Least worst options (coffee content)

I’m not a massive coffee snob

Your post seems to suggest otherwise 😜

Imho the only way to get a proper hit is with a self serve machine where you can whack a double espresso in, then do milk yourself. Wetherspoons machines used to do this, as did Travelodge.

🙃 fair play. Snob maybe, but a massive snob wouldn’t even entertain buying coffee at the roadside surely.

I would say caffe nero is probably the better of the chains. starbucks tastes burnt, costa is insipid.

At the roadside the stuff you'll find everywhere is either Starbucks or Costa - less common but growing in number is Tim Hortons but you'' typically find them in retail parks rather than on the road. If you dont like the very-roasted-ness of Starbucks you probably won't like Tim Hortons either. Costa is therefore probably better bet- its fairly middle of the road, probably not anyones favourite but theres not much to disagree with

Cafe Nero is nice not least because they don't tend towards the bucket size portions of other maintreamers (it astounds me that Costa does cups so big you need two handles) - but they're typically a city / town centre outlet rather than somewhere you'd encounter when travelling

Pretty much anyone else will be an independent (although Costa started out as a wholesaler to independents and still supply a fair few of them) so theres not really a general recommendation to make.

If you get on ok with Costa then their self service machines in filling stations work pretty well if you're off the beaten track a bit.

Jetboil, Aeropress and artisan coffee of your choice in the boot of your car?  Or ditch the Aeropress and use the Jetboil cafetiere attachment if you absolutely have to rough it!

Bodum travel press thing.

Pre-ground coffee sealed up. (Ideally your own) 🙂

Grab hot water.

Do it always when I travel. It's a bit of hassle but so much better.

Blokeuptheroad's solution sounds pretty good. Starbucks blonde roast is significantly nicer and less burnt tasting than their standard one if you're at one of their places.

Costa is also the most common I'd say. Like other chains they are always consistent.

Re Starbucks their house blend is very dark and best served with whole milk, but if you find yourself there ask for blonde roast or, if you are drinking filter, whatever blend they have on besides house blend, there are usually two. Blonde roast, as the name suggests, is lighter.

Your post seems to suggest otherwise 😜

No, Starbucks is rank even when they don't burn it - I'd rather have a glass of water and a caffeine tablet 😉

My order of preference for high street stores is...
Pret
Nero
Costa
But pretty much any indy is going to better them.

Bodum travel press thing.

Pre-ground coffee sealed up. (Ideally your own) 🙂

Grab hot water.

Do it always when I travel. It’s a bit of hassle but so much better.

100% this.

Get a metal one though, the plastic ones crack on the internal wall. The metal ones last forever though.

Linky

Gold information thanks all. Making my own isn’t too practical as I’m travelling light (even left the wife and kids at home).

But pretty much any indy is going to better them.

Not in my experience. There are many many shit cafes out and about selling stuff that will make you long for a Starbucks. In fairness the situation is improving, but it's not easy to tell what's going to be good.

There's also the beanhunter app, which has been hit and miss for me in the past but might help you find a proper shop in your locale.

There is no coffee snobery, there are people who like good coffee and then the 'others' ;P

Hasn't someone made a car cigarette lighter adapter for a Europiccola yet? I sense a gap in the market...

There are many many shit cafes out and about selling stuff that will make you long for a Starbucks.

I don't particularly think myself as a coffee snob, but I can not understand why Starbucks is so popular. Their coffee is IMO absolutely disgusting.

I’m travelling light (even left the wife and kids at home).

That's a shame. You could've got her to brew up.

Leftfield idea and I'm likely to need asbestos trousers for the imminent roasting but,

McDonalds. Whatever you think of their food, the coffee is properly good for 'high street' java.

 I have my old Nespresso machine in the back (artisan compostable pods, natch) which is the last word in convenience 😃

Good work, that sounds like an awesome mobile setup! 👍 I was going to say that is peak STW, but someone will be along in a minute to suggest you fit an espresso machine and burr grinder instead!

Personally, of the chains I prefer Caffè Nero and Costa to Starbucks, if I can't find a decent looking independent. Motorway services with Starbucks are avoided.

