As the festive season approaches, Costa Coffee has unveiled its much-anticipated Christmas menu for 2024, promising to deliver holiday cheer in every cup and bite. We embarked on a delicious mission to sample every item from their seasonal collection, separating the truly magical from the merely mediocre.
The Festive Drink Lineup: Sweet Indulgence or Sugar Overload?
Costa's signature Christmas beverages return with both familiar favourites and exciting newcomers. The Black Forest Hot Chocolate emerges as an early standout, combining rich cocoa with cherry and chocolate sprinkles for a genuinely decadent experience that captures the essence of a classic dessert in liquid form.
The Traditional Christmas Latte delivers exactly what it promises - a comforting blend of coffee with subtle spice notes that won't overwhelm the palate. Meanwhile, the Toffee Penny Latte offers a sweeter alternative with its distinctive buttery toffee flavour that will appeal to those with a serious sweet tooth.
Festive Bakes & Sweet Treats: The Good, The Bad, and The Crumbly
Costa's bakery selection brings both hits and misses. The Christmas Tree Brownie proves to be more than just Instagram fodder - its rich chocolate flavour and festive design make it a genuine crowd-pleaser. The Gingerbread & Cream Latte Melt, however, divided our tasting panel with its strong ginger spice that some found overwhelming.
The classic Mince Pie maintains its reliable status as a festive staple, though it doesn't particularly stand out from supermarket alternatives. More impressive is the Christmas Lunch Panini, which successfully packs the full holiday dinner experience between two slices of bread - complete with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.
Value Verdict: Are Costa's Christmas Creations Worth the Splurge?
With prices reflecting the premium positioning of seasonal offerings, the value equation depends heavily on your personal preferences. The drinks generally justify their cost with quality ingredients and careful preparation, while some bakery items feel overpriced for what they deliver.
Our top recommendations:
- Black Forest Hot Chocolate for chocolate lovers
- Christmas Tree Brownie for a visual and tasty treat
- Christmas Lunch Panini for a satisfying savoury option
While not every item on Costa's Christmas menu hits the mark, enough seasonal stars shine through to make a festive visit worthwhile. The chain has successfully captured the holiday spirit in several offerings that will have customers returning throughout December.
