Are $1 Servo Coffees as Good as $4 Cafe Coffees?

Bellpop on 21/04/2019 - 13:56
Last edited 22/04/2019 - 10:53

Long time coffee drinker, first time coffee question writer.

While I love a latte or flat white from a nice little coffee shop and the ambience, of I’m on the go I find it hard to not save 75% and get one from Coles Express, 7/11, etc

Do you guys reckon you could tell the difference in a blind test? To be honest, I don’t think I could. Even if you could slightly tell, is 400% price increase enough to buy the $1 Latte?

As noted by a commenter, most things cost more when it comes to food and perception of quality, but I think the difference here is the 400% markup for coffee shop coffee. Over a year that’s a lot. $1 x 365 = $365. $4 x 365 = $1,460.

Poll Options

  • 277
    $1 Coffees do the job
  • 129
    I only go for the expensive stuff
  • 106
    Coffee tastes like dirt
Food & Grocery Coffee

Comments

      • mousie on 23/04/2019 - 07:12

        Stores audited at random once per calendar month. As a consumer, you wouldn't know when.

        Just open up the milk fridge yourself and check dating if paranoid..

    • J5 on 22/04/2019 - 15:29

      Dunno what 7/11 you visit , every one I see can’t keep the milk supply up

      I fact a few 7/11 have 2 machines due to volume

  • Sweetnsour on 21/04/2019 - 19:50
    +1

    Some of us ozb don’t even pay the $1 at 7-11. It’s free for many of us with fuel locks. Secondly once you add fresh frothed milk it then hides the coffee taste, so many ppl won’t know unless the milk is affected. If you had an espresso then you will be able to tell the difference. Fresh roasted beans is wasted when you add milk but from my observations at cafes, espresso drinkers are the minority of drinkers.

    • Bellpop on 21/04/2019 - 20:54

      I’m not man enough for espresso shots. Crazy talk.

      • belongsinforums on 22/04/2019 - 15:20

        They're popular in Italy. Give them a go there. Much fairer priced too, at around 1 euro from a cafe

  • ziaxk87 on 21/04/2019 - 20:09

    the difference is not that huge… coffee shops charge you for the service whereas 7/11 try to price it on bulk quantities sale

    • Bellpop on 21/04/2019 - 20:20

      Loss leader I guess?

      • tryagain on 21/04/2019 - 21:26

        Kind of, probably more like little to no profit on a non core product line.

        • shiny1 on 21/04/2019 - 21:33
          +1

          I'd imagine them to make money on their larger cups. I think someone showed that their 2 dollar and 3 dollar cups did not scale equally, so the 1 dollar cup is best value overall.

          • Bellpop on 21/04/2019 - 21:37

            @shiny1: Saw that too. Interesting!

          • greatlamp on 22/04/2019 - 08:46

            @shiny1: That is the case in every coffee shop. The larger cups have more water run through the same grains, (which is bitter) or more milk.

            I always get a small, even if it is free.

    • Nebargains on 22/04/2019 - 10:31

      Not just service.

      A good cafe (let's just assume we are talking about a cafe known for their coffee) is probably using a machine that costs $10-30k depending on the size.

      The beans would be ground with a grinder that costs between $1-5k.

      Made to a particular recipe to suit the speciality roasted beans they are using.

      Added to the speciality milk they are using (Yes a lot just use Pura etc, but lots use "speciality" milk).

      Made by someone who knows what they are doing and has the knowledge on how to do it dozens of different ways and cater to your particular requests.

      So you're paying for more than just service.

      • Quantumcat on 22/04/2019 - 11:01

        "A lot" must mean less than half

      • J5 on 22/04/2019 - 15:30
        +1

        Nfi about machine costs

        And any cafe that is decent turnover gets their gear for free

  • tryagain on 21/04/2019 - 21:31

    Can definitely taste the difference, but I find that with a decent machine you can get a consistently good enough coffee. A barista made coffee can be great, and occasionally terrible.
    The Cafe experience is what I happily pay a premium for when catching up with someone, if it just grabbing one on the go then a decent machine made one usually does the trick.

    • Bellpop on 21/04/2019 - 21:51

      I think we’re paying for the environment too with the $4 coffee.

  • nexus4 on 21/04/2019 - 21:46
    +1

    True Ozbargainers skip the $1 coffees and go straight for caffeine pills at $0.06 per serving (half a pill is equivalent to one cup of coffee).

    • Bellpop on 21/04/2019 - 21:50
      +2

      True ozbargains go out with colleagues for a coffee and shelf their caffeine pill and just twitch for a while

      • silverrat23 on 22/04/2019 - 21:48

        Or, true OzBargainers don't drink coffee altogether.

