The move marks the fifth time Costa Coffee has increased staff pay since April 2021 | Photo credit: Costa Coffee

Costa Coffee is investing £15m ($18.8m) to increase pay for more than 15,000 employees at 1,500 company-owned stores in the UK.
 

Effective 1 April 2024, the starting national pay rate for Costa Coffee baristas will increase from £10.70 ($13.44) per hour to £12 ($15.07) – £0.56 ($0.70) above the National Living Wage.  
 

Hourly pay for more experienced ‘Barista Maestros’ will rise an average of 8% to at least £12.33 ($15.48) – or £12.83 ($16.11) on completion of role-specific training.  

Starting hourly pay for staff in central London will be £13 ($16.32) or £13.33 ($16.74) for Barista Maestros – with the latter above the £13.15 ($16.51) London Living Wage.'

The move follows an average 6.7% pay rise for Costa Coffee baristas introduced in March 2023 and marks the fifth time the coffee chain has increased staff pay since April 2021. 

“We are pleased to have had a strong 2023 that was powered by our expert baristas, who remain critical to our ongoing success. We are delighted to announce this latest investment in our team members to thank them for the passion and skill they display each and every day,” said Nick Orrin, Managing Director, Costa Coffee UK & Ireland. 

Founded in London in 1971, Costa Coffee is the UK’s largest branded coffee chain with 2,677 company-owned and franchised stores, as well as 14,200 Costa Express self-serve coffee machines.  

The Coca-Cola-owned coffee chain also operates over 1,400 outlets and 1,600 Costa Express units across nearly 50 international markets.