COSTA Coffee is in hot water for removing filter coffee from its menu – with alternative drinks costing more than twice the price.
Customers have until now chosen between filter or espresso-based coffee in Costa shops, but the chain said the filter option has been removed to “meet customers’ needs”.
Costa customers can no longer purchase filter coffee at the chains 2,700 UK outlets
The change means instead of paying around 99p for a small filter coffee, shoppers will pay from £2.55 for a small Americano or £2.70 for a small flat black.
One Cheshire-based customer complained online: “Unfortunately Costa Coffee have lost this customer in Chester; removing filter coffee and no own-cup discount… an increase for me from 99p to £2.55.
“I will miss the friendly staff and sitting watching the world go by on Watergate Street.”
Another said: “Sad day. Costa Coffee is stopping filter coffee. It was all we could ever justify buying – and nicer than the Americano.”
Espresso and filter are both made by pouring hot water over coffee grounds.
But unlike espresso, filter coffee is not pushed through with pressure, but rather just falls through on its own, meaning brewing takes longer and has a milder taste.
Espresso coffee is also more finely ground up.
Sarah Coles, of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Given that these coffees are made from the same kinds of beans, this can’t be to do withthe underlying coffee price.
“It may well be that Costa has decided that the extra cost of having filter coffee machines: running them, maintaining them, and taking up space that could be used to sell higher value products, isn’t worth it for the margins they get in return.
“This is especially likely if it’s not a popular product, because there’s likely to be a fair degree of wastage too.
“The impact of axing filter coffee may also increase the minimum spend for coffee drinkers – who are forced up the value chain to an Americano.
“This may well be an attractive prospect for Costa at a time when the cost of doing business is rocketing. Of course, for hard-pressed consumers this couldn’t have come at a worse time.”
A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “At Costa Coffee we regularly review and optimise our menu, introducing new products and removing others to ensure we are meeting our customers’ needs and expectations.
“Our September menu, which launched last week, does not include the Costa House Filter Coffee, however, customers can continue to enjoy a Black Americano or Flat Black, made with the same Mocha Italia Signature Blend beans. Prices start from £2.55 for a small Americano and £2.70 for a small Flat Black.
“Last year we relaunched our Costa Club loyalty scheme – offering more rewards. Customers can earn two beans per drink when using a re-usable cup in store, meaning they earn a free drink after every four drinks purchased.
“We know this is a challenging time for our customers and we are always looking at ways to offer great value across our range.”
You can sign up on the Costa Coffee Club app which is free to download from the app store or google play store.
You earn a “bean” every time you purchase a drink item at any Costa outlet.
Once you’ve racked up eight beans, you will receive a voucher for a free hot drink of any size to redeem at any Costa Coffee store nationwide.