New research has found that Caffe Nero sells the cheapest coffee compared to rival chains Starbucks and Costa Coffee but that all three are still more expensive than independent operators.
A study by Which? found that a medium sized cappuccino costs £1.80 at Caffe Nero, compared to £2.27 at Costa and £2.29 at Starbucks.
The study of 45 coffee shops revealed that despite the popularity of the “big three”, the average price of a cappuccino at an independent coffee shop is £1.48, leading to a saving of £126 if people buy coffee three times a week from an independent as opposed to a chain.
The analysis also highlighted that the fat content of a coffee can vary widely from one establishment to another, with Starbuck’s large white chocolate mocha with whip containing 628 calories, compared with Café Nero’s 27 calories cappuccino with skimmed milk.
An online poll of 2,637 Which? members conducted at the end of last year found that two thirds had visited a coffee shop during the past month, with a fifth popping in at least once a week.
The report said: “With most of you picking a café for its convenience, it’s not surprising that the ‘big three’ are the most popular destinations.
“But, although market leaders Starbucks and Costa might have the most branches, bigger is not necessarily better.”
