Costa Coffee Stops Heating Cinnamon Buns Due to Customer Complaints
A significant change has been made to Costa Coffee’s beloved cinnamon buns, leaving customers furious. The chain has stopped offering to heat up the sweet treats after several customers complained of burning their mouths on the icing. According to The Sun, Costa has had to advise its teams not to heat up the cinnamon buns anymore due to health and safety concerns.
The cinnamon buns, which feature a cream cheese icing and cinnamon, have been a staple on Costa’s menu for years. However, customers have taken to social media to express their disappointment at the change. One customer asked Costa on X: "Why can’t I get my cinnamon bun (best there is) heated? If it’s because of stupid H&S issues regarding hot icing, then why can you have hot cheese in your toasties? Come on Costa grow up treat us like adults, and heat your Cinnamon buns." Another customer added: "Justice for the cinnamon bun…bring them back warm."
On Costa’s Facebook page, a fan fumed: "It’s a sad reflection that the great British public can’t be trusted to eat with care, if you have asked for your food to be heated up, you surely can check for yourself that it’s not too hot to eat." Another customer responded: "Cinnamon buns are just so much nicer when they are warm." A third customer stated: "I used to go to Costa around two or three times a week, I was told by staff in the Consett store they were unable to heat up my much loved cinnamon bun, simple I have now stopped going and visit muffin break instead, where they will warm up a muffin. Health and safety gone mad, Costa loss."
The change comes as Costa is promoting its cinnamon buns, with one ad in March urging customers to “indulge in some ‘me-time’ with a Cinnamon Bun Latte in one hand and a Cinnamon Bun in the other”. However, the coffee chain has confirmed that it will no longer heat up the buns due to customer complaints. According to The Sun, Costa told one customer on social media: “We have had several reports of customers burning their mouths on the icing, so we have had to advise our teams not to heat these up anymore. We do apologise for any disappointment caused.”
This is not the first change Costa has made to its menu recently. The coffee chain confirmed last month that it had axed temporary additions to its menu, including the banana and chocolate muffin. The sweet snack was launched as part of Costa’s New Year menu but was dropped just months later. Additionally, Costa removed sugary toppings from its frappés last month, causing a backlash amongst its sweet-toothed customers.
Costa has also faced criticism for adding a "sickness tax" onto hot drinks at hospital cafes. Shoppers found the chain charging 20p extra on some hot drinks sold in NHS branches. Dennis Reed, of over 60’s campaign group, Silver Voices, said: "Costa Coffee should be ashamed of itself for putting a tax on illness and injury. People visiting the hospital are there because they are seeing sick relatives or friends, and may be tired and worried themselves, probably in dire need of a pick-up. Costa is exploiting visitors’ vulnerabilities and the hospital boards should be threatening to terminate contracts where gross profiteering is going on."
In related news, Costa offers a loyalty scheme that allows customers to collect stamps and earn rewards. Customers can join the scheme by downloading the Costa Coffee app, and can collect stamps in any of the chain’s 2,800 coffee shops, as well as around 12,000 machines in petrol stations and convenience stores. Members can get early access to new menus and other perks, including a free drink after collecting ten stamps.
For those who are concerned about the change to Costa’s cinnamon buns, customers can share their thoughts with the coffee chain on social media. Alternatively, customers can contact The Sun with their thoughts and stories at [email protected]. Customers can also join The Sun’s Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share their tips and stories.