        …I'm very sure I only person to do this.

  • dbun1 on 21/04/2019 - 22:04
    +1

    It depends on where you are getting your $4 coffee from. Not all $4 barista made/cafe coffees are made equal. I have had some rubbish cafe coffees.

    The cafes I go to, yes, you could absolutely tell the difference between the 7-Eleven coffee and the “real deal”.
    The difference in the espresso shot is one factor, let alone the difference in the milk texture.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:45

      Different beans? Like 7/11 beans are crappier? Are they processed differently?

      I assume the machines in 7/11 are pretty good at processing it

      • dbun1 on 22/04/2019 - 17:27

        Yes, there are different grades of beans depending on how they are sourced, processed and roasted.

        7/11 beans would be amongst the cheapest sourced I would imagine.

  • skywards on 21/04/2019 - 23:07

    Caffeine is caffeine

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:46

      Hmmm I actually enjoy drinking a coffee as opposed to the caffeine tablet thing, so maybe not for me.

    • abuch47 on 22/04/2019 - 13:06
      +2

      covfefe is not coffee

  • Zonty on 22/04/2019 - 00:36
    +1

    It's totally different case to have coffee as having coffee only and coffee with friends to socialise. you get service with free heating and cooling too, for $4.00 coffee and sit for hours. Depend if I want only coffee I would drink$1.00.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:45

      Agreed

  • DonWilson on 22/04/2019 - 01:05

    Petrol station coffees aren't as good as cafe coffees. But both are overpriced. Aldi ground coffee and an aero press or french press is better and cheaper that the vast majority of petrol station coffees.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:46

      Is ‘aldi ground coffee’ the Aldi coffee pods or something different? We have an also pod coffee machine and love the coffees

      • DonWilson on 22/04/2019 - 10:40

        You're going to struggle using a pod in an aero press or french press.

        It's ground coffee. Or if you have your own grinder buy the beans.

        I went and looked for you - the brand Aldi sells is "Lazio".

        • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 10:49

          Thanks mate. Legend.

  • seedyrom on 22/04/2019 - 05:25

    I drink coffee (and I used to drink 8 or more a day), but I restrict myself to instant coffee.
    Hey, it’s free in the lunchroom. My Nescafé 86’s hit the mark.

    All the coffee snobs at work are aghast. “How can you drink that dishwater?” is the standard cry.

    I’m after the minuscule hit of caffeine, not looking to taste the subtle tannins of the bean.

    I find instant’s ability to dissolve amazing. Two single use sachets of Nescafé, a blast of hot water and a splash of milk and I am done. No spoons, no stirring, no mess. 30 seconds and I’m back at my desk.

    My last job we had instant, multiple commercial grade Nespresso machines, and multiple big automatic machines that ground fresh beans and would even add various flavours like almond and caramel. People still went to the cafe downstairs. I’m guessing it’s more a time wasting opportunity.

    Oh, and I don’t actually like cafe coffee. I reckon it makes people’s breath stink.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:47

      Eight?! No wonder you have the instant stuff, that’s $160/week over a five day work week!

      • pennypincher98 on 22/04/2019 - 11:13

        Probably needs 8 if it's just the instant stuff..

  • ankor on 22/04/2019 - 07:51

    Ex barista here. I hit up the nescafe at work and the $1.00 7/11 coffees regularly because I've told my tastebuds to forgo taste. But I'm also saving for nicer things, like holidays, cars, that french bulldog, latest iphone, and avocado on toast, so sacrifices need to be made. I also just make my coffee at home and that tides me over.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:48

      I agree. But I guess cafe coffee still it being < $5 makes it feel disposable, but they quickly add up.

      In my experience the McDonald’s coffee seems to be worse than 7/11 coffee

      • Quantumcat on 22/04/2019 - 11:04

        Yeah they had all these ads about having highly trained baristas but that must be a load of crap.

      • ankor on 22/04/2019 - 14:53
        +1

        Coffee made at home is relatively cheap in comparison.

        A 200-250gram bag of filter coffee can last my wife and I for approximately 7-10 days. That's about $15.
        That's about 280mls per person, or about $9-10 per day if we bought that at a cafe for our needs. That'd be $4.0 x 2 x 5 = $40.

    • J5 on 22/04/2019 - 17:21

      Ex barista drinks Nescafé

      Obvious why ex barista

      • ankor on 22/04/2019 - 18:23

        I take it reading and comprehension isn't your strong suit.

        • J5 on 22/04/2019 - 18:29

          Why buy shit that tastes bad in that case , of you obviously know better

          • ankor on 22/04/2019 - 19:45
            +2

            @J5: As stated before, you need to read my whole post and followup comment. You just make yourself look stupid with your continuing comments.

