Wherever we can find discounts or bargains on food and drink, it’s a temptation worth going after. Recently I spent £3.59 for a surprise ‘Too Good To Go’ bag from Starbucks to assess its true value.
As a writer frequently covering food and drink trends, I’ve noticed plenty of buzz around the ‘Too Good To Go’ bags at local supermarkets and eateries, with many people coming away impressed. For instance, one individual recently got their hands on a Blank Street Too Good To Go bag for £3.50 and was wowed by what was inside.
Another happy customer was delighted with their bargain bag from Blank Street, managing to triple what they’d spent. Driven by curiosity—and my coffee addiction—especially when it comes to anything labelled ‘pumpkin spice flavoured’, I decided to give the ‘Too Good To Go’ bag from a well-known coffee chain shop a whirl.
Many have shared their thoughts on Costa’s surprise offerings, but my choice was Starbucks, given its convenience and personal preference.
The ‘Too Good To Go’ app proved to be user-friendly for a newbie like myself; I simply selected the Starbucks option, checked the collection window [7-7:30 pm on a Saturday] to ensure I could make it, and confirmed my reservation—with ease.
After observing numerous online comments insisting on punctuality, I arrived at Starbucks promptly for 7pm, eager to discover what lay inside the bag. Given the popularity of ‘Too Good To Go’, I anticipated a queue of people waiting for these sought-after bags, but it seemed I was the only customer – awkwardly entering an empty Starbucks where the staff were preparing to close for the day.
Now came the moment of truth. I was hoping for a diverse selection of items – and food I hadn’t sampled before.
Already a fan of their sandwiches, I was hoping for one of those, a pastry, and a sweet treat. After giving the bag a shake, I was thrilled that it felt heavy, but decided to wait until I got home to inspect its contents.
The big reveal – I received a ham and cheese croissant, a chicken and honey barbecue panini, a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich, buffalo chicken pieces with ranch dip, and a berry crunch yogurt with granola. I was delighted to see such variety in the bag – as I’ve seen reviews of places like Pret A Manger or Blank Street where customers seem to receive a lot of the same items.
Most sandwiches at places like Starbucks will cost you around £3/£4 each, so getting five items for less than that is fantastic. Plus, I saved a total of £7 – which I can now use to treat myself to a seasonal Starbucks latte this season.
I was slightly let down to find no cookies or cakes in the bag; as it was a Saturday evening, I had been hoping for a millionaire’s shortbread or cookie – but I soon realised that Starbucks offer either a surprise bag or a sweet and pastry bag. So, you will get different surprises based on which you pick – I’m definitely going to give the sweet one a try next time.
The quality of the food was top-notch. I hadn’t tried the chicken and honey barbecue panini before – it was sweet and tasty, and the bread was really soft. My partner and I shared the chicken pieces which were average but the ranch dip was divine. You can’t go wrong with a classic tuna and sweetcorn which does what it says on the tin, and the ham and cheese croissant was lush.
The berry crunch smoothie acted as the perfect dessert – plus it is packed full of goodness. Napkins were also included in the bag and the staff at my nearest Starbucks – Crown Point in Leeds – were extremely friendly and helpful.
Final thoughts and rating
Overall, I was impressed with the surprise bag and would definitely get one again. I think it’s a good thing to do if you are in a group or have people coming over with whom you can share the goodies with.
One of my friends said she often gets a ‘Too Good To Go’, has some of the items and shares the rest with the homeless – what a wonderful idea. While the food goes out on the same day you get it, it is great that the items aren’t going to waste.
I found the whole process incredibly straightforward and was astounded by how affordable it is. It’s also a fantastic option if you’re trying to save money, or are low on funds and eagerly awaiting pay day.
I’m now hurrying to the Too Good To Go app to order myself a sweet and pastry bag. I’m excited to explore more of the options in the future.
Starbucks Too Good To Go surprise bag rating: 8/10.
