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A Costa Coffee espresso shot carries about 100mg of caffeine, which means a medium cappuccino lands at 325mg and a large hits 400mg, according to Costa's own caffeine guide (valid 30 April to 26 August 2026). Those are the strongest chain espresso drinks we have put in the caffeine database, and it is not close.
The strongest chain espresso in the game, officially
Costa is the UK's dominant coffee chain, now owned by Coca-Cola, and unlike most US chains it publishes an actual caffeine table in its allergen and nutrition guide. The numbers surprised a lot of people when Which? lab-tested high street coffee in 2023: a Costa medium cappuccino came back at 325mg, next to 66mg for the equivalent Starbucks cappuccino. That is roughly five times the caffeine in the same drink order, and more than four 250ml cans of Red Bull at 80mg each. Costa's current official guide confirms the lab result, since a medium cappuccino is built on three shots at 325mg total.
Two things drive it. First, Costa pulls a genuinely strong shot: the guide lists 100mg per single espresso of its Signature Blend. Second, Costa is generous with shot counts. A small cappuccino, mocha, or americano gets two shots, a medium gets three, and a large gets four. Order a large americano and you are drinking 400mg, which is the full amount the FDA cites as a daily reference point for healthy adults, in one cup.
One quirk worth knowing if you ever order in a UK store: the small latte is one shot (100mg) if you drink in, but two shots (200mg) if you take it away, because the takeaway cup is bigger than the in-store mug. Every other drink has the same shot count either way.
Costa Coffee caffeine by drink and size
All figures below are from Costa's official caffeine guide for the Signature Blend, published in its store allergen and nutrition document. Costa notes that bean origin, grind, and extraction all move the real number around, so treat these as the brand-standard baseline.
| Drink | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso (per shot count) | 100mg (1 shot) | 200mg (2 shots) | 325mg (3 shots) / 400mg (4 shots) |
| Latte | 100mg drink-in / 200mg takeaway | 200mg | 325mg |
| Cappuccino | 200mg | 325mg | 400mg |
| Mocha | 200mg | 325mg | 400mg |
| Americano | 200mg | 325mg | 400mg |
| Flat white (3 cortissimo shots) | 241mg | One size only | One size only |
| Flat black (3 cortissimo shots) | 241mg | One size only | One size only |
| Cortado (2 corto shots) | 141mg | One size only | One size only |
| Ristretto | 90mg (1 shot) | 180mg (2 shots) | Not offered |
| Decaf (2 shots, 1 pod) | 2mg | 2mg | 2mg |
| Iced Coffee Latte can, US (11oz) | 85mg | ||
The flat white number is interesting for baristas. Costa builds it on three "cortissimo" shots, a shorter extraction than a standard espresso, and three of those total 241mg rather than the 325mg you would get from three regular shots. Shorter pull, less caffeine extracted, exactly what you would expect from the physics. The cortado runs on two "corto" shots for 141mg.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. How caffeine affects you depends on your own tolerance and health, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
What about Costa in the US?
Costa's US footprint is small: a few store locations (its US nutrition page covers Atlanta stores and the Seattle-Tacoma airport), Smart Café self-serve machines, and ready-to-drink cans in convenience stores. Per Coca-Cola's own announcement, the Costa Iced Coffee Latte cans (Signature Blend, Caramel, and Mocha) each carry 85mg of caffeine per 11oz can, with 150 calories or fewer. That is a normal RTD latte number, so do not expect the can to hit like the in-store cappuccino does. Costa also sells its Signature Blend as whole bean and ground bags on Amazon if you want to pull those 100mg shots at home.
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Related caffeine guides
- The caffeine database: every brand we have verified
- Starbucks caffeine content, drink by drink
- Tim Hortons caffeine content, every drink and size
FAQ
How much caffeine is in a Costa flat white? 241mg. Costa's official guide lists the flat white as three cortissimo shots totaling 241mg, and it only comes in one size. That is more caffeine than a small latte or cappuccino despite the smaller cup.
Does Costa decaf actually have caffeine? Barely. Costa lists its decaf at 2mg for a two-shot serving from one pod, which is as close to zero as espresso gets. If you are avoiding caffeine entirely, that number is about as safe as chain coffee offers.
Can you get Costa Coffee in the US? Mostly in cans and machines. Costa's US presence is ready-to-drink Iced Coffee Lattes at 85mg per 11oz can, Smart Café self-serve machines, and packaged beans, rather than the full café menu the UK gets.