Costa - Reading

This is my regular Costa, going before I start work. The morning staff are really lovely people. Teddy and Franco are always cheerful and are quite a good double act. When people get on well, it makes for a great welcoming atmosphere. Tamara and Leah are also great. The coffee is lovely, as you would expect from a Costa. During the pandemic, the enormous outside (covered) seating area was a real lifesaver. It sounds silly, but it helped make lockdown more bearable as it was a tiny bit of normality. I occasionally have a croissant, heated up and with jam, which is a good accompaniment to the coffee. I also choose this place when catching up with friends as it’s so welcoming. I thoroughly recommend this Costa to you. They do get busy at some times during the day, but they handle it well. Thanks, Jonathan

Don't you dare to say that the cream is missing from the latte and the gingerbread!!! let me just say the fried bread that came after 20 minutes!!! you and the whole family will be offended... and threatened that you will never set foot in the cafe again.

When you order and pay for a large coffee, you expect to receive a large coffee. Not one which is 65% full. When I challenged this with the 3 men behind the counter, they didn’t seem to understand the issue. They said I could have more water. I told them this would just make the drink weaker and I’d need extra shots to go with it. They told me this would cost me more! The three staff, lined up and smirking, seemed baffled by the simple point of wanting a full cup of coffee, not one only partially filled. They said it was the same in all Costas. Later, one came over, told me that all other customers were happy to pay for a full cup and receive only 65%! He agreed to give me another shot. Quite why this couldn’t therefore have simply been done at the start, without the need for such a farce, I do not know. Later still, one of the other staff told me it was a franchise and so this was why customers didn’t get the same standard of drink as in other Costas. So it isn’t the same in all Costas then! This place was once very busy at 17:00 with mums with their kids or friends meeting for a catch-up. Today, it was really quiet. This speaks volumes.

The staff at this costa were perfect, always on the ball and getting perfect i coffee. I have a special coffee single macchiato in a double cup with flat white milk and always turns out perfectly always made just by Charlie. She engages with all of the customers being very helpful and kind. If someone is having a bad day Charlie always turns it around.

Its nice to see a place busy with people people on a Sunday morning but the queue to be served was long and people were walking out before they were served, and this isn't the first time. We waited, but the coffee when it arrived was very weak, particularly the latte. The staff were very busy maybe they need more staff at peak times.