Costa, Starbucks or Greggs: who has the cheapest hot drinks?

Costa, Starbuck or Greggs - who offers the cheapest cuppa? Experts reveal answer <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Costa, Starbuck or Greggs - who offers the cheapest cuppa? Experts reveal answer (Image: PA)
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From £2.22 to £4.28, the price of a hot drink at coffee shop chains like Greggs, Costa, Starbucks and Caffe Nero varies significantly.

As we enter the height of winter, there is nothing better than heading to your favourite coffee shop for a cuppa - whether that be coffee, tea or a hot chocolate.

So with the temperatures dropping and more people heading to coffee shops, the experts at Vouchers4real.co.uk conducted a study to determine the most budget-friendly options.

The study looked at the average cost of six popular hot drinks (tea, Americano, cappuccino, latte, mocha and hot chocolate) across five major UK coffee chains:

  • Caffe Nero
  • Costa
  • Greggs
  • Pret A Manager
  • Starbucks

How many cups of tea/coffee should you drink a day?


A Vouchers4real.co.uk spokesperson said: "Coffee and other hot drinks are a popular indulgence during the winter, but the cost can add up quickly.

"Finding out which coffee shop chain offers the cheapest option helps budget-conscious consumers enjoy the seasonal experience without overspending."

The spokesperson continued: "People may be inclined to buy their hot drinks from a particular chain due to taste preference, habit, or familiarity with their favourites.

"Seeing price differences could challenge these habits if, for example, a favourite chain is significantly pricier than alternatives.”

Cheapest coffee shops for a hot drink

The cheapest places to get a hot drink (along with the average price for a hot drink), according to Vouchers4real.co.uk, are:

  1. Greggs (£2.22)
  2. Caffè Nero (£3.85)
  3. Pret A Manger (£3.88)
  4. Costa (£4.05)
  5. Starbucks (£4.28)

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Greggs was the cheapest coffee shop in the UK for a hot drink, with all six drinks coming in at the lowest price.

The cheapest drink at Greggs was its tea, which is priced at £1.55. The next cheapest is £3.09 at Costa.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Starbucks was found to be the most expensive place to go with an average of £4.28 per hot drink.

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