Alresford has two coffee shops, Carocoli and Coffee #1.
Carocoli never knew what they were, a coffee shop, a deli, the coffee was not good and they went bust. Now under new owners.
Coffee #1 new, only open a few weeks in Alresford.
I decided to alight from the bus passing through to Winchester, a quick look around, try a coffee at Coffee #1, then carry on down to Winchester.
It is easy to tell when a coffee shop not good, a row of syrups and asked what size cup for a cappuccino.
A row of syrups on the back wall, I was asked what size cappuccino.
If asked what size, I always ask to see the cups. Regular and large.
There is only one size, the correct size, no other size will suffice.
Feeling hungry having not eaten since late breakfast I also asked for a bap with bacon.
A long wait to be served, though there was an apology, an even longer wait to be brought my bacon bap, longer still before my cappuccino arrived.
The bap was brought with no serviette. I had to go in search of. It was ok, not great.
The cappuccino when it finally arrived appeared to have been carpet bombed with chocolate. I sent it back. The next to arrive looked disgusting, tasted disgusting scalding hot, deep layer of froth and foam, of which I scooped out a large glop with my teaspoon.
Bags of coffee on display. I picked up an espresso blend and a Costa Rican.
Nothing to say where the espresso blend sourced, the Costa Rican commodity coffee, no mention of farm.
No roast date, only a meaningless best be date. Actually worse then useless. Old stale coffee, no aroma.
Ambience pleasant.
Service took so long I missed the next bus and had to wait a further half an hour.
Young girl making the coffee treated very badly by young man who seemed to be in charge. Shouted at her in a very unpleasant manner Come Here. Further shouting at her. Then the shouting became worse, she walked away, clearly distressed and upset, walked into a room marked Private, and did not emerge until some time later as I was leaving.
Had I not been about to leave I would have spoken to her as a very bad example of bullying in the workplace. A report was filed to Coffee #1. They lacked the courtesy to respond, which shows the importance they attach to workplace bullying.
Note: Workplace bullying is a breach of employment legislation.
Coffee +#1 is a a large chain of around 100 coffee shops owned by Caffe Nero and it shows.
Harris + Hoole is also owned by Caffe Nero, and since bought by Caffe Nero has experienced death by a thousand cuts, but they at least attempt to make decent coffee. Coffee #1 do not even go through the motions.
The only good thing I could find to say, bags of coffee grounds to take away for the garden, though from the number of bags piled on the floor the take up appeared to be low.
It was then pick up the bus, head into Winchester, to have a decent coffee at The Square.
