Costa Coffee
Inverness Retail and Business Park
Quick critique
Food: Cold and hot sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, muffins, cold drinks and, of course, coffee.
Ambience: Relaxed and inviting.
Cost: In the mid-range.
What I ate...
Ragu meatball panini
Piece of tiffin cake
Cappuccino medio
Sicilian lemonade
WHEN the Borders book store went into administration two years ago, it also meant the closure of its in-house Costa Coffee shop.
Thankfully for the city’s coffee lovers a new stand alone outlet opened up a short distance away from the old site sandwiched, excuse the pun, between Next and the Carphone Warehouse.
In a prime spot for attracting the thousands of shoppers and with ample parking, it also feeds a large workforce with Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s Cowan House headquarters and Forestry Commission and VisitScotland offices based nearby.
Workers fancying an escape from their desk have limited lunch options for a quick bite – Tesco’s cafe, Burger King or Pizza Hut.
Costa’s subsequently become a busy lunchtime destination – much to my surprise as I hadn’t thought of a substantial feed in a coffee chain before.
Sitting out on an overcast August afternoon in Inverness while cars scoot past in a busy shopping park may not be my idea of picturesque and relaxing but the customers sitting at the shop’s entrance seemed happy enough.
Inside the shop and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee instantly hits you. There is a real sense of purpose amongst the staff busy clearing tables, serving and coming up with all kinds of concoctions from the hulking silver espresso machine which emits all sorts of weird and wonderful sounds.
It is help yourself to the sandwiches and I plump for a packaged panini with a hearty sounding meatball and ragu sauce, which was promptly heated up.
It was a filling sandwich and the meatball itself was succulent and tasty although it was let down by a lack of sauce and the bread was disappointing – distinctly uninspiring and average tasting.
When I asked for a standard cappuccino medio I received a cup so large it made my fingers ache when I picked! The milk foam was topped off with Costa’s logo in the dusting of chocolate. Nice.
The chocolate tiffin cake was sublime, very "chocolatey" and complemented the hot drink.
With no free tables I had sat myself down on a brown leather two-seater couch and nearly drifted into an early siesta because it was so comfortable.
The noise of the espresso machine mixed nicely with the customers gassing and the easy listening music. Artwork with coloured houses in a Mediterranean-style setting dominated the back wall, while seated at the smart tables were a selection of suited businessmen, individuals reading books or newspapers and couples. Not many shoppers and not a child in sight.
Costa Coffee is certainly not cheap but does offer a quality food and drink experience. Perhaps a once-a-month treat for weary shoppers or stressed out office workers.
