Coffee wars break out over claims of ‘illegal sampling’ by tiny cafe (From Daily Echo)

media8ter wrote:
Competition is one thing, gaining an advantage by using illegal methods is something entirely different.

bradshaw22 wrote:
No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power

gourmet.co.uk!

Dusty wrote:
Get a facebook page going, next time i am in southampton, i will visit and have a coffee. Dont do this as a rule but i will make an exception this time.

SotonLad wrote:

bradshaw22 wrote: No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power gourmet.co.uk!

Both seem to work for the Soton coffee shop!

SotonLad wrote:

bradshaw22 wrote:
No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power


gourmet.co.uk!

Both seem to work for the Soton coffee shop!

Dusty wrote:
Page not found :o/

PowerGourmetDelicafe wrote:

Dusty wrote: Page not found :o/

facebook.com/organic delicafe

userds5050 wrote:
What was the website again?

PowerGourmetDelicafe wrote:

SotonLad wrote:

bradshaw22 wrote: No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power gourmet.co.uk!

Both seem to work for the Soton coffee shop!

The main one is @organicdelicafe, just less than 3K followers.

lisa_wild69 wrote:

PowerGourmetDelicafe wrote:

SotonLad wrote:

bradshaw22 wrote: No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power gourmet.co.uk!

Both seem to work for the Soton coffee shop!

The main one is @organicdelicafe, just less than 3K followers.

Power Gourmet - The other day one member of your staff had got some school kids shouting at people walking down the high street to come into your shop and try your products. When I didn't go in as yes, I wanted a Costa (my choice) I was shouted at and obscenities thrown my way - thanks for that! To be honest, what IDIOT decided to put your business next to a leading brand anyway? First rule of business: Location Location Location! I don't like to see businesses loose out - but stop the pettiness and frankly desperation and get on with healthy competition. Oh, and no more insults when I'm on my break at work please!!!

Son of Fred wrote:
Storm in a tea-cup

TimTam wrote:
Costa lot!

Nick Tann wrote:
I prefer my own coffee. Freshly roasted.

Stubs wrote:
I think these coffee places are such a rip off. Why spend all that money when you can buy a jar of coffee in Tesco which will last for about 2 months. Costa know how to charge allright. Costa a flaming lot.

PowerGourmet wrote:
Hi guys! Power Gourmet here.

Just to say thank you all for your support - please do visit our website: http://www.powergour

met.co.uk or come in for your buy one get one free organic coffee voucher, so we can say thank you for supporting us and our local growers, farmers, and partners.

We really appreciate the local community vouching for us.

We are at 8 High Street in Southampton city centre, opposite Argos.

Bagamn wrote:
Does anyone remember the Checkpoint at the Bargate? That was the place to be in the fifties and the sixties. We didn't get ripped off for some fancy names. You got frothy coffee or tea. Oh Hum, great days.

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

Bagamn wrote:
Does anyone remember the Checkpoint at the Bargate? That was the place to be in the fifties and the sixties. We didn't get ripped off for some fancy names. You got frothy coffee or tea. Oh Hum, great days.

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?!

For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh!

Instant coffee tastes like crap!

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Costa have lost my custom, they never actually ever had it, but they definitely won't get it now....

IronLady2010 wrote:
Power Gourmet were offering samples of Expresso (if I heard correctly) when I walked past several days ago.

Although he was standing in his own doorway and not on the street, not breaching any by-law?

Georgem wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:
Power Gourmet were offering samples of Expresso (if I heard correctly) when I walked past several days ago.

Although he was standing in his own doorway and not on the street, not breaching any by-law?

What's expresso? Is it anything like espresso?

Nod wrote:
I can not understand the organic movement. The point of pesticides are to remove things like animal faeces, urine and to make it safer for human consumption. Why go back to the days where we literally eat $#!+.

randomguy91 wrote:

Nod wrote:
I can not understand the organic movement. The point of pesticides are to remove things like animal faeces, urine and to make it safer for human consumption. Why go back to the days where we literally eat $#!+.

this comment may have some materialistic truth to it, however, with the cotton wool nation as it is at the moment, and everything being steralised, everybody is now losing their immune system strength, did you drink water from the hose as a child? do you swim in the sea? would you pick a blackberry and eat it whilst walking through the countryside? organic has upto 60% more nutrients and anti-oxidants than standard foods, rock on for organic, why go to costa and sip on residues of potentially harmful pesticide and herbicide chemicals?? POWER ARMY!!!!!

