Battle of the Breakfasts: Which Chain Comes Out on Top?

We love supporting local coffee shops, cafés, and restaurants whenever we can. But sometimes, factors like location, timing, or the day of the week make it tricky to find an independent spot. So, over the past few months, we’ve tried three different chain breakfast spots—each with its own unique vibe. Here’s what we found!

Greggs

Greggs has become our go-to spot for a quick and easy local breakfast. For the past few years, we’ve popped in every so often—usually on a Sunday morning—for a latte and a sausage bap. The quality has stayed reliably the same—not the best you’ll ever have, but always tasty, satisfying, and just what you need to start the day. Paired with a latte, it makes for a filling breakfast at a price that’s hard to beat.

A few years ago, we paid £4 for both of us—now it’s gone up to £5.70, but it’s still great value. It may not be the most stylish setting, but when it comes to a no-fuss, budget-friendly breakfast, Greggs delivers!

Dunelm

Our local Dunelm is just a short walk away. While we’ve popped in for a few bits—photo frames being our usual go-to—we haven’t made much use of the coffee shop, aside from the occasional coffee stop. One morning, after a slow start, we decided it was the perfect time to give their breakfast a try. Just a heads-up—it’s not an all-day breakfast, so don’t leave it too late!

We ordered a latte and a sausage bap, which came to around £11.50 for the two of us—double the price of Greggs, but sadly, not double the quality. Neither the latte nor the bap was bad, but they didn’t quite hit the mark. The latte had a slightly bitter edge—maybe just not to our taste—and while the sausages were flavourful, the bap itself was fairly basic.

Overall, it was a decent enough breakfast, but nothing particularly memorable. While it did the job, we wouldn’t rush back for breakfast next time.

Costa

Costa is usually just a coffee stop for us when there aren’t any good independent options around. But after a bracing New Year’s Day walk on the beach, we needed something warm to drink and a bite to eat. A quick search showed Costa as the only option, so in we went.

Two lattes were a no-brainer after battling the cold wind. After checking the menu, we decided to add sausage baps to the order. The total came to £16 for both of us—nearly three times what we’d pay at Greggs.

Costa’s coffee is reliably consistent, so we knew what to expect. As for the sausage baps, it was a first for both of us, and honestly, no complaints! The sausages were tasty—nothing mind-blowing, but decent—and the bap itself was better than average. A solid breakfast sandwich overall.

Sure, the cost of living—and breakfast—is on the rise, but the product and location didn’t quite justify paying three times the price of Greggs.

We recently strolled past a Starbucks and decided to pop in to check out the price of a latte and sausage bap. The total for two came to an eye watering £17.80! Needless to say, we gave each other a look, turned around, and continued on our way

Overall

This isn’t an in-depth review, just a few thoughts on our experiences. None of our visits were bad, and we had no issues at any of the three places. They all follow a similar setup—order at the counter and take your food to a table.

If we had to rank them, Dunelm would take third place. The coffee and bap just weren’t to our taste. Costa comes in second—the coffee was the best of the three, and the sausage bap was solid, but the price was a major downside. That leaves Greggs as our top pick. The coffee and bap might not be the best ever, but when you factor in value for money, it’s the clear winner for us!