Costa's Caffeine Content Greatly Exceeds That of Starbucks Cappuccinos

A study conducted by UK consumer organization Which? has highlighted significant variations in caffeine content amongst popular coffee chains. It was discovered that Costa Coffee's medium cappuccino contains 325 milligrams of caffeine, contrasting sharply with Starbucks, where the same size offers just 89mg.

Costa Coffee's cappuccino caffeine content equates to approximately four cans of Red Bull, indicating a substantial caffeine intake from a single serving. Other coffee retailers such as Greggs and Caffe Nero also have high caffeine levels in their cappuccinos, at 235mg and 221mg respectively.

In addition to cappuccinos, Costa's other offerings also exhibit elevated caffeine levels. For instance, a single shot of espresso from Costa contains 100mg, compared to only 45mg at Starbucks. The flat white at Costa also holds more caffeine, with 241mg per serving as opposed to Starbucks' 89mg.

The research noted that Starbucks generally serves drinks with the lowest caffeine content across its range, but there has been a gradual increase in caffeine levels in its espresso, cappuccino, and filter coffee over the past three years.

Matcha drinks, popularized due to their health benefits, also show caffeine variability. Costa's hot matcha latte boasts the highest caffeine content at 99mg, followed by Starbucks at 57mg, and Pret at 28mg. This variability in caffeine levels stresses the importance for customers to be aware, especially those who need to monitor their caffeine intake for health reasons like pregnancy.

Jessica Carson, a health expert from Which?, emphasized the need for awareness among consumers about these variations. Costa Coffee has responded by highlighting the availability of nutritional information about their products both on their menu and online, to assist customers in making informed dietary choices.