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?!

For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh!

Instant coffee tastes like crap!

Oh dear, what a sad little girl who can't understand what the grown-ups are saying !

These fashionable places, whether it's clothes, curry or coffee always charge way too much money because, as they say, the market will stand it. In other words, mugs like you will waste your money on it for the sake of a lifestyle statement.

My second point was to emphasise the first by suggesting, quite arrogantly I suppose, that I thought that people's priorities were wrong if they felt able to waste money in this way. I implied that donating to charity was a more honourable way of shedding excess cash if you have it.

By the way....how do you know what cra p tastes like ? Do you cut it up with a knife and fork, or use a big spoon ?

And next time you spend £4.00 on a cup of coffee, think of the hundreds of children, somewhere in the world, who will die that night for want of one cup of water.

lisa_wild69 wrote:

PowerGourmetDelicafe wrote:

SotonLad wrote:

bradshaw22 wrote: No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power gourmet.co.uk!

Both seem to work for the Soton coffee shop!

The main one is @organicdelicafe, just less than 3K followers.

Power Gourmet - The other day one member of your staff had got some school kids shouting at people walking down the high street to come into your shop and try your products.
When I didn't go in as yes, I wanted a Costa (my choice) I was shouted at and obscenities thrown my way - thanks for that!

To be honest, what IDIOT decided to put your business next to a leading brand anyway? First rule of business: Location Location Location!

I don't like to see businesses loose out - but stop the pettiness and frankly desperation and get on with healthy competition.

Oh, and no more insults when I'm on my break at work please!!!

cliffwalker wrote:

lisa_wild69 wrote:

PowerGourmetDelicafe wrote:

SotonLad wrote:

bradshaw22 wrote: No its not "I believe it is @powerorganic" its @organicdelicafe! I found it on their website....www.power gourmet.co.uk!

Both seem to work for the Soton coffee shop!

The main one is @organicdelicafe, just less than 3K followers.

Power Gourmet - The other day one member of your staff had got some school kids shouting at people walking down the high street to come into your shop and try your products.
When I didn't go in as yes, I wanted a Costa (my choice) I was shouted at and obscenities thrown my way - thanks for that!

To be honest, what IDIOT decided to put your business next to a leading brand anyway? First rule of business: Location Location Location!

I don't like to see businesses loose out - but stop the pettiness and frankly desperation and get on with healthy competition.

Oh, and no more insults when I'm on my break at work please!!!

The premises next door to Costa, now occupied by Power Gourmet, was a cafe where I was a customer long before Costa set up in direct competition. I've not tried this incarnation of Costa but if it's similar to others I have tried at airports long ago it won't get my custom. Only my preference, of course, but I don't like Costa's product or prices.

IronLady2010 wrote:
http://www.powergour

met.co.uk/what-is-or

ganic/

What is Organic, and what are the benefits? They can't even fill out the bloomin page with content. I was interested!

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?!

For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh!

Instant coffee tastes like crap!

Oh dear, what a sad little girl who can't understand what the grown-ups are saying !

These fashionable places, whether it's clothes, curry or coffee always charge way too much money because, as they say, the market will stand it. In other words, mugs like you will waste your money on it for the sake of a lifestyle statement.

My second point was to emphasise the first by suggesting, quite arrogantly I suppose, that I thought that people's priorities were wrong if they felt able to waste money in this way. I implied that donating to charity was a more honourable way of shedding excess cash if you have it.

By the way....how do you know what cra p tastes like ? Do you cut it up with a knife and fork, or use a big spoon ?

And next time you spend £4.00 on a cup of coffee, think of the hundreds of children, somewhere in the world, who will die that night for want of one cup of water.

Little girl?! I'm in my 40's thank you very much!

It is not a waste of money I I can afford it and enjoy it, which I do.

I suppose you give all you're spare money to charity do you and don't buy anything that isn't completely essential. What a load of old bullcock.

I earn my money and will spend it on exactly what I want thank you.

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?!

For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh!

Instant coffee tastes like crap!

Oh dear, what a sad little girl who can't understand what the grown-ups are saying !

