We're committed to uplifting the communities we're a part of and acting on the issues that matter most to them.
A Costa coffee is more than a drink, it’s a connection. We’re proud to be part of diverse, unique communities all around the world. We roll up our sleeves and get stuck into supporting local causes, working hard to drive change for the better.
Our stores and team members are at the heart of communities across the UK. This gives us the opportunity to make a real difference that goes way beyond our doors.
In 2022, the Costa Foundation celebrated building 100 schools, changing the life stories of 100,000 children.
We’ll aim to raise £2m for the Costa Foundation each year, across our global markets.
We’ll double our impact on society through meaningful engagement with our local communities.
Through the power of education our charity, the Costa Foundation, aims to eradicate poverty in coffee-growing communities. With your help a donation today can change a child's life and make a huge difference to the communities they're a part of. Learn about how we make a difference here.
In 2014, we set up a nationwide Community Programme to enable our teams to support the communities we serve. Our nationwide activities focus on social themes that our customers tell us they care about such as litter, loneliness and food waste, and we also encourage our teams to plan their own activities to meet the needs of their specific communities.
Every store has its own Community Noticeboard where customers and members of the public can put up news and information about activities that are happening in their local area. Plus, with Costa Coffee outlets in over 30 countries around the world, we also support our international stores in similar ways.
By making the most of our space in-store and drawing on the enthusiasm of our amazing teams, we put huge effort into bringing people together to strengthen the communities we are part of.
In celebration of our 50th Birthday in 2021, we created the Costa Coffee Community Grant.
We put out a call to our team members to nominate the charities and groups in their areas that were making a huge difference in their communities. We then provided £50,000 in direct grants to 100 different organisations across the country. Since then, we have continued to distribute this grant on an annual basis with our 2023 grant supporting a wide range of charities such as Smartworks, hospitals and sports teams.
In August 2018, we introduced the Chatty Café Scheme across 300 national stores, becoming the first major coffee chain to do so. The scheme, initiated by Alex Hoskyn, addresses the issue of loneliness in the UK.
Our stores designate a 'Chatter and Natter' table marked with a sign at specific times each week. Those sitting there signal their openness to chat with someone new. Communities have embraced this initiative, turning tables into hubs for various activities like homework clubs, parent and baby groups, police drop-ins, and craft clubs.
Our research indicates that 59% of people have fewer face-to-face chats compared to a decade ago, 4% rarely have any face-to-face conversations, and 75% would prefer more in-person interactions.
As the Nation’s Favourite* Coffee shop, we're committed to operating responsibly and respecting the planet. Alongside continuous efforts to reduce waste and explore recycling innovations, we recognise the need to address the issue of litter in our local communities. Over the last few years we have partnered with a range of litter prevention organisations, including Keep Britain Tidy, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Scotland Beautiful, encouraging responsible disposal of packaging, cup recycling, and the use of reusable alternatives.
We're sourcing the coffee we use sustainably and in a way which has a positive impact on nature and the people who grow it.
**The open text question “What is your favourite branded coffee shop chain?” was asked to an independent panel of over 5,000 UK coffee shop consumers with 51.6% answering Costa Coffee. See here for full terms and conditions.
