Consumer watchdog Which? has analysed caffeine levels in drinks from Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Pret A Manger and Starbucks, revealing vast differences between chains. A medium cappuccino from Costa contains 325 milligrams (mg) of caffeine - almost three-and-a-half times as much as the same drink at Starbucks, which has 89mg.
Cappuccino caffeine levels compared
Costa's cappuccino caffeine content is equivalent to around four cans of Red Bull. The second and third-highest cappuccino caffeine levels were found at Greggs and Caffe Nero, at 235mg and 221mg respectively.
Costa also tops the list for other drinks, including its espresso shot, which contains 100mg of caffeine per serving, and its flat white, which has 241mg. At the other end of the scale, Starbucks has 45mg of caffeine per serving in its espresso shot and 89mg in its flat white.
Changes since 2023
Costa's caffeine content for cappuccinos and single-shot espressos has not changed since Which?'s last study in 2023. However, Caffe Nero's has noticeably increased, with its cappuccino now containing around double the level of caffeine than before.
While Starbucks is serving the least caffeine overall across its drinks, its caffeine levels have increased in its espressos, cappuccinos and filter coffees over the past three years.
Matcha drinks also vary
The analysis also found that matcha drinks vary significantly between the chains. Costa's hot matcha latte contained the highest caffeine content at 99mg, followed by Starbucks at 57mg and Pret at 28mg.
Which?'s health and wellbeing expert, Jessica Carson, said: "For many of us, there is nothing quite like a strong cup of coffee to start the day, but Which? found even matcha enthusiasts could be consuming more caffeine than intended. 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 told the Daily Express: "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." Starbucks was also contacted for comment.