These fashionable places, whether it's clothes, curry or coffee always charge way too much money because, as they say, the market will stand it. In other words, mugs like you will waste your money on it for the sake of a lifestyle statement.

My second point was to emphasise the first by suggesting, quite arrogantly I suppose, that I thought that people's priorities were wrong if they felt able to waste money in this way. I implied that donating to charity was a more honourable way of shedding excess cash if you have it.

By the way....how do you know what cra p tastes like ? Do you cut it up with a knife and fork, or use a big spoon ?

And next time you spend £4.00 on a cup of coffee, think of the hundreds of children, somewhere in the world, who will die that night for want of one cup of water.

Little girl?! I'm in my 40's thank you very much!

It is not a waste of money I I can afford it and enjoy it, which I do.

I suppose you give all you're spare money to charity do you and don't buy anything that isn't completely essential. What a load of old bullcock.

I earn my money and will spend it on exactly what I want thank you.

You arrogant, petulant, self-centered, pompous, opinionated airhead.

You did not appear to understand what I had written, so I spelled it out for you.

What is "spare" money ? Is that leftover money, money you don't need ?

Like most poorly-educated nitwits, you make wild, groundless assumptions. But no, I don't waste money on £4.00 cups of coffee, and, although I don't confine my purchasing solely to essentials, I certainly don't waste it on pointless luxuries. I think you'll find most normal people think that way.

You may be nearly fifty years old, but mentally you seem to exhibit the intellect and maturity of a teenager.

IronLady2010 wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?!

For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh!

Instant coffee tastes like crap!

Oh dear, what a sad little girl who can't understand what the grown-ups are saying !

These fashionable places, whether it's clothes, curry or coffee always charge way too much money because, as they say, the market will stand it. In other words, mugs like you will waste your money on it for the sake of a lifestyle statement.

My second point was to emphasise the first by suggesting, quite arrogantly I suppose, that I thought that people's priorities were wrong if they felt able to waste money in this way. I implied that donating to charity was a more honourable way of shedding excess cash if you have it.

By the way....how do you know what cra p tastes like ? Do you cut it up with a knife and fork, or use a big spoon ?

And next time you spend £4.00 on a cup of coffee, think of the hundreds of children, somewhere in the world, who will die that night for want of one cup of water.

Little girl?! I'm in my 40's thank you very much!

It is not a waste of money I I can afford it and enjoy it, which I do.

I suppose you give all you're spare money to charity do you and don't buy anything that isn't completely essential. What a load of old bullcock.

I earn my money and will spend it on exactly what I want thank you.

You arrogant, petulant, self-centered, pompous, opinionated airhead.

You did not appear to understand what I had written, so I spelled it out for you.

What is "spare" money ? Is that leftover money, money you don't need ?

Like most poorly-educated nitwits, you make wild, groundless assumptions. But no, I don't waste money on £4.00 cups of coffee, and, although I don't confine my purchasing solely to essentials, I certainly don't waste it on pointless luxuries. I think you'll find most normal people think that way.

You may be nearly fifty years old, but mentally you seem to exhibit the intellect and maturity of a teenager.

Bit harsh! x

IronLady2010 wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote: £2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?! For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh! Instant coffee tastes like crap!

Oh dear, what a sad little girl who can't understand what the grown-ups are saying ! These fashionable places, whether it's clothes, curry or coffee always charge way too much money because, as they say, the market will stand it. In other words, mugs like you will waste your money on it for the sake of a lifestyle statement. My second point was to emphasise the first by suggesting, quite arrogantly I suppose, that I thought that people's priorities were wrong if they felt able to waste money in this way. I implied that donating to charity was a more honourable way of shedding excess cash if you have it. By the way....how do you know what cra p tastes like ? Do you cut it up with a knife and fork, or use a big spoon ? And next time you spend £4.00 on a cup of coffee, think of the hundreds of children, somewhere in the world, who will die that night for want of one cup of water.

Little girl?! I'm in my 40's thank you very much! It is not a waste of money I I can afford it and enjoy it, which I do. I suppose you give all you're spare money to charity do you and don't buy anything that isn't completely essential. What a load of old bullcock. I earn my money and will spend it on exactly what I want thank you.

