The milk is never burnt in any of the ones I've been into, and the coffee isn't that dark of a roast even for espresso. They also do several varieties of filter coffee in addition to the espresso based drinks.
Also saying it is better than most other chains means nothing
Yes it bloody well does, if you are on a high street in an unfamiliar town, you aren't going to consult the good coffee guide to find the perfect romantic little spot for your perfect brew, are you? You want a sit down, you either drink from a thermos on a bench or you go to a chain.
I've had plenty of Costa coffees that I couldn't drink, so that leaves one choice in Cardiff.
Flat White, Vergano, Ferdinandz, Tina We Salute You, Monmouth
Sorry what? Are those places all in Monmouth? If not, where should I go for these places?
You misunderstand – I'm not saying Starbucks is the best ever, I clearly said that it wasn't and I don't buy it for home use. It is however my personal best option when you are in a typical town centre. The espresso is smooth and easy to drink and pretty middle of the road I think, as opposed to Costa which is more acidic but ultimately fairly empty.. If I could teleport to the perfect spot for coffee I'd go to Jacqmotte on the main square in Brussels, but sadly I cannot.
It's rubbish compared to a fresh brew.
Umm.. it's an instant, so a bit stupid comparing it to a fresh brew isn't it? It's for use when you can't brew fresh coffee, I'd have thought that was obvious.