Contact with Costa

Hi all

I've written to Costa today to say how disappointed I am that they don't offer dairy free chocolate powder. I love Mocha but can't have it there because of the dairy. I mentioned that they offer the different non dairy milks so why not the powder.

I'll let everyone know the results.

[Kitten-whiskers Administrator]

Thats a valid point Alicia, hope you get on ok with that, lets see how good there customer service really is : >

[Hidden in reply to Kitten-whiskers]

Thank you Debs.

If they are going to offer various plant milks then they need to offer non dairy chocolate powder.

Of course I'll let you know how I get on.

Alicia 😀

[Kitten-whiskers Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Hear Hear 😁

[Agoodenough]

Well done Alicia! I came across this before when I asked for a hot chocolate with plant milk and they said the chocolate has milk powder in so although the plant milk was vegan the chocolate wasn’t and I had had about three in the previous few months and no one had mentioned it before. I was not a happy bunny! 😡

[willsie01 in reply to Agoodenough]

I was having the hot chocolate but only because I didn’t get on with latte made with their plant milk. As per my other reply I’ve recently switched to flat white taking my own oat milk.

[Hidden in reply to willsie01]

It's very inconvenient having to take your own milk, also how many charge you less for your drink when you supply your own milk - not many!😡

[Hidden in reply to Agoodenough]

Same here, I've been drinking it as well not knowing there's dairy in it. It annoys me so much,can't offer all those non dairy milks and use a chocolate powder that has dairy in it.😡

[willsie01]

I’m disappointed with Costa because they don’t offer to make latte with oat milk. Having tried coffee using soya, almond, coconut and oat milk I find the last option is the only one that works for me. My wife loves her Costa so I’ve taken to having a flat white and adding my own oat milk that I take with me. Also take my own vegan spread to use on toast.

[Agoodenough in reply to willsie01]

Good for you. I saw on amazon you can buy little single portion pots of vegan spread now 😁

[Hidden in reply to willsie01]

We'll be doing a supermarket shop before going to a coffee shop😉

[willsie01]

Just occurred to me that I should write as well. They make latte with other plant milk so why not with oat? I believe it’s generally regarded as the best option? As a newbie to Veganism I better not be too confident of my opinion just yet.

[Hidden in reply to willsie01]

I agree totally with what you are saying, we shouldn't have to take our own milk.

I would definitely write to them, the more of us that write the better.

Best of luck.👍

[Agoodenough in reply to willsie01]

It’s a really good idea to let them know as if I owned the company I would want to know what the customer wants and if we don’t speak up they don’t know. Here is a link to the form if you want to add your thoughts it’s quite straightforward 😁🌱

costa.co.uk/contact-form/

[Hidden in reply to Agoodenough]

Thank you Ali, I definitely will. Same as you, if I owned a company I would also want customers' thoughts on the service etc.

[willsie01 in reply to Agoodenough]

Just done it. How about a petition?

[Hidden in reply to willsie01]

Thank you and what a good idea about a petition, I sign loads of petitions.

The next one I sign I'll have a look at the link to see how to start one. BTW, I get sent petitions to sign every day😀

[willsie01 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I get lots too but can’t remember from whom. I’ll look out for your post.

[Hidden in reply to willsie01]

Ok, if you follow me you will get the post.😀

[Agoodenough in reply to Hidden]

😀

[Agoodenough]

Hey Alicia it says on their website that the Chocolate powder is vegan? But I’m sure a member of staff told me it’s not vegan. Do you think it’s changed since last winter? It says on their chart there is a risk of contamination.

(Its on page 68 right at the end)

costa.co.uk/coffee-club/sto...

Ali

[Hidden in reply to Agoodenough]

Hi Ali

Thank you for that, it'll be very interesting what response I get then🤔. Thank you for the link, I'll look at that now.

I remember you saying on here that you asked a member of staff and I seem to remember you saying they were quite rude.

[Hidden in reply to Agoodenough]

Hi Ali, I've had a look now and their table can be quite confusing as nearly all their chocolate powder is non Vegan but as you say the chocolate powder at the end says yes for Vegans. I've had a look near the beginning where it lists mocha drinks and they are not Vegan.

I'll see what their response is. Also I hope more people write to them that are Vegan as they may eventually get the picture in that you do not need dairy chocolate powder. I make mochas at home with non dairy chocolate powder.🤔

[Agoodenough in reply to Hidden]

Well it’s not difficult, it is a bit infuriating. Cadbury’s drinking chocolate is vegan. I wrote to Costa as well. I wonder if we get the exact same reply lol.

[Hidden in reply to Agoodenough]

Precisely, it's not like they would have to buy some 'special' Vegan chocolate powder i.e. the excuse I always hear in places 'sorry but we're not asked for soya, almond or coconut milk often and we'd waste it.

Hmm, it'll be very interesting to see what reply we get, we'll have to compare.🤔

[Agoodenough in reply to Hidden]

It is annoying. A coffee shop near us said whenever they try and make anything vegan it goes wrong. I don’t believe that as flapjacks can be made exactly the same but with vegan spread and I don’t think you’d know the difference.

Yes I wonder what they will say🤔 they probably think pesky vegans! 😂

[Hidden in reply to Agoodenough]

Oh come on, try another one, I don't believe that for one minute. I made a delectable chocolate cake for a cake sale earlier in the year which was Vegan, non vegans bought it as well. That's just a poor excuse that they can't make anything as it goes wrong.

Agree with you as they probably think it's those problematic vegans.🤔

[alchemilla12]

I'm sure they will respond to peoples queries /complaints. I wrote to them quite a while ago complaining that the only plant milks they offered had soya in ( they did soya and then coconut which had soya in it )and that many people avoid soya as a) it is one of the major allergens and b) because it is so environmentally destructive to grow it.They replied after a while and said they would be offering almond milk in future.I didnt know they have added oat milk as well now so I do think they listen.

[Hidden in reply to alchemilla12]

Thank you for your reply and I'm glad they got back to you, they've not got back to me as yet as it's been about 5 days now so it's about time. It does look like they listen so here's hoping for a response which I will share on here. I've now started a petition about them using non dairy chocolate powder and have posted it on here.

[alchemilla12 in reply to Hidden]

It did actually take quite a while for them to get back - I'd virtually given up expecting anything so I did send another e mail asking why they hadnt responded!

This is their response :

" Thank you for contacting Costa Customer Services.

We are pleased to confirm that Costa now offer Almond Milk in our stores. Please be assured at Costa we do value all customer comments and suggestions and all feedback is recorded on our central database and are passed onto our brand and marketing teams for their consideration.

Your opinions whether positive or negative are of paramount importance to our success as a brand, it is through such feedback that we are able to enhance and improve our standards, services and products. "

so hang on in there and contact them again after a while

[Hidden in reply to alchemilla12]

Thank you for letting me know, I won't give up then. I'll give it say another week and if not got back then I'll write again.

Their response was very good and just goes to show that they did listen, I was thinking that it would have to be loads of people before they would take any action.

If they get the dairy free chocolate powder they won't actually waste anything because then will be able to use that instead of the one they use now, you cannot taste the difference.

Thank you