Quick Facts
| Founded | 1971, London, by brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa |
|---|---|
| Home country | United Kingdom |
| Ready-to-drink range made by | The Coca-Cola Company, under licence from Costa |
| Formats here | 250ml latte cans and 250ml frappe bottles, sold as cases of 12 |
| Dietary | Gluten-free and GMO-free; contains milk, so not vegan |
The Costa Iced Coffee Story
Costa started in 1971 when Sergio and Bruno Costa opened a coffee bean roastery in London, blind-testing well over a hundred recipes before settling on the Signature Blend that still defines the brand. Whitbread bought the business in 1995, and The Coca-Cola Company took it on in 2019. That Coca-Cola link is why you can now find Costa in a chilled cabinet rather than only over a counter: the ready-to-drink cans and bottles are produced under licence by Coca-Cola, using the same Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee as the cafes. The result is proper Costa coffee you can grab cold, open and drink anywhere, no barista required, so you can get your favourite Costa in hot and cold varieties.
Frappe or Latte: Which Costa Suits You
As two different types of drink, the Costa latte comes in a slim 250ml can and keeps things simple, Signature Blend Costa on the other hand is blended with semi-skimmed milk for a clean, everyday iced coffee in Classic or Caramel varieties. The frappe comes in a 250ml bottle and is the indulgent end of the range: thicker, creamier and dessert-led, built around flavours like Caramel Swirl, Choc Fudge Brownie and the chocolate-orange Jaffa Cake edition. As a rule of thumb, reach for a can when you want a straightforward coffee hit and a bottle when you want something closer to a treat.
The Costa Cans and Bottles We Stock
Five cases make up the current line-up, split across the two lattes and three frappes. Each is a full 12-pack of 250ml servings.
| Case | Format | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Latte Caramel | 250ml can | Signature Blend and milk with a rounded caramel sweetness. The easy crowd-pleaser of the two cans |
| Latte Classic | 250ml can | Coffee and semi-skimmed milk, no added flavour. The purest read on the Signature Blend |
| Frappe Caramel Swirl | 250ml bottle | Thick, creamy iced coffee laced with caramel. The frappe most like the cafe blended drink |
| Frappe Choc Fudge Brownie | 250ml bottle | Dessert in a bottle: rich cocoa and fudge-brownie depth over the coffee base |
| Frappe Jaffa Cake (Chocolate Orange) | 250ml bottle | The McVitie's co-brand: chocolate and zesty orange over coffee, balanced between sweet and citrus |
What Goes Into Costa Ready-To-Drink
Every drink in the range starts from Costa's Signature Blend, sourced as Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee, combined with semi-skimmed milk. The whole ready-to-drink line is gluten-free and GMO-free, and Costa positions the latte as lower in sugar than most canned coffees sold in Great Britain and Ireland. The Jaffa Cake frappe is roughly three-quarters milk to one-fifth coffee, with cocoa and orange giving it its character. Because milk is the base, all of these contain dairy and none are suitable for vegans. Recipes are tweaked from time to time, so treat the can or bottle in your hand as the final word on ingredients and allergens.
Who Costa Ready-To-Drink is For
Iced coffee regulars: Anyone who already buys a cold coffee on the commute gets the cafe blend at case prices, ready in the fridge.
Grab-and-go routines: The 250ml can slips into a bag, lunchbox or car cup-holder, which makes the lattes an easy morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Dessert-drink fans: The frappe bottles, and the Jaffa Cake edition in particular, work as a sweet cold treat for anyone who finds a plain latte too austere.
Stock-up and sharing buyers: Buying by the 12-pack suits households, offices and events. If you are filling a chiller for a crowd, sit Costa alongside the wider drinks range, the Muller milkshakes or an energy option for variety.
Ordering Costa Iced Coffee in the UK
Costa's ready-to-drink cans and bottles can be available individually, although especially when purchased alongside a snack in a supermarket, the upfront cost can quickly become quite large. Purchasing a full case online works out as much better value, as you can add whichever lattes and frappes you want, then once the basket clears £20, the UK delivery is on us. Get the order in before the day's cut-off and it is packed and sent out the same working day. Costa UK coffee also pairs neatly with the Korean Milkis sodas and the rest of the chilled drinks shelf too if you are building a bit of variety to enjoy.
Costa Coffee: Your Questions Answered
What is the Costa Jaffa Cake Frappe?
It is a limited-edition iced coffee that Costa created with McVitie's, blending the Signature Blend with the chocolate-and-orange flavour of a Jaffa Cake. It matters because it is Costa's first ever co-branded ready-to-drink product in Great Britain, which is why it is listed on some shelves as "Chocolate Orange" and on others as "Jaffa Cake". Both names point to the same 250ml frappe bottle.
What is the Difference Between a Costa Frappe and a Costa Latte?
The latte is a 250ml can of Signature Blend coffee with semi-skimmed milk, sold as Classic or Caramel, and it is the lighter, everyday option. The frappe is a 250ml bottle of thicker, creamier, dessert-style iced coffee in Caramel Swirl, Choc Fudge Brownie or Jaffa Cake. Cans lean refreshing; bottles lean indulgent.
Are Costa Ready-To-Drink Coffees Gluten-Free?
The whole Costa ready-to-drink range is gluten-free and GMO-free. Every drink is milk-based, so they all contain dairy and are not suitable for vegans, though they are fine for most vegetarians. Anyone with a specific allergy should still read the ingredient panel on the individual can or bottle before drinking.
How Should Costa Cans and Bottles Be Served?
Straight from the fridge, chilled, with no need to add anything. They are designed as ready-to-drink, so there is no brewing, mixing or milk to add. Give a frappe bottle a gentle shake before opening to bring the flavour back together, and keep both cans and bottles cool for the best taste.