Barista replaced by Nespresso [pop up - for April] in Virgin lounge?

[bean]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/64/7b/85/647b855eac7d743c247fe69ff032ea83.jpg

 

[serfty]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/64/7b/85/647b855eac7d743c247fe69ff032ea83.jpg

Fixed that for you:

 

[anat0l]

As with your original post I find this one also doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Its quite simple-to get a Michelin star means a great deal.

You should know that there is a strong sentiment out there which challenges the "authority" of Michelin. Whether or not it takes "a great deal" is up for debate.

-The restaurants don't award themselves the stars lol, its the inspectors. So with so many Michelin star restaurants serving Nespresso it obviously can't be that bad, let alone 'undrinkable' as someone above just said lol

I'm confused where you're picking my quotes from.

-Yes its pretty obvious patrons base their patronage on the reviews of experts in the field...um thats kind of the whole idea

And yet every other restaurant out there, it's much more based on everyone's review, expert or otherwise.

This also means that if you're not an expert, your opinion matters...rather little.

-Pointing out spelling mistakes is normally a sign of last resort when you don't have a strong argument to rely on

I can't see where I've done this and pinned it against you, let alone made it the primary argument.

-I do find it amusing that some random inter web guy thinks he is more qualified to judge food and coffee than a Michelin star inspector....but this is the internet after all

Well, true we don't know each other, but I can reassure you - yes, I am not a Michelin inspector.

I guess your line there reinforces a central trait - when it comes to Michelin stars, customer opinions don't matter. They do bring in money, but apart from that who cares if a few customers do not like the coffee or can tell it isn't hand made. They aren't judging the food and they aren't determining how many stars the place gets.

May I add to that though if you aren't one either, or worked at a Michelin star restaurant, then what qualifications do you have to make your counter arguments? How do you know (rather emphatically) what it takes to earn (or lose) Michelin stars?

Given your username, are you in the coffee business, perhaps?


Anyway, this argument is getting way off topic.

Does anyone have any other experiences with this pop-up? Do they actually move people through faster than before?

 

[Ausbt]

I think we should all just be thankful Keurig haven't ever launched in Australia. Oh, the horror! And they actually even have a Keurig 'Starbucks' blend as well - I mean can you even imagine?

 

[Milefest]

Visited the lounge again, the coffee is pretty unpleasant. It's better than instant coffee for sure but totally below standard for any commercial establishment. You're better off buying a coffee.

 

[anat0l]

Visited the lounge again, the coffee is pretty unpleasant. It's better than instant coffee for sure but totally below standard for any commercial establishment. You're better off buying a coffee.

Here's a question: how is it worse than a hand made coffee but still better than instant?

Not asking for tasting notes here, just describe in your own words what's so different or not so good about it.

 

[lang_13]

I haven't been though sydney in a while - will be passing through next week. Has anyone lodged feedback with virgin re this hopefully temporary 'enhancement'?

 

[OzEire]

A data point. I've noticed an increase in the number of VA lounge members bringing a take-away cup in to the Lounge.

I presume they work/eat in more comfort than the gate but also want a decent coffee.

 

[OzEire]

The kind of patronage who frequent Michelin star restaurants are exactly the same who would turn their nose up in disgust at a poorly made coffee. Seriously, do you realise the intracies that go into the whole experience??? Im amazed you would think that after all that effort they would think nothing of serving a 'sub par' coffee. The food is the experience, as is the wine, the decor, the ambiance, the service...EVERYTHING, every part perfection...and then just slap up a Instant Roast lol? I think its pretty clear they think highly of what they are offering...

Mods, any chance we could have this topic split into a new thread. The issue of professional reviews vs. customer reviews, particularly for frequent travellers, is worthy of discussion but clearly off topic here.

 

[serfty]

[mod hat]

While we are watching this thread, we are waiting until May to see if this is indeed a popup and is short lived.

After that further consideration will be giving to splitting content in this thread out.

Cheers ...
​

[/mod hat]

 

[Jet L]

I have contacted VA via twitter and they have confirmed it is a pop up that will cease on the first of may.

http://prntscr.com/ewoth9

 

[mad_atta]

I'm profoundly relieved to discover that this was only a pop-up. As only an occasional visitor, I came and searched this forum specifically because I thought we couldn't be the only people who were horrified by the change. The "coffee" being pumped out when we passed through SYD early in the morning on Sat 8/4 was just appalling. In fact, so was the entire lounge experience: it was crawling with people, many with children (OK, it's the first day of school holidays, not VA's fault); the food offerings were meagre and there was actually rotten fruit in my fruit salad; and the coffee was vile. As an aside, I also really hate the uncomfortable furniture and obstructive layout of that lounge (somehow none of the chairs seem to fit me), which is a shame as it's my home base. I even prefer VA's small OOL lounge to this one.

I confess I'm something of a coffee snob. I live in Surry Hills and I'm spoiled for choice when it comes to consistently good coffee. But I'm also a realist: I don't expect A+ grade coffee from an airport lounge barista, and I know that Nespresso can actually be fairly decent (plus I really didn't want to schlepp back into the terminal to buy a coffee) so I tried it with a reasonably open mind, expecting to find it at least tolerable (for a free coffee anyway). But the long black and piccolo we got were honestly undrinkable. Out we trudged to buy a coffee from Toby's instead.

As it happened, the flight was the first one of a 3.5 week overseas trip (via MEL), during the course of which we had a number of pretty decent coffees from in-room coffee machines - the Francis!Francis! ones with Illy pods seemed to be the best of the bunch for flavour, though not as slick to use as Nespresso. I actually don't know how you make a Nespresso machine produce something as bad as what we got in the VA lounge - barista sabotage perhaps?

 

[takingSydney]

Hmmm. Given they were still there in Sydney on 5 May perhaps someone needs to check their maths ... mind you, i bet it's saved VA a bucket of money in significantly reducing coffee consumption in the lounge! Maybe I'm just too cynical.

 

[andyhui01]

Hmmm. Given they were still there in Sydney on 5 May perhaps someone needs to check their maths ... mind you, i bet it's saved VA a bucket of money in significantly reducing coffee consumption in the lounge! Maybe I'm just too cynical.

They were gone when I was there on Sunday 7th May