Vegan Costa and Starbucks UK: Coffee Shop Guide

Coffee shops are where most vegans encounter the “do you have plant milk?” question daily. Both Costa and Starbucks now offer multiple plant milk options and a growing range of vegan food. Here is what you need to know.

Costa Coffee

Plant milks

Costa offers oat milk, soya milk, coconut milk, and almond milk. Oat is the most popular and froths the best. There is no extra charge for plant milk at Costa (they dropped the surcharge in 2024).

Vegan food

• Vegan Bac’n Brekkie Roll — plant-based bacon in a roll with ketchup.
• Vegan Macaroni Cheese Toastie — uses vegan cheese and pasta.
• Beyond Meat Meatball Panini — available at most locations.
• Lotus Biscoff Cake — vegan and very popular.
• Fruit pots, Nakd bars, popcorn — reliable vegan snacks.

Starbucks

Plant milks

Starbucks offers oat milk, soya milk, coconut milk, and almond milk. As of 2026, Starbucks still charges an extra 40–60p for plant milk on most drinks, though this varies by location and may change.

Vegan food

• Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich — available at most locations.
• Vegan Wrap — usually falafel or roasted vegetable based, rotates seasonally.
• Dark Chocolate and Oat Cookies — check availability.
• Fruit and nut pots — always vegan.

Watch out for

• Syrups — most Starbucks syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut) are vegan. The whipped cream is dairy though, so always say “no whip.”
• Chocolate shavings — the standard ones contain dairy. Ask for cocoa powder instead.
• Frappuccinos — can be made vegan with plant milk and no whipped cream, but check the base mix.

Which is better for vegans?

Costa edges ahead because of no plant milk surcharge, a slightly wider vegan food range, and the Lotus Biscoff Cake. Starbucks has better seasonal vegan drinks but the extra charge for plant milk adds up. Both are solid options for a quick vegan coffee and snack on the high street.