Low FODMAP at Costa Coffee - Complete Ordering Guide
Complete guide to ordering low FODMAP at Costa Coffee UK. Safe drink options, milk alternatives, and the limited food choices available.
✓ Safe Items to Order
| Item | Notes | Modifications |
|---|---|---|
| Americano | Black or with lactose-free milk | — |
| Espresso | Plain espresso shots | — |
| Flat White | With lactose-free or almond milk | Request dairy alternative |
| Cappuccino | With lactose-free or almond milk | Request dairy alternative |
| Black Tea | English Breakfast, Earl Grey | No milk or dairy alternative |
| Green Tea | Plain green tea | — |
| Herbal Teas | Mint, chamomile | Check for added ingredients |
| Some Gluten-Free Cakes | Check specific ingredients | GF brownies may be available |
✗ Items to Avoid
- • Regular milk drinks (lactose)
- • Oat milk drinks (cross-contamination risk with steaming wand)
- • Most sandwiches (wheat bread)
- • Most wraps (wheat tortillas)
- • Croissants and pastries (wheat, butter)
- • Toasties (wheat bread)
- • Soup (typically contains onion)
- • Items with honey (large amounts)
- • Apple juice based drinks
Example Orders
Safe Coffee Order
- ✓ Flat white with lactose-free milk
Tip: Costa offers several milk alternatives
Tea Time
- ✓ English Breakfast tea
- ✓ Almond milk on the side
Tip: Add milk yourself to control amount
Light Snack
- ✓ Americano (black)
- ✓ Gluten-free brownie (if available)
Tip: Check GF brownie ingredients for FODMAP triggers
Quick Summary
Costa Coffee is best used as a drink stop for FODMAP dieters. Their coffee and tea options work well with dairy alternatives, but food options are very limited.
Best bets: Coffee/tea with lactose-free or almond milk
Always avoid: Regular milk drinks, most food items
Costa’s Milk Alternatives
Costa offers several non-dairy milks:
| Milk | FODMAP Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose-Free | ✅ Best choice | Real milk taste, no lactose |
| Almond Milk | ✅ Safe | Low FODMAP |
| Coconut Milk | ✅ Safe | In normal coffee amounts |
| Oat Milk | ⚠️ Caution | Cross-contamination from steaming wand |
| Soy Milk | ⚠️ Check | Some tolerate, others don’t |
Important: Costa uses the same steaming wand for ALL milks, including oat milk. This means potential cross-contamination for those with gluten sensitivity.
Safe Drink Options
Coffee
| Drink | How to Order | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Americano | Black or with lactose-free | Safest option |
| Espresso | Plain | No milk |
| Flat White | ”With lactose-free milk please” | Good option |
| Latte | ”With almond milk please” | Safe |
| Cappuccino | ”With lactose-free milk please” | Safe |
Tea
| Tea | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English Breakfast | ✅ Safe | No milk or with alternative |
| Earl Grey | ✅ Safe | No milk or with alternative |
| Green Tea | ✅ Safe | Plain |
| Peppermint | ✅ Safe | Plain herbal |
| Chamomile | ✅ Safe | Plain herbal |
Cold Drinks
| Drink | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iced Americano | ✅ Safe | Black or with alt-milk |
| Iced Latte | ✅ Safe | With lactose-free/almond |
| Water | ✅ Safe | Always safe |
| Orange Juice | ⚠️ Moderate | Small amount only (fructose) |
| Apple Juice | ❌ Avoid | High fructose |
Food Options - Very Limited
Costa’s food is mostly problematic:
What to Avoid
- Sandwiches - Wheat bread, often contain onion
- Wraps - Wheat tortillas
- Toasