Jul

Coffee Confusion

Jacob Gaffney in Health, Food coffee, EAT, Pret a Manger

Is it time to switch to tea?

InterWined is feeling pretty fed up with living in a non-coffee culture. In fact, one trip to the food mechant EAT (and immediately after the same thing happened in Pret), highlights the frustrations.

The incident inspired us to write to Matt Hart, a Customer Services Manager at EAT, who once sent £10 of vouchers to InterWined personally to get us to try the food:

Hi Matt, since you sent vouchers to me, I have frequented EAT.

Lately, I’ve been eating loads of soup with a basil and tomato baguette. Decadent, I know.

However, there is one issue that is weighing on my mind. It’s twice now that I’ve ordered a filter coffee in the afternoon, only to have the barrista attempt to serve me an Americano, which is basically an espresso with three parts hot water added.

I find it so odd that a barista would knowingly supply the incorrect product to a client.

The first time the barista brew a fresh ‘pot’ in order to deliver the product. Let me tell you, there is nothing better that a fresh cup of EAT coffee.

The reason supplied this afternoon, however, was that EAT was done brewing coffee for the day. That’s fair enough, but again why try to ‘trick’ me?

If I were to walk into a pub and ask for a lager and be served an ale, won’t that be strange? Both are ‘beers’ and both have very different taste profiles.

I will sit and drink a cup of coffee for more than an hour and it is something I feel very passionate about. An Americano retains that harsh espresso edge. A cup of coffee is much more mellow and enjoyable, in my opinion.

Nonetheless, the manager (the excellent Marco, BTW) refunded my money without pause or question.

The barista then said, “you may have the drink for free, sir,” which is sweet, but also highlights the confusion staff have on this issue.

I didn’t order an Americano, therefore I do not want one…

See my point?

IW