I know, I know! Five stars for a chain coffee joint? Have I thus embraced my basic-ness, or sold out entirely? (Dons Costa hat and sips out of Costa mug.) Well folks sit down and let me tell ya about my first Costa cuppa joe.
No, really. I may have mentioned in my prior reviews that I commute to work via bus. Recently I was asked to come in to work early, resulting in a 5 AM alarm blaring to start my day. After the first of my two bus stops to work, I realized that I had somehow arrived to find myself with a 30 minute wait for my next bus... all at the lovely hour of 6:30 AM.
So what, pray tell, is a girl to do in such a quandary on a chilly morning? Naturally to consult her Yelp app and desperately hope a caffeine-filled location exists somewhere close! Let's begin counting our stars here: Costa on Hanover straightaway earns one for location (just off of Princes Street), the second for HOURS. Any coffee shop open early enough for a 6:30 AM visit merits that.
Queue star number three! When I ventured up the stairs into the main foyer of Costa, I was pleasantly surprised. This place is stinkin' cute. I've seen a lot of coffee shops, but this one is not only spacious but really nicely decorated, with tasteful furnishings and giant quirky lamps and such. AND--even better--it has an amazing view of Princes Street and subsequently the castle. (Side note: when arriving at 6:30 AM it's all but abandoned in there, which allows one to enjoy said view of castle in utter peace. Bliss!)
Star number four goes to, naturally, the coffee itself. You've got your standard coffee prices to be found here (perhaps cheaper than Starbucks? hard to say!) and the coffees themselves are just what the doctor ordered. So far I haven't had anything that didn't set me straight for a day of work. The flat white and hazelnut latte I've had were both lovely, but I don't exactly consider myself a coffee snob, so I'm not one for comparisons in that regard. I like coffee in just about any form!
Star number five goes to the gentleman barista who greeted me my first time stepping inside. He was extremely friendly for such an early hour, taking the time to cheerfully acknowledge the great view I was marveling over, and when he asked if I was taking my coffee away, he instantly proffered a Costa bag for me to hide my coffee in so as not to be told to throw it away before boarding. Funnily enough, I'd experienced that very trouble just days prior, and it all but ruined my morning when I left to find a bin and was subsequently left behind by my bus. So when my barista told me that--well, I could have just given him a bear hug for his little gem of helpfulness (and wily coffee-drinking ways!). It's the little things!
And that's the tale of how Clarissa was won over by (one of) a particular coffee chain. No joke--it's a lovely joint, and you'll definitely see me there on early mornings in the future! read more