A fact-based comparison of Costa and Starbucks Americano Coffee
First, and foremost, a disclaimer: This is not an advertised post, and is no way affiliated with either company.
Secondly, I’ve been eager to share this post, as a Starbucks drinker in London, UK, I’ve had my fair share of debates with people claiming Costa is better than Starbucks, and vice versa. So I took a look at the nutrition facts of each company for their Americano in a Medium Size.
What is an Americano?
Heaven on earth, but if you need further elaboration, it’s usually espresso shots topped with hot water. Depending on the size, you use different amount of shots.
Starbucks vs. Costa Americano Coffee
After looking at Starbucks Americano Nutrition, and Costa Americano Nutrition, a medium size cup was measured differently. Costa’s size for a medium cup is 340 ml or 11.5 oz, whereas Starbucks grande size is 470 ml or 16 oz. While both contained the same amount of Caffeine (225mg), as 3 espresso shots were used to make them, the rest of the nutrients were significantly different.
Starbucks Americano had 10 times more Protein, and a third amount of Carbohydrates as Costa Americano. So, you’re not only getting more coffee for the money, you’re also getting more nutrients.
The real difference can be seen when compared monthly. IF you have a coffee in the morning, 5 days a week for a month (like me). You’d be getting 20 grams of Protein from Starbucks Americano, versus only 2 grams from Costa Coffee. Additionally you’d be cutting 60 calories, and 20 g Carbohydrates off your diet.
If you’re a Brit or Costa-lover, you may not be ecstatic with the difference, as they are not in the favor of Costa. If you’re American, you should be happy to know you’re not missing out. That said, there is really no reason why you should avoid Costa, as the difference on a small scale is not significant enough.