Disclaimer: this is a Guide to Vegan Drinks at Costa Coffee UK 2022. If you are in the UK and are interested in what Vegan drinks you can get from Starbucks, click here. Updated March 2022 to reflect new Easter menu changes.
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I remember, many years ago, being excited by the opening of a new type of shop on the high street: the Coffee Shop. If you are American, you will find the concept of Coffee Shops to be as old as time itself. In the 1950s, the Beatniks spent hours sipping black coffee (whilst using other stimulants) to debate endlessly about poetry and jazz, in the 90s Dale Cooper enjoyed his coffee black, too, along with a slice of damn fine cherry pie.
“Black as midnight on a moonless night.”
Dale Cooper
Then came perhaps the catalyst: Central Perk in Friends opened Brit's eyes to the social aspect of coffee drinking. UK options were limited for daytime coffee soirees: we had pubs (not necessarily family friendly), and greasy spoon cafes. But we didn't have cosy, intimate places to meet friends during the day and enjoy a hot drink and a piece of cake.
When coffee shops first started popping up on the High Streets of the UK, they only had simple menus with the drinks that are still among the most popular today: Lattes, Americanos, Cappuccinos, Flat Whites, Tea. These were offered with a Soya Milk option but not much else was on the menu for vegans.
Fast forward 15 (or more) years, and most restaurants and coffee shops on the High Street cater to all dietary requirements. It is still tricky trying to find something for the gluten free/vegan but they are getting there.
So, here are drinks that are vegan friendly and can be found in your local branch of Costa Coffee. Please note, some stores may not stock all the vegan food options. I worked for Costa for 6 years and smaller stores often have more limited availability, however, you should always be able to find a fine selection of plant-based milks in store.
It's really important to remember that if you're unsure what is vegan, just to ask your barista: they are trained intensively to know exactly what you are after and give you coffee advice. Of course, if you have an allergy, always ask your barista to check for cross-contamination risks with products too.
What Coffees are Vegan at Costa?
All Costa coffees can be veganised, just ask for your preference of milk:
- Flat White
- Americano
- Latte
- Cappuccino
- Cortado/Caramel Cortado
- Espresso
- Macchiato
- Mocha
- Mocha Cortado
Are Costa Express Machines Vegan?
No, Costa Express Machines are not vegan. They only have dairy milk options.
What Plant Based Milks are available at Costa?
- Soya
- Coconut
- Almond
- Oat (gluten free)
What Syrups and Speciality Flavours are Vegan at Costa?
So this one is both easy and difficult. All the Monin syrups (this includes Caramel, Hazelnut, Vanilla, Sugar Syrup, Gingerbread) are all vegan. However, some of the festive sauces are not, and contain milk.
Presently, due to Covid Lockdown restrictions, Costa do not offer the larger variety of festive drinks they normally have, and it is worth checking because a drink that might have been vegan last Christmas, may have had the ingredients reformulated, and may not be vegan this year. In previous years, the Black Forest Syrup was vegan.
Currently, Costa are only offering one speciality drink that is vegan: their Latte+ Range, which is a Latte with additional B12 powder. Now called the Energiser, as of May 22.
As of June 2021, Costa are offering a new range, their Golden Caramel range. Out of the drinks advertised, the Golden Caramel Latte, Golden Caramel Cappuccino and Golden Caramel Iced Latte are all vegan. However, as mentioned before, if you ask your barista, they will add a shot of this syrup into your favourite vegan drink.
What festive drinks are vegan at Costa Coffee?
Currently, Costa states on their website that none of their festive drinks are vegan. However, this is if they are prepared to "brand standard", i.e. with all the whipped cream and toppings. Some of the Christmas drinks can be veganised if you just know what to ask for.
- Summer 22 drinks. Costa have introduced their Velvet Iced Latte range. This is simply plant-based iced lattes with different syrups in them. The only one of this range that isn't vegan is the chocolate and oat one.
- Strawberry Iced Infusion.
After Eight Hot Chocolate. Mint Aero Hot Chocolate This is made with a vegan mint syrup. Just make sure to ask for your drink to be made with your plant-based milk of choice, and no cream. Also, this comes with a mint Aero chocolate, which is not vegan. As with most Costa drinks though, this is simply a repurpose of their mint syrup.- March 22 The Hot Cross Bun Latte and Hot Chocolate are not vegan! The syrup contains milk. I was told originally that it was just cinnamon syrup, but I have had it confirmed that it is a milk based hot cross flavour sauce.
You can of course ask for any of the festive syrups in your favourite coffee/mocha drink too.
