200 Degrees Coffee Shop — Restaurant in England

I never thought I’d be writing something like this, especially after being such a regular at 200 Degrees Leicester for the last year and seven months. I’ve been coming in every single day with my laptop, getting two or three coffees (sometimes a cake), settling in, and doing my work. It’s been a key part of my daily routine, and I’ve introduced countless friends to the place too – always saying how chilled, comfortable, and work-friendly it is.

But today’s experience honestly left me quite shocked and disappointed.

As usual, I came in, sat down, and worked on my laptop for a good half an hour before heading up to order. There are always loads of papers and flyers on the till, so I didn’t notice the small slip saying it’s a laptop-free weekend. I paid for my coffee, went back to my seat – and ten minutes later, before I’d even received my drink, someone came over and told me I couldn’t use my laptop because of this new policy.

I was confused – there had been no mention of it when I walked in, nothing on the blackboard outside, nothing online that I’d seen. So I politely asked how I was supposed to know, and explained that I literally come here every single day to work and have a coffee. And then came the part that really set me off – the person behind the counter looked at me and said: “Well, it’s not a library.”

Sorry, but what? That comment was beyond unnecessary – it was rude, dismissive, and frankly, completely out of order. Of course it’s not a library – I know that. But let’s not pretend people don’t come into coffee shops to sit with their laptops, do a bit of work, have a chat, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. That’s exactly what this coffee shop has always been about – a great space to chill and work. So to be spoken to like I was treating the place wrongly, or being unreasonable, really rubbed me the wrong way. It was like all the loyalty and respect I’ve shown as a customer for nearly two years just went out the window with one snide remark.

I didn’t even get my coffee in the end – I had to ask for a refund, which was thankfully sorted without issue. But that doesn’t fix the way it was handled. The problem wasn’t the policy itself – it was the complete lack of proper communication, and the tone in which I was spoken to. A heads-up on the blackboard, a post online, anything would’ve done. But instead, I get told off after paying, then basically dismissed like I was in the wrong for simply being there doing what I do every single day.

I’ve genuinely loved this place – and that’s why this stings. But today’s experience made me feel unwelcome in a space I’ve supported for so long. I hope in future, both communication and customer interaction are handled with a bit more care – especially towards those who’ve shown...

Used to be my go to spot for coffee in Leicester for a very long time. In this review I'll begin by stating my reasons for this. However, I will end with my reason that it no longer gets my frequent patronage.

The coffee is of a nice quality and with the right barista behind the bar it can be made very well and enjoyed at any time of day. And with locations in many major cities it is nice to have a place to find comfort when visiting a new place for the first time. The staff are very friendly and do start to chat if they begin to recognise you. Combining that with the loyalty card that they offer serves to bring a huge sense that customer loyalty is respected here. The atmosphere is comfortable, and with plugs on many walls it is an adequate place to work.

However, with the advent of the cost of living crisis the price of the coffee here has risen shockingly quickly and far above the price of a close competitor of which serves vastly superior coffee. For example, in February this year the Flat White cost £2.60 and now costs 60p more. The location nearby costs £3 for the same drink but with single origin, finely roasted beans, pulled by an expert barista.

It is for these reasons that this coffee shop has earned only 4*...

Three stars for 200 Degrees Coffee Shop. As usual, I'll start with hygiene: I ordered a latte and once it was served, there were no tissues! This is one of the things that get on my nerve when visiting coffeeshops. please, provide some tissues for your customers. There are people, like myself, who like to wipe their mouth every now and then when eating and drinking. Service: although it was a bit unorganized due to noise I think, the staff were very friendly. Price: a bit overpriced, I paid 3 pounds for a latte which is a bit more expensive than other coffeeshops in Leicester. The latte tasted just like the one I make at home so I couldn't guess why it was overpriced. Perhaps they use good quality coffee grains? I'll ask next time, if I visit again. Atmosphere, vibe, environment, whatever you call it: I really did not appreciate the loud music. I was trying to converse with my friend but it was too loud that we started shouting. This is a very important note for coffeeshops out there: we like music, but we don't like it that loud. The interior was cozy and warm. I liked it. Overall, my experience there was okayish and I will try to visit again to add more updates...