Our history

London, born and mixed since 1971

We have more than 45 years of experience in making the best quality coffee. From revolutionary methods to unforgettable successes that make our history as unique as the taste of our coffee.

But first, let's start with what every good story should look like. First.

The Costa Coffee story began in 1971 when Sergio and Bruno arrived in London with a burning desire to make great tasting coffee part of everyday life. By installing a small roaster on Fenchurch Street, they committed to making the best quality coffee.

It was here that the Costa brothers blindly tasted 112 coffee variations before tasting one good enough to be our Signature Blend. They called it 'Mocha Italia' and it remains our exclusive blend to this day.

Moving on up

In 1978, as the demand for their coffee grew, so did their facilities, moving to South London, where the brothers transformed a large parcel of grassland into a new grill.

The new site was located on Old Paradise Street, Lambeth, where the Costa Coffee Steakhouse remained until 2017.

From here, Sergio and Bruno produced and distributed their exclusive mix to some of the most appreciated establishments in the city.

From strength to strength

In 1981, the brothers opened their first Costa Coffee store on Vauxhall Bridge Road.

It was in this innovative store that the brothers became the first coffee providers in London to serve Espresso and create cappuccino in porcelain cups so that customers could experience coffee in the best way.

Soon, stores began opening in prestigious London locations, becoming destinations for fashionable Londoners.