  • greatlamp on 22/04/2019 - 08:41
    +1

    Depends which cafe. A $1 coffee is at least middle ground.

    I have had many cafe coffees made with poorly roasted beans

    A $1 7/11 coffee is far superior to the burnt bitter Coffee Club coffee they serve at my local.

    I managed to take a peak at the beans 7/11 use during a refill, they are a 70% arabica blend. Certainly quite decent. A cafe would need to be using a $40/kg product to beat it. Many cafe's are are run by owners who don't care about quality.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:51

      That’s interesting. I assume the cheap coffees are a big drawcard to get people in the door, so they would be willing to use good products.

      I’ve found if it’s a coffee shop as in one that is primarily there to serve coffee and light meals they’re decent, but other restaurants where coffee isn’t the focus are pretty shitty despite the $4 price

  • cdaddy on 22/04/2019 - 08:46
    +5

    I want to point out that McDonald’s are priced like a cafe coffee but taste like a servo coffee

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:51

      Agree 100%. Surely they’ll lower their prices to match soon

    • roundnumbersonly on 22/04/2019 - 11:28

      Agreed, had the unfortunate experience of stopping at Gympie maccas the other day and it was like drinking a cup of mud.

  • Tomsydney on 22/04/2019 - 08:59

    I buy for $2 a medium size. One simple shot and the second push is the latte or cappuccino button.
    That's kick you nicely.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:51

      Interesting. Will try

  • Vote for Pedro on 22/04/2019 - 09:20

    The reasons for the price difference are wide and varied.

    The questions you need to ask yourself are:
    1. Is the $1 coffee to my liking
    2. Am I happy with the 7/11 or Servo experience compared to the $4 coffee experience.

    There’s no point buying the $1 coffee if you don’t like it or the experience.

    Disclaimer: I’ve ditched the $4 coffee as the 7/11 ones are of consistent good quality and the experience is acceptable to me.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:52
      +1

      Agreed. $1 coffees while on the go and solo. If with someone, pony up the cash for a chill sesh.

  • wog_ta on 22/04/2019 - 09:26
    +1

    Times that I have gone to a coffee shop and had really bad coffee, (burnt, crap beans) 20-30% of the time.

    Times that I have gone to 7-11 and had a really bad coffee (due to lack of maintenance) 5%.

    Certainly hits the spot for $1

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 09:52

      Yep, those odds check out. Machine is more reliable than the dude making it.

  • iSamurai on 22/04/2019 - 09:52
    +1

    For me, yes, I can tell the difference.

    The main difference is the beans, which is also dependent on how they’re roasted, origin etc. They determine the flavour, bitterness, acidity etc. Then the milk, how it’s frothed, temperature and amount. At cafes you get various types of milk like soy, lactose free etc. and for me that’s important. Then you get the presentation, the latte art and the cup that it’s served in. Finally the ambiance and the environment. If it’s really good I take pictures of the coffee - and I did a contextual search on google photos and I have hundreds.

    I’m aware that I’m beginning to sound like a coffee snob…

    I also once was told by an Uber driver that the 7-11 coffee machines cost $15k. So it’s not that bad either. The thing is that there are lots of coffee shops that sell bad coffee at $4 and you can certainly taste that, and unfortunately there are loads of coffee shops like that (especially at uni). So, I think I’m summary, if you can’t taste the difference, it’s most likely you’re going to terrible coffee shops.

    My opinion in Brisbane:

    Best environment/value for money: Lost Bean (South Bank). Very large cup, friendly service. Awesome latte art. Tastes good. Lots of competition in a 20 metre radius but I think they’re on top.
    Best tasting coffee: Bean on Dean (Toowong). They use campos beans. I really like the beans and the roast. It’s quite strong, bitter and slightly acidic. Also great service and they’re just around the corner from my place.
    Best serving cups/crockery: First Coffee (Wellington Point). They use Japanese style handmade ceramic cups which are so cute. Their tea pots are also great looking. Tastes good as well.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 10:04

      Amazing feedback. Interested to know which is your favourite $1 coffee?

      • iSamurai on 22/04/2019 - 10:16
        +1

        7-11 probably. Their machines are quite decent and consistent. They taste fine overall but with the machine frothing (too bubbly on top and not silky below) you can never get the same texture as you get with a proper barista. For some reason they’re also just a touch too hot (I think it’s because these to go coffees are not consumed immediately). You also don’t get lactose free milk but I think for that price you can’t complain.

        For these $1 “utilitarian” coffees I’d look at reliability rather than what’s mentioned above - stuff like is the machine always working, is the store always open and their proximity.

