A Brief History of Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee has been in business for fifty years as of the writing of this article. Sergio and Bruno Costa, brothers from Italy, founded the coffee chain. These two brothers opened their first Costa Coffee roastery in Lambeth, London, in 1971. It was a very small roastery, but it was a start. At the time, they were developing the signature blend for Costa Coffee. To carry out the process, Sergio and Bruno blind tested 112 coffee variations before settling on the perfect blend. This is the Mocha Italia blend. Even so, Costa Coffee continues to use it as their signature blend.
Costa Coffee started to grow in 1978, as the Costa brothers’ coffee became more popular. The Costa brothers ran a new Costa Coffee roastery in South London in 1978. Sergio and Bruno Costa made their famous Mocha Italia blend and sold it to some of the best places, like The Ritz. They opened their initial proper Costa Coffee shop in London on Vauxhall Bridge Road in 1981. After that, the Costa Coffee shop quickly became so popular that it expanded throughout London and, eventually, worldwide.
And now, Costa Coffee is the world’s second-largest coffee chain.
What Are Costa Coffee’s Main Coffees and Varieties?
The popularity stems of Costa Coffee from the quality of its coffees and the variety of flavors it offers. Americanos, lattes, espressos, flat whites, cappuccinos, and cortados are the six main coffees. Additionally, Costa Coffee offers a variety of cold beverages (i.e. iced coffee) and teas, such as iced Coffees.
The Caramel Cortado is my favorite drink and one of my favorite things about their menu. This coffee drink contains velvety milk with Costa Coffee’s own Espresso blend, velvety milk, and especially rich caramel, while there are caramel crumbs on top.
How is Coffee Grown And Harvested?
The coffee you know and love has come a long way to get to your cup. Coffee is most commonly grown in the tropics, in countries such as Colombia, Brazil, and Ethiopia.
Upon reaching the age of one year, young coffee plants are transplanted into the main plantation on the coffee-growing estate, where they will be nurtured for the next five years.
Following this, the plants begin to produce fruit known as ‘coffee cherries.’ The seeds or beans of these ripe, red cherries are used to roast and produce the coffee beans we know and love.
Even though there are thousands of coffee plant species, only two are commercially grown: Coffee arabica and Coffee canephora, or Robusta. Our world-famous Signature Coffee Blend is the ideal combination of delicate Arabica and robust Robusta beans.
It All Started With Espresso
Everything is in the beans. These are lovely, ethically sourced, satisfying, and smooth beans.
We have always believed that perfection requires passion at Costa Coffee. Primarily because the Costa brothers, Sergio and Bruno, believed it. The great coffee with a well-balanced and delicate flavor profile of the Arabica and Robusta mixture is precisely and slowly roasted to preserve the beans’ smooth taste, rich aroma, and hearty flavor.
We recognize that in order to run a sustainable coffee business, investing in a sustainable coffee supply is a must to ensure our coffee is grown in a way that protects the environment while also allowing the communities that grow our coffee to thrive. Our company purchases “all” its coffee from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. The Rainforest Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that people and nature coexist in harmony. The Rainforest Alliance is forming an alliance with diverse stakeholders such as farmers, businesses, consumers, and others to improve livelihoods, amplify the voices of farmers and forest communities, protect biodiversity, and assist them in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Arabica Coffee Beans
The growing conditions, taste, and price of the two varieties differ. Arabica beans have a sweeter, softer flavor with notes of sugar, berries and fruit. Their acidity is higher, giving them a winey flavor that distinguishes coffee with excellent acidity.
The majority of supermarket coffee is Robusta, as are instant and low-cost ground coffees. Arabica, on the other hand, is more expensive. You can still find Arabica in supermarkets, but it does not mean it is high quality because it is labelled “Arabica.”
A good arabica coffee should have a slightly sweet taste with hints of caramel, chocolate, and nuts. There may also be hints of fruit and berries. You will notice a pleasant/slight acidity as well as a slight bitterness. There are some things you can do to make cold-brewed coffee that will help you get even more of the sweet taste of arabica.
