Costa is a British-based coffee shop chain that offers high-quality Italian coffee, hot chocolate, teas, syrups, sandwiches, and pastries. They source their beans from Rainforest Alliance certified farms to ensure that every cup has the best taste.

There are more than 2,300 costa winkel in the UK alone – that’s more than the number of Starbucks and Caffe Nero combined. But despite their dominance of the UK, the chain has expanded across Europe and Asia as well. Costa is the second largest coffee shop chain in the world behind Starbucks and has won multiple awards including being voted as the nation’s favourite coffee shop by Allegra’s research for the ninth year running.

Exploring Proust’s Madeleine: A Literary Journey

Costa stores feature a mix of contemporary and traditional furniture, accented with the signature Costa red and pink colours to create an uplifting, pop, and cheerful atmosphere inside the store. The stores have varying seating capacities, with the option of indoor and outdoor seating depending on location. During the first lockdown, Costa was forced to close 79 stores but they are currently operating again, though there may be less seating available as many people still follow social distancing rules.

The stores offer a full range of hot and cold drinks, including the iconic ‘Flat White’, espresso-based coffees, and Costa Mocha Italia, plus a selection of iced and frozen Frappes which they are famous for. Their Frappes are made using real bits of fruit and other ingredients, such as the strawberries in their Strawberry Frappe or the adzuki beans in their Matcha Frappe.