        Edit: final thing to add. Most of these stores that sell $1 coffees does not necessarily mean it’s absolute crap coffee. They’re usually loss leaders that get you through the door so that you buy other things.

    • skywards on 22/04/2019 - 11:39

      Anywhere that uses campos beans is better tasting than some others.

      • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 11:41

        Does that cost the shop a lot more compared to other places?

      • Ghost47 on 22/04/2019 - 12:29

        Recently moved to NSW and was at a BBQ and heard about Campos coffee. Never heard of it when I was in Melbourne (all my life). It seems one store in Melbourne is called Campos coffee.. I might have to try this coffee out sometime.

  • CL123 on 22/04/2019 - 10:16
    +2

    I love the taste of the 7-11 $1 coffee and think it is great value. Ultimately I think it depends on the Brand/blend of beans not necessarily on the machine or person as I really dislike the coffee from San Churros and that is made fresh. I haven't tried other servo coffees but I do think they have all lifted their game since 7-11 coffee became so popular for price and quality. I personally think paying $4+ dollars for a coffee is a waste.

  • Grillman on 22/04/2019 - 11:33

    I would say only in the fact that it's hard to find a good coffee, so often we pay $4 for something that is pretty awful and we could have had similar for $1.

    Maccas is the worst shit on the planet, I don't know how they aren't completely ashamed of that rubbish.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 11:40

      😂😂😂 living up to your name 😂😂

      Yep, unless it’s a usual place it’s fairly hit and miss I find too st coffee shops. Like someone else mentioned 20% shit. Where’s as at least at 7/11 u know what you’re in Foran’s yeah maccas coffee isn’t even worth it when free.

    • Ghost47 on 22/04/2019 - 12:45

      Mcdonald's coffee used to be horrible with the automatic coffee machines they had which basically spat out instant coffee, but IMO they have become quite good in the past few years.

  • HeWhoKnows on 22/04/2019 - 12:07

    Definitely not as good as MOST barista coffees.
    But in most cases will pass for a quick cheap coffee.

    But then again some barista coffes are terrible!

  • TheBigShort on 22/04/2019 - 12:08

    Why isn't there an option for me to simply vote "I prefer cafe coffee" instead of being forced to sound like some coffee smashed avo millennial snob by having to click "I only go for the expensive stuff" over a $3 difference.

    You already think you can't tell the difference and definitely don't want to pay $4 (exemplified by including yearly cost calculations and percentage markup from $1), so yes, $1 servo coffees are just as good as $4 cafe coffees FOR YOU.

    • Ghost47 on 22/04/2019 - 12:39
      +1

      Probably because a lot of coffee snobs out there act pretentious about their coffee preferences.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 12:44

      Compared to $4, $1 is expensive. 400% difference is a big difference in anyone’s books, right. Sorry for making u feel bad.

      • TheBigShort on 22/04/2019 - 13:27
        +1

        Yes I know $4 is mathematically more than $1 and it's 400% (for the 3rd time mentioned).

        I would agree if you're paying $4 for the exact same coffee at $1 then that is expensive (calculates to 400% btw, because $4 is more than $1)

        But I do find a difference quality so to me I wouldn't label a $4 coffee expensive, its normal and see $1 coffee as cheap (but not bad). I wouldn't also insinuate that everyone who drinks cheaper coffee are plebs when asking about comparing the two.

        I don't feel bad, my taste buds can appreciate something $3 more expensive (400% increase).

        • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 13:29

          400% 😂😂😂😂😂 you’re funny 😂😂😂

    • Vote for Pedro on 22/04/2019 - 14:01

      Someone’s sounding a lot like a coffee snob.

      • TheBigShort on 22/04/2019 - 14:59
        +1

        Pedro, try walking around with a Campos cup and you'll never go back to 7-11.

        The extra $3 is worth the upgrade in social status, huddle spaces open up for me at train and bus stations where I get to insulate myself surrounded by the latest fashion work coats and Chelsea boots.

        Tables and chairs are cleared as I walk into saloons. I raise my coffee cup and the masses part making a pathway for me to walk to the front of queues.

  • Ghost47 on 22/04/2019 - 12:40

    For me personally it's a definite "does the job" kind of thing. I'm paying ~25% of the price of a cafe coffee and that sort of saving is nothing to be sneezed at. I do love a well made coffee, and I do personally Aeropress my own long blacks frequently, but sometimes I can't go past a $1 7/11 coffee.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/04/2019 - 13:11
    +1

    There certainly is a noticeable difference between a good barista made coffee over any other cheaper alternative if you ask me especially 1$ servo coffees

    It is like asking if there is a difference between a driving a Toyota Camry and a Merc CLA AMG- both do the job, one is obviously nicer however the price difference his huge….