What Non-Coffee Hot Drinks are Vegan at Costa?
So what can you drink at Costa if you don't like coffee?
- All the Tea and Tea Infusions
- Chai Latte
Is Costa Hot Chocolate Vegan?
As of November 2021, Costa hot chocolate is now vegan again! However, if you have milk intolerance of allergy, there is a strong risk of cross contamination during production of the powder, so please bear this in mind. However, this is wonderful news for those of us who have been missing our Costa hot chocolates or mochas!
Unfortunately, Costa took the decision to change their hot chocolate recipe and it now contains milk, which is really disappointing for lots of vegan hot chocolate fans, or people with milk intolerances. Hopefully they will reformulate the recipe, but as of May 2021, Costa's hot chocolate is not suitable for vegans.
What Cold Iced Drinks are Vegan at Costa?
- The Mango and Red Berry Fruit Coolers
- Peach Iced Tea
- Strawberry Tea Infusion
- Iced Lattes (made with plant-based milk with a Monin syrup)
- Cold Brew (without the topping)
- Iced Americano
- Coffee Frostino. This can have an additional Monin syrup shot added to it.
- Costa's Mint Frostino syrup is vegan, I personally checked a bottle and it states that it is suitable for vegans. Just make sure to order it without cream or chocolate sauce/sprinkles and with dairy-free milk
- Costa's Strawberry Frostino syrup is also vegan. Again, order without cream and with your choice of dairy free milk.
Unfortunately, the Iced Cappuccinos and Flat Whites are prepared with a dairy foam topping, so these are not suitable.
What Food is Vegan at Costa?
Costa have been consistently good with their vegan food options, particularly their cakes, but it does depend on what store you visit. I would recommend that if you want to visit a specific store for a cake and a coffee, give them a call first to make sure that they have some vegan options for you.
Vegan Food Available at Costa May 2022
- Costa now collaborates with M&S food, and the plant-based range is clearly marked M&S Plant Kitchen. This includes Tomato & Basil soup, Hoisin no-duck wrap, Nutty salad, golden syrup porridge and some fruit pots. Note: branches based in Tesco stores do not stock the M&S range.
- Vegan Bac'n Bap
- Vegan Smokey Ham and Cheeze Toastie
- Vegan Burrito Meal Box
- Vegan Macaroni Cheese Meal Box
Non-festive Vegan Food
- Rocky Road Slice
- Chocolate and Caramelised Biscuit (Lotus) loaf cake
- BOSH Chocolate Pecan Slice
- Brown and white toast (make sure to ask for dairy free spread), plus the toasted teacakes
- Toasted Teacake
- Impulse Gingerbread cookie, seasonal designs
- Fruity Flapjack
- Rice Cakes
Click here for my guide to vegan food and drink at Starbucks
Updated May 2022
Ri Matt says
I LOVE THIS - this is sooo helpful for any coffee-shop addict, but especially for Costa lovers ... and not just relevant for the UK, but globally too!!
Angie says
Love this!! Central perk made coffee places cool again. This is great for vegans and non vegans too. Thank you!!
Kirby Jeanne says
Thanks for bringing up the LOML Dale Cooper and using the quote I have tattooed on my arm. If I find myself in the UK, I now know where to get my vegan beverages!
hanaa says
i’m gonna have to check out a costa!
Sarah buckley says
This is super helpful!
Jenny says
Love that you curated this for everyone!!
Nive says
Ok these look so tempting and I wish I loved near a Costa!
Tanja says
No Costa here?what a pity!
Roma says
This is so helpful, thank you.
Karen says
This is so helpful, thank you!
Abby says
Thanks for this guide!! This is so useful!! And it makes me miss Costa coffee. Wish we had one in Toronto.
Jahma says
What a helpful guide, yummy Costa coffee!
Elena says
Super informative and so helpful! I can tell a great amount of work and research went into this.
Deb says
It was interesting to read about the evolution of coffee shops in UK, I didn’t know any of that!
Jean says
Wow, that's a lot of options, I remember when I was in Germany Costa is just below my hotel. I wish I had this list before maybe they also offer the same there. Keeping this one when I visit UK next time I run for London Marathon.
Heather @ Writer's Life for You says
It's really helpful to know the vegan drinks and food at Costa. If I'm ever in the UK I know just where to stop to get my vegan coffee fix. I would want to eat the Rocky Road Slice.
Jeri says
What a great article on how to order vegan coffee! This works perfectly in any coffee shop around the world! I'll be sure to get my coffee fix at Costa when I finally travel to the UK!