Our story

Costa founded

Fenchurch Street, London. Italian brothers, Bruno and Sergio Costa, set up a small roastery and start creating a signature blend. One hundred and twelve blind tests later, they find their trademark recipe. The brothers name it ‘Mocha Italia’ – and it’s our signature blend to this day.

First store opens

The eighties bring the first-ever Costa Coffee shop, in London’s Vauxhall Bridge Road.

Whitbread buys Costa

First international store opens at the aviation club in Dubai

The Costa Foundation is founded

Our global charity partner supports education in 10 coffee-growing countries, funding school projects that give children access to safe, quality learning. We’ve raised over £20m, built 100+ schools, and impacted 120,000+ children.

Costa buys Coffee Nation, launching Costa Express in the UK&I

The Coca-Cola Company complete the purchase of Costa Coffee from Whitbread

Costa turns 50

Costa Professionals, our B2B proposition, is launched