    What you are really asking is the difference worth the extra cost? for me the answer is generally yes but i read the paper normally when i get a coffee so the way i see it, i save $2-3 on buying a paper

  • Laziofogna on 22/04/2019 - 14:14

    A coffee conversation is always pleasant until hipsters wear their flannel shirts on and ruin it with their fixations

  • figarow on 22/04/2019 - 14:58

    Is 7/11 coffee same as caltex and shell?

  • El Grande on 22/04/2019 - 15:01
    +1

    711 is better than an average cafe but miles ahead of other servos. They are doing $2 croissants and other baked goods this month. A cheese and spinach croissant (normal price $4) + $2 coffee hits the spot on a cold morning like today.

  • BradH13 on 22/04/2019 - 15:19
    +1

    Coffee has so many variables.

    It's alot more delicate and complex than people think.

    Beans, milk, temperature, amount of steam used, extraction time, freshness of beans, courseness of grind, etc all directly effects taste.

    $1 servo coffee is drinkable, but coffee is really an art and I'm happy to pay lots more for a better cup.

    I'm not someone who drinks coffee for the caffeine, I drink for taste, so my opinion obviously would be different to someone who drinks it just to perk up.

    • J5 on 22/04/2019 - 15:33
      +1

      An art ? Hardly

      There is some real key points to hit

      Making a good coffee is not rocket science

      But sadly many cafes can’t get it right no matter what you do for them

  • DiscoJango on 22/04/2019 - 15:41

    previously i would have said servo coffee, no way

    that is until one morning i found myself at the mechanics, and while waiting for my car, had no choice but to get a $1 coles servo coffee

    good lord was i surprised, this was on par, and even better than most paid barrister coffees i have had

    so yes, $1 machine coffees can easily rival made coffees

    • T1OOO on 22/04/2019 - 16:07

      This

    • Speckled Jim on 22/04/2019 - 16:14
      +4

      barrister coffees

      Well, there's your problem right there.

      • ProlapsedHeinous on 22/04/2019 - 16:32
        +2

        I prefer solicitor coffee myself.

        • cannedhams on 22/04/2019 - 17:20
          +3

          Its served at room temperature so you cant burn yourself

        • J5 on 23/04/2019 - 05:44
          +1

          For $400 a cup I’ll pass

  • T1OOO on 22/04/2019 - 16:07
    +3

    Have to admit 7/11 coffees are awsome

  • burns13 on 22/04/2019 - 16:19
    +2

    Not even close.

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 22/04/2019 - 16:32
    +4

    I love 7-11 coffee, and cannot justify spending 4+ dollars on slightly better coffee

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 20:07
      +1

      Yeah man same boat. U less I wanna hang with someone then under the slushie machine ain’t great

  • SlickMick on 22/04/2019 - 18:45

    Some servos use a machine that's equivalent IMO to pod coffee… and charge about $6 for it.
    So it isn't about whether aervo or coffee shop, nor how much you pay for it.

    it comes down to:
    a) is the machine capable of making good coffee; and
    b) is the operator capable of making good coffee

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 20:08

      Surely these machines are coming close to automating what a barista does

      • J5 on 23/04/2019 - 05:45

        For over 20 years they have been

        • SlickMick on 23/04/2019 - 23:45

          Are you guys serious? I have the Breville Oracle, and I'd say it does. But what other machine can tamp etc? I don't know what those machines do, but what they make is not espresso.

          I'm not fussy with coffee and choose free instant coffee rather than wait and pay a few bucks for espresso, but even I can tell there is no similarity, and those machines are a lot closer to the instant coffee end of the scale.

          The snobs would tell me my Oracle isn't up to speed either, because I can't control the dose or the temperature etc.

  • gezza90 on 22/04/2019 - 19:06

    I don't think 7 eleven offers soy milk. If it did, then that'd probably be my choice for afternoon coffee. I grind my own coffee and use aeropress btw. I take my own soy milk into work.

    • Bellpop on 22/04/2019 - 20:08

      After years of bagging out people who drink almond milk I had some for the first time the other day. Pretty good!

      • gezza90 on 23/04/2019 - 10:59

        Almond milk is a little too sweet for my liking. I use soy milk because it has no lactose, is relatively sweet without the high sugar content and overall think it has a better taste.

      • gezza90 on 23/04/2019 - 11:00

        Almond milk is a little too sweet for my liking. I use soy milk because it has no lactose, is relatively sweet without the high sugar content and overall think it has a better taste.

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