caramel
frappe,
overlooking
the
fact
that
I
had
explicitly
asked
for
a
Salted
Caramel
Frappe.
When
pointed
out,
the
response
was
bafflingly
simple:
"That's
a
salted
caramel
frappe."
Missing
50%
of
its
ingredients
but
calling
it
the
same
thing,
apparently,
was
within
their
standard
practice.
The
incredulous
stare
directed
my
way
painted
me
as
the
irrational
one.
Call
me
picky,
but
last
I
checked,
a
Salted
Caramel
Frappe
should
contain,
well,
both
salt
and
caramel.
Starbucks
and
every
other
coffee
joint
manage
this
concoction
effortlessly,
but
alas,
Costa
appears
to
have
patented
the
salt.
This,
I
presume,
is
the
epitome
of
post-Brexit
service
and
expertise
–
our
homegrown
workforce
blissfully
unaware
of
both
hygiene
and
the
finer
details.
She
didn't
understand
that
a
salted
caramel
frappe
with
no
salt
was
just
a
caramel
frappe
but
I
guess
she
did
the
refund
anyway.
Nevertheless,
at
least
I
didn't
have
to
publicly
highlight
the
unsanitary
mess
lingering
behind
the
counter,
and
my
money
was
promptly
returned.
All's
well
that
ends
with
a
refund,
I
suppose.
The
comments
here
suggest
that
hygiene
is
an
elephant
in
the
room
at
this
particular
branch.
Sadly,
it
seems
Costa
hasn't
yet
considered
monitoring
these
Google
reviews.
But
hey,
it's
a
new
branch;
maybe
cleanliness
will
eventually
find
its
way
into
their
agenda.