Coffee queues in the Virgin Australia Lounge

[klymen]

Longer wait for coffee in the SYD lounge this morning than for (regular) security. Maybe we need a premium coffee cart. WP benefit?

(some better than mediocre coffee would be nice too)

 

[AIRwin]

Longer wait for coffee in the SYD lounge this morning than for (regular) security.

Is there still a coffee counter on the other side of the food bar?

 

[klymen]

Is there still a coffee counter on the other side of the food bar?

Didn’t check today, but judging by the queue it would be a no.

 

[ozstamps]

Is there still a coffee counter on the other side of the food bar?

Was just for self serve toast etc a week back. It used to also be for coffee, you are right.

We took 15 mins to get the barista coffee.

Maybe Virgin has never heard of self serve coffee machines? Every large Hotel breakfast bar has them and most other airline ones I've visited.

They have buttons that say CAPPUCCINO etc, leading edge technology.

In a hurry - use those. If you've survived the 20 mins check-in zoo downstairs as the Premium Entry cannot be afforded still, (along with coffee machines) you'll drink anything to start the day.

 

[MooTime]

Was just for self serve toast etc a week back. It used to also be for coffee, you are right.

We took 15 mins to get the barista coffee.

Maybe Virgin has never heard of self serve coffee machines? Every large Hotel breakfast bar has them and most other airline ones I've visited.

They have buttons that say CAPPUCCINO etc, leading edge technology.

In a hurry - use those. If you've survived the 20 mins check-in zoo downstairs as the Premium Entry cannot be afforded still, (along with coffee machines) you'll drink anything to start the day.

I can imagine the backlash if lounges introduced push button petrol station type coffee machines, yeah real premium service, what are the $1 each at servo's?

I don't mind waiting, actually happy to for a nice coffee made by a barista in a lounge rather than a zoo type mess everywhere pushbutton machine.

 

[jase05]

Maybe Virgin has never heard of self serve coffee machines? Every large Hotel breakfast bar has them and most other airline ones I've visited.

And they all taste like garbage.
Every hotel I’ve been to I refuse to have one from the machine and ask for a barista made coffee.
If they don’t have one I’ll go without and find a cafe around the corner.
My work recently spent a Kings ransom on a couple of new “state of the art” machines and I tried a couple and it was rubbish so I send one of the lackeys out on a coffee run a couple of times per day

 

[dairyfloss]

I can imagine the backlash if lounges introduced push button petrol station type coffee machines, yeah real premium service, what are the $1 each at servo's?

I don't mind waiting, actually happy to for a nice coffee made by a barista in a lounge rather than a zoo type mess everywhere pushbutton machine.

If just as an alternative if the barista is busy, it could be good? Some may even prefer self-service. IIRC they have one in the SYD QF F lounge... there's definitely at least one in the SYD QF J DOM lounge. (edit: sorry for staying OT!)

 

[MooTime]

If just as an alternative if the barista is busy, it could be good? Some may even prefer self-service. IIRC they have one in the SYD QF F lounge... there's definitely at least one in the SYD QF J DOM lounge. (edit: sorry for staying OT!)

good to know QF have these at some of their lounges, I wasn't aware of that.

I agree some will def prefer these coffee goto's as it can be little quicker or handy when busy like you said, the cynic in me says if they bring them in, it'll be the slow process of having the barista maker appear during peak periods only.

Anyway all much of muchness.

 

[tdimdad]

And they all taste like garbage.

If it's a capsule thingy, then yes. But if it uses beans, you can get very drinkable stuff from them by procuring good beans and potentially adjusting the machine a little. The stock standard beans may taste like a bad joke but you'll find good ones, too.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I guess its needs to be a cost benefit type thing.

If you have 1 staff doing the coffee which is say $400 a day in labour costs against 1 machine then you could potentially have 1 less staff member on during peak times.

I find the coffee decent but if I was in a hurry then you almost would happily make something yourself.

 

[Human]

Is there still a coffee counter on the other side of the food bar?

The coffee machine is still there but in all my dozens of visits to the Sydney lounge I don't think I've ever seen it open. Obviously I don't frequent the lounge at the correct times...

 

[simmomelb]

I for one definitely don't want to see push button coffee machines in an airport lounge. That totally devalues what a lounge is about and makes it look cheap and tacky (in my view).

They just need another barista & espresso machine working and it would solve the issue.

 

[dajop]

Aaah, the obvious solution for all of you is just to forego your addiction.

[ducks for cover]

 

[ozstamps]

If just as an alternative if the barista is busy, it could be good? Some may even prefer self-service. IIRC they have one in the SYD QF F lounge... there's definitely at least one in the SYD QF J DOM lounge. (edit: sorry for staying OT!)

Well if Qantas First Lounge and QF Domestic finds it worth the trouble to install for folks in a hurry, nuff sed. Basic common sense. Again if you want to wait in line - go for it.

We were at the Hilton Cairns last week and as part of the 'Diamond benefits' there, the waiter at breakfast said a 'barista coffee' was part of the deal. I assume the coffee machine was fine for the 100s of others in there paying ¬$300 a night!

Maybe they were all Qantas flyers?

 

[HS-TQE]

Maybe Virgin has never heard of self serve coffee machines? Every large Hotel breakfast bar has them and most other airline ones I've visited.

Perhaps VA can expand their partnership with 7-11 and dedicate a corner for a mini 7-11 which includes the push-button coffee machines, as part of their 'value-orientated (tm)' approach.

 

[dairyfloss]

If it's a capsule thingy, then yes. But if it uses beans, you can get very drinkable stuff from them by procuring good beans and potentially adjusting the machine a little. The stock standard beans may taste like a bad joke but you'll find good ones, too.

Definitely - good beans + good automatic machine often = good coffee... Maybe not as good as the barista-made ones, but there again, good beans + great machine + poor barista can = bad coffee, too!

 

[klymen]

Bean to cup machine for SG, barista coffee for WP + J pax and everyone is happy [ducks]

 

[clifford]

Aaah, the obvious solution for all of you is just to forego your addiction.

[ducks for cover]

I don't think expecting a coffee (of any sort) at an early time in the morning could be considered to be an addiction.

Any airline that can't provide one in a timely manner deserves criticism.

 

[zig]

Longer wait for coffee in the SYD lounge this morning than for (regular) security. Maybe we need a premium coffee cart. WP benefit?

(some better than mediocre coffee would be nice too)

Same thing in the MEL lounge this morning. I've never seen a queue moving so slowly....

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

All depends on who's staffing it TBH. The BNE and MEL lounges do alright as the barista station is separate from the food and SYD is an all in one, creating congestion. If they had the time and money for a refit, then coffee could go near the northern service desk (which is moot when Premium Entry is closed anyway) and this might help slightly...