Caffe Nero is easily one of the best nationwide chains in the UK, but Starbucks is hardly unique - we've had loads of them since they took over the Seattle Coffee Company (run be an American expat) in 1998

They quality has vastly improved recently, too - they've started using a darker roast (which is more popular in this part of the world) and much better milk. Plus, you get your coffee in a proper mug!

There's also AMT (very good, but usually just takeaway), Costa (annoyingly inconsistent) and Pret (mostly for sandwiches, but they do excellent coffee too). Smaller chains like Tinderbox do a better job still, but they're harder to find. Even soulless business parks get espresso vans doing the rounds to keep the people working there perked up.

No shortage of independent places around now, though - the days where all you had was a mug of milky tea or Nescafé with a cream cake on a formica table are long gone (although you can still find those places...) Even my little market town has a great, independent coffee place right on the market square.