Costa is one of my favourite branded coffee franchises and, though the aesthetics of this Livingston branch are in tune with my expectations, the coffee itself is poor.
They do not seem to be able to produce as high a quality coffee here as in other stores; I suspect because, unlike other Costa's where an Americano features an espresso topped up with boiled water, in this Livingston branch it's a cup of boiled water topped off with an espresso. A seemingly minor consideration if you don't drink much coffee, but water temperature is vital to that perfect coffee, and the cup of boiled water has too much time to cool whilst the espresso is being brewed.
Additionally, the serving staff in this branch are less friendly and helpful than at other branches or, indeed, other coffee shops in the centre. However, they work fast enough to make up for it' rarely get an order wrong, and generally don't bother you once you've gotten past the till. read more