If you want to keep independent coffee shops we must support them . . The people behind the counter are there because want to be and have a passion for what do . The biggest chain in the Uk is Costa , owned by Coke.
Costa was founded in London, but like far too many other UK companies, flogged off to America to be fattened, flattened and cheapened (though not in counter prices).
I call it "CostaLotta", and would never use it (or the American-originated chains) except in extremis.