Greggs beats major coffee chains on price of hot drinks

Greggs has triumphed over the UK’s major coffee chains when it comes to the price of hot drinks, according to recent research.

The survey, conducted by Vouchers4real, calculated the average cost of six popular hot drinks at five of the UK’s major coffee outlets to find out which is the cheapest. The outlets were Caffè Nero, Costa, Greggs, Pret A Manger, and Starbucks.

Pricing data was taken from delivery service Uber Eats for 82 UK towns and cities to see how much the five businesses charge for a tea, americano, cappuccino, hot chocolate, mocha, and latte. The average price of a hot drink and the average price of each type of drink was then calculated.

The research found that the average price of a hot drink at food-to-go giant Greggs was £2.22 – 42% cheaper than the closest competitor, Caffè Nero, and nearly half the price (48% cheaper) than the most expensive which was Starbucks with an average price per hot drink of £4.28.

Looking at the breakdown of the individual drinks, Greggs was cheapest across the board while Starbucks was the most expensive. However, there was variance between the other companies. For example, after Greggs, tea was on average cheaper at Costa while Pret A Manger claimed the cheapest hot chocolate and mocha, and Caffè Nero served the cheapest americano, cappuccino, and latte (see table below).

“Coffee and other hot drinks are a popular indulgence during the winter, but the cost can add up quickly. Finding out which coffee shop chain offers the cheapest option helps budget-conscious consumers enjoy the seasonal experience without overspending,” a spokesperson for Vouchers4real commented.

“People may be inclined to buy their hot drinks from a particular chain due to taste preference, habit, or familiarity with their favourites. Seeing price differences could challenge these habits if, for example, a favourite chain is significantly pricier than alternatives,” they added.

Coffee is becoming an increasingly competitive marketplace as businesses explore ways to improve loyalty among their customers. Pret, for example, has a service called Club Pret in which subscribers currently receive 50% off five barista made hot drinks a day for a monthly fee of £5 (rising to £10 from 31 March 2025). London-based chain Yolk has also recently introduced a drink subscription service which offers users a choice of benefits for three tiered price points. The PremierBrew option, which is the most expensive, costs £40 per month and offers users three barista made drinks a day.