If you are in the Midlands/Yorkshire, then 200° are one to look out for, either their own coffee shops or independent ones they supply.

Just to give you more options I've had good results from my WACOCO Nanopresso with NS adapter. It can do it from ground coffee but on the road I prefer the convenience of Nespresso pods. You need boiled water to use but with the right pod can get a pretty good shot.

This just leaves milk. At a pinch I'd put a splash of whole UHT (heretic) and maybe some more boiling water to make it warmer, but if with a stove to hand I fire up my Bellman CX-25S Milk Frother.

I can do all this out of the boot of a car with a camping stove but you need a good 15 minutes spare so you have to be pretty committed to not just have a mug of instant.

With cougar on this one. Cheap n all

Nero +1 if there's an actual high street cafe.

McDonalds or Greg's +1 for the service stations.

The trouble with service stations is there's zero repeat business for them, so they get away with serving awfull coffee for stupid prices.

At least a high street Nero there's a good chance someone behind the counter can make a decent-ish coffee because it matters to their bottom line.

McDonalds, like the self service Costa machines, but at half the cost. You're not going to impress some artisanal coffee coniseur, but you'll at least it won't something undrinkable.

+1 for McDonalds (actually +2 as Mrs Fruitbat is similarly minded).

McDonalds, like the self service Costa machines, but at half the cost. You’re not going to impress some artisanal coffee coniseur, but you’ll at least it won’t something undrinkable.

Fair point. I quite like some of their food as well, but I have recognised mental health issues.

I’ve used a thermos of hot water and my Boden cup with pre-ground coffee before.

Could do the same with the Aeropress - which to my tastebuds makes a more consistent cup of coffee.

Mcdonalds were always my go to, but I have had to move to Decaf now and they don't do it. So if you want decaf then the answer is Greggs.

At a pinch I’d put a splash of whole UHT

Delete your account.

🤮

Actually Greggs coffee is quite drinkable. CAWA Coffee is possible the best shop bought coffee I've ever had. Not sure how wide their chain stretches across the country though.
I'm with the Starbucks haters - tried it twice, threw it away both times. Same deal with Pumpkin on the railway stations.

Maybe download this app: https://rwrdapp.com/for-customers/

"INDEPENDENT COFFEE GUIDE.

Stop sleepwalking into high street chains with our curated guide of the best coffee shops local to you."

Bodum travel mug here. Been round the globe a few times with me looks a bit battered but still travels with me daily..... Even if I have removed the press part and fill it from the Jura.

Starbucks isn't good but at least is predictably burnt and I can drink it..... Unlike Costa which varies so much between branches you never know what your gonna get. Surprised on the love for McDonald's - it's cheap and it's quick but it's so hot it could melt lava.

Just goes to show how varied peoples tastes are. Of the big brands Starbucks is the best and I just won’t drink Costa. I would rather remain thirsty or get a can of Coke.

and fill it from the Jura.

ohh you never said you had a Jura machine,  any good?

Just goes to show how varied peoples tastes are

Like I say it depends on what you drink too. I always drink lattes in Starbucks, but never in Costa because their blend is not dark enough. Also, I occasionally like vanilla in my Starbucks latte in lieu of a dessert (fight me) but only in Starbucks because their vanilla is delicions, esp with whole milk, whereas everyone else's is rubbish and over-sweet.

BTW Costa also have an alternative blend now. I can't remember if I have tried it or not so I guess it's not that memorable.

McDonalds. Whatever you think of their food, the coffee is properly good for ‘high street’ java.

It's ok but I wouldn't call it proper good. It's also milder than others so if you're worrying about having too much caffeine that day then it's a good option.

A big issue I find at Costa is that they almost always heat the milk too much. I had one the other day that had the correct temp milk which tasted far better than usual.

(even left the wife and kids at home).

TBH I like to keep my ex wife the same way as my coffee so shes ground up and in the fridge

I'm pretty into coffee, and I'd go for McDonald's over any of the coffee chains, crappy cafes, or self service machines.

It's not great coffee, but its always drinkable, and it's definitely good for what you pay.