You arrogant, petulant, self-centered, pompous, opinionated airhead. You did not appear to understand what I had written, so I spelled it out for you. What is "spare" money ? Is that leftover money, money you don't need ? Like most poorly-educated nitwits, you make wild, groundless assumptions. But no, I don't waste money on £4.00 cups of coffee, and, although I don't confine my purchasing solely to essentials, I certainly don't waste it on pointless luxuries. I think you'll find most normal people think that way. You may be nearly fifty years old, but mentally you seem to exhibit the intellect and maturity of a teenager.

Bit harsh! x

rich the stitch wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:

PrincessPea wrote:

BillyTheKid wrote:
£2-3.00 for a cup of coffee ? You can get a whole bl oody jar of it in Sainbury's for that money. And I bet none of you donate to any charities !

What a bloody stupid comment. How has this story got anything to do with charities?!

For you information I would happily spend £4 on a coffee as a treat (Starbucks as costa is crap) and yes I also donate to various charities, shocking huh!

Instant coffee tastes like crap!

Oh dear, what a sad little girl who can't understand what the grown-ups are saying !

These fashionable places, whether it's clothes, curry or coffee always charge way too much money because, as they say, the market will stand it. In other words, mugs like you will waste your money on it for the sake of a lifestyle statement.

My second point was to emphasise the first by suggesting, quite arrogantly I suppose, that I thought that people's priorities were wrong if they felt able to waste money in this way. I implied that donating to charity was a more honourable way of shedding excess cash if you have it.

By the way....how do you know what cra p tastes like ? Do you cut it up with a knife and fork, or use a big spoon ?

And next time you spend £4.00 on a cup of coffee, think of the hundreds of children, somewhere in the world, who will die that night for want of one cup of water.

Little girl?! I'm in my 40's thank you very much!

It is not a waste of money I I can afford it and enjoy it, which I do.

I suppose you give all you're spare money to charity do you and don't buy anything that isn't completely essential. What a load of old bullcock.

I earn my money and will spend it on exactly what I want thank you.

You arrogant, petulant, self-centered, pompous, opinionated airhead.

You did not appear to understand what I had written, so I spelled it out for you.

What is "spare" money ? Is that leftover money, money you don't need ?

Like most poorly-educated nitwits, you make wild, groundless assumptions. But no, I don't waste money on £4.00 cups of coffee, and, although I don't confine my purchasing solely to essentials, I certainly don't waste it on pointless luxuries. I think you'll find most normal people think that way.

You may be nearly fifty years old, but mentally you seem to exhibit the intellect and maturity of a teenager.

Bit harsh! x

'you make wild groundless assumptions' what like 'I bet you don't give money to charity'. Think before you write, otherwise you can make yourself look to be a bit of a prat.

Bagamn wrote:
Does anyone remember the Checkpoint at the Bargate? That was the place to be in the fifties and the sixties. We didn't get ripped off for some fancy names. You got frothy coffee or tea. Oh Hum, great days.

callumj1991 wrote:
I am a regular customer of Costa in Southampton! They do the best hot chocolates and I would not go anywhere else! The staff are always friendly and helpful and the manager is lovely! They make me feel welcome when I walk in and I'm disgusted about all these "excellent" comments from the other store! COSTA ALL THE WAY!

IronLady2010 wrote:

callumj1991 wrote:
I am a regular customer of Costa in Southampton! They do the best hot chocolates and I would not go anywhere else! The staff are always friendly and helpful and the manager is lovely! They make me feel welcome when I walk in and I'm disgusted about all these "excellent" comments from the other store! COSTA ALL THE WAY!

It's a Coffee shop!!!! Are people really so obsessed with Coffee shops be it Organic or not that it comes to a dispute?

Do you realise how stupid it is?

One went to the Council for Legal reasons, the other went to the local rag. Do we really care?

Both venues create jobs.

chrisbutt1982 wrote:
I was sat outside costa coffee the day this happened. I couldn't believe how the man (supposedly the manager of costa) was taking pictures of the sampling and speaking to them in a very rude manner. Costa that day took their lives into their own hands, I guess ti try and scare Power Gourmet off. I do hope this happens because I will be in there soon enough enjoying a buy one get one free coffee rather than the £3 for one in costa.

stepup wrote:

chrisbutt1982 wrote:
I was sat outside costa coffee the day this happened. I couldn't believe how the man (supposedly the manager of costa) was taking pictures of the sampling and speaking to them in a very rude manner. Costa that day took their lives into their own hands, I guess ti try and scare Power Gourmet off. I do hope this happens because I will be in there soon enough enjoying a buy one get one free coffee rather than the £3 for one in costa.

