Consumer group Which? has found large variations in caffeine content among drinks sold by major coffee chains, with Costa's medium cappuccino containing 325mg per cup — roughly the same as four cans of Red Bull, which have 80mg each. That is nearly three and a half times the 89mg found in a Starbucks cappuccino.
Which? tests seven coffee types
Which? examined the caffeine content of an espresso, cappuccino, filter coffee, latte, americano, flat white and matcha at Caffè Nero, Costa, Greggs, Pret a Manger and Starbucks. Not every chain offers all seven products, and serving sizes vary.
Costa's cappuccino contains up to four espresso shots, according to Which?, which helps explain its high caffeine level. Greggs and Caffè Nero followed with 235mg and 221mg respectively, both significantly below Costa.
Espresso and latte comparisons
For espresso, Pret a Manger offered the strongest shot at 180mg in a 50ml serving, followed by Costa at 100mg in 30ml, Greggs at 75mg, Caffè Nero at 67mg, and Starbucks at 45mg in a 24ml shot.
Starbucks also had the weakest latte at 89mg in a 354ml serving, compared with 200mg at Costa, 208mg at Greggs, 175mg at Caffè Nero, and 180mg at Pret. Which? noted that the type of coffee bean makes a big difference, with Robusta beans containing roughly double the caffeine of Arabica beans.
Health advice and chain response
The British Heart Foundation advises that up to 400mg of caffeine a day is safe, while NHS Pregnancy Advice recommends pregnant women limit intake to 200mg per day. People sensitive to caffeine or advised to restrict intake for health reasons should be cautious.
Jessica Carson, Which? health and wellbeing expert, said: “For many of us, there is nothing quite like a strong cup of coffee to start the day. Our research shows caffeine content varies wildly from chain to chain. If you drink multiple cups a day or need to cut back for health reasons, pay attention to where you shop and what you order to avoid any unwanted side effects.”
A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: "At Costa Coffee, we're committed to helping customers make informed choices. That's why caffeine and nutritional information is available across our menu and online, so customers can choose the drinks that best suit their individual preferences and needs. We also offer decaffeinated coffee and a range of non-caffeinated drinks. Coffee naturally contains caffeine and levels can vary depending on factors such as the blend, recipe and serving size."