Arabica is more difficult to cultivate due to its environmental sensitivity and the fact that it produces less per hectare if compared to robusta. Also, it has better taste, which increases demand. As a result, it is more expensive than robusta.
Costa Coffee’s Availability Around The World
Costa Coffee is available in most parts of the world, particularly in Europe, and it has a presence in 33 different countries. Currently, Costa Coffee operates approximately 4,000 stores in 31 countries, including locations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The United Kingdom is Costa Coffee’s largest country of establishment, which has approximately 2,467 Costa Coffee locations.
Also, Costa has over 8,000 on-the-go Costa Express locations that serve self-serve caffeine products. Over 7,200 of these stores are located in the United Kingdom.
Sadly, there is no Costa Coffee in the United States.
What Sizes of Drinks Do Costa Coffee Offer?
All of their beverages, including these main coffees, are available in three sizes: small Primo, medium Medio, and large Massimo.
Costa Drinks Under 100 Calories
Costa Coffee is one of the greatest pleasures of life, but if you want to be healthy, you have to think skipping your morning cappuccino is the way to go. That, however, is not the case! Costa offers a variety of low-calorie beverages, including caramel lattes, iced coffees, fruity teas, and more.
To dispel any doubts, we have compiled a list of some of the most delicious Costa coffees, teas, and so on that are under 100 calories (remember that life is all about finding a healthy balance, and you can always seek help from service support like Beat or your doctor if you are concerned that you have become overly preoccupied with weight loss).
We have got you covered if you want to learn more about your drink order or make a more informed decision:
- Cold Brew Coffee Black (Medium) 8 calories
You cannot go wrong with a good old-fashioned cold brew, can you? This beverage will undoubtedly wake you up on a drowsy morning!
- Peach Ice Tea (Medium) 87 calories
When ordered in a medium-size, a deliciously fruity peach iced tea has 87 calories. On the other hand, if you try to limit your sugar intake, this one still has 18.6g!
- Strawberry Tea Infusion (Medium) 88 calories
This freshly brewed super fruity infusion is served over ice and shaken by hand (an excellent choice to keep cool on a sweltering hot day). Compared to its peach cousin, it has a little less sugar, but only by a little, with 16.1g.
- Coffee Frostino (Small) 97 calories
At just 97 calories, this creamy milky beverage will still make you feel indulgent and refreshed when ordered in-store and made with semi-skimmed milk (only 99 calories are in a small take-out portion).
- Chai Latte (Small) 95 calories
It is not coffee at all, but rather an aromatic tea infused with delectable spices. If you order in-store, ask for your small chai latte to be made with almond milk. This will help you to stay under 95 calories (there are 107 calories in a small almond milk chai latte, which is still low.).
- Flat Black (Small) 11 calories
Straight to the point, no waffling, no games! Costa’s flat black, which is a strong espresso that is poured over water and makes a coffee that is described as “bold and silky,” has only 11 calories if you order it in a small size.
- Flat White (Small) 98 calories
A small flat white with skimmed milk contains only 98 calories, making it a classic choice.
- Cappuccino (Medium) 93 calories
As a cappuccino came along with almond milk, it proves that choosing a smaller size does not mean to be the only way to go low-calorie.
- Iced Espresso Macchiato (Single) 20 calories
When you order a single with coconut milk, your iced espresso macchiato will be only 20 calories.
- Costa in a can: Flat White (200ml) 76 calories
A great thing about this is that it is not just sold in Costa stores. It is also sold in supermarkets, which is great when you are on the go and do not have time to stop at a store to pick up something that will help you reclaim your humanity.
- Iced Chai Latte (Small) 92 calories
You will stay well under the 100-calorie mark if you ask for this in-store option to be made with soy milk. Plus, if you are following a non-dairy diet or a vegan, it is an excellent
How To Order From Costa Coffee Online?
UberEats, Deliveroo, or Just Eat are some of the delivery services that Costa has partnered with, so you can easily get your food delivered right to your door.
Simply go to one of these platforms and choose the food you would like to order. After you have chosen your food, insert the address to which you want it delivered and choose a payment method.
Costa will deliver tasty and delicious food to your door in a matter of minutes.