Hey you couldnt get a clearer account.... Costa was out of place that day, but maybe it was just a slip up... they should just go to Power Gourmet and say they handled the situation badly and shake hands.. will they swallow their ego to that.. I wonder...! Your never too big to say sorry...

IronLady2010 wrote:
Billythekid, I may have missed your opinion on the original article in among all the adverts and slatings etc.

So, Was it wrong for Costa to report the neighbour to SCC for breach of By-Law and was it wrong for Power Gourmet to go to The Echo?

Are both sides at fault or should we continue to go ahead with talking about fellow members contributions?

IronLady2010 wrote:
The next thing is we'll have Big Issue sellers outside, all in the name of Organic!

BillyTheKid wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:
The next thing is we'll have Big Issue sellers outside, all in the name of Organic!

Iron Lady, I've been thinking. You would be ideal as a moderator on this forum. Obviously you would need a team of people who would take it in turns to do their shift, but the incentive would that you could ban posters who broke the rules.
Just a thought, and please take it as an honest compliment.

However, I think the Echo are opposed to moderation. Well, they are only "local rag" journalists - never going to win any literary prizes, are they ?

IronLady2010 wrote:

randomguy91 wrote:

Nod wrote:
I can not understand the organic movement. The point of pesticides are to remove things like animal faeces, urine and to make it safer for human consumption. Why go back to the days where we literally eat $#!+.

this comment may have some materialistic truth to it, however, with the cotton wool nation as it is at the moment, and everything being steralised, everybody is now losing their immune system strength, did you drink water from the hose as a child? do you swim in the sea? would you pick a blackberry and eat it whilst walking through the countryside? organic has upto 60% more nutrients and anti-oxidants than standard foods, rock on for organic, why go to costa and sip on residues of potentially harmful pesticide and herbicide chemicals?? POWER ARMY!!!!!

I accept your point, but personally wouldn't visit either venue. The High Street Cafe is a short walk away.

Just adding a third option ;-)

PowerGourmet wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:

randomguy91 wrote:

Nod wrote:
I can not understand the organic movement. The point of pesticides are to remove things like animal faeces, urine and to make it safer for human consumption. Why go back to the days where we literally eat $#!+.

this comment may have some materialistic truth to it, however, with the cotton wool nation as it is at the moment, and everything being steralised, everybody is now losing their immune system strength, did you drink water from the hose as a child? do you swim in the sea? would you pick a blackberry and eat it whilst walking through the countryside? organic has upto 60% more nutrients and anti-oxidants than standard foods, rock on for organic, why go to costa and sip on residues of potentially harmful pesticide and herbicide chemicals?? POWER ARMY!!!!!

I accept your point, but personally wouldn't visit either venue. The High Street Cafe is a short walk away.

Just adding a third option ;-)

Hi all, we've now updated our What is Organic page to answer your questions and provide some insight on the organic debate. We've included why organic is beneficial, and the strict criteria all organic products has to meet to gain the certification.

we've also included some links to the EU regulations, useful parts of the Soil Association's website, and also a really insightful video.

Of course everyone will have their opinion on whether organic farming is important, but one of the big things for me personally is the TASTE.

You really cannot beat the taste of organic food and drinks. It's just so much richer. That's just my 2p worth, on behalf of our little deli cafe.

Do let us know what you think.

IronLady2010 wrote:

IronLady2010 wrote:
http://www.powergour


met.co.uk/what-is-or


ganic/

What is Organic, and what are the benefits? They can't even fill out the bloomin page with content. I was interested!

So, I click on the next page and get this statement' Power Gourmet is Southampton’s first organic cafe to be awarded the Gold ood for Life '

Missed an F off food. Come on guys, you're a small business taking on a chain, attention to detail does matter ;-)
Good luck x

IronLady2010 wrote:
Thank you to Power Gourmet for their update on the Organic info.
It was actually quite interesting reading.

I use Berocca as a morning additive to my diet, gives me a bit of a kick and provides me with most of my Vitamins.

Keep up the great work guys! x