Millions of people leave the office every lunch time and visit a local supermarket, cafe or coffee shop. Savoury products like sandwiches, cold and hot drinks, and sweets can all be purchased for a low cost. This is especially common if you are having a bad day at work or fancy treating yourself. For pudding or as a treat with coffee; the muffin is a popular choice. because they come in a number of flavours and are easy to use, the muffin is a convenient food as well as a tasty one.

The muffin is now considered to be a gourmet snack by many because of its shape and flavours. In part this is down to the growth of gourmet coffee chains like Starbucks. it also helps that ingredients are now luxurious like Belgian chocolate and fresh berries, so food snobs can eat them too.
Sweet treats are no longer just for those who aren’t on a diet, now people watching their weight can indulge in a ‘skinny muffin’ of lemon, blueberry and many other flavours. Coffee houses are not losing money by driving away those on a diet whilst the customers feel like they are eating something tasty yet healthy.

the shape and size of muffins has also changed how we look at them. When first sold in coffee houses and shops, muffins were relatively small and evenly shaped. Then muffins got a whole lot bigger and they ended up being large at the top with a slimmer base. This is where the term ‘muffin top’ came from which we use to describe stomachs that are being squeezed over tight trousers.

The flower-pot muffin is the newest shape to hit the shelves. The new shape is a little smaller than the large-topped muffins, this is because people are more health conscious and are less likely than before to eat a huge portion of muffin. many also come in a luxury wrapping around the base which gives them the flower-pot name.

Coffee stores and shops can make a lot of money from having muffins on their shelves as can pubs where customers like the sweet alternative to crisps and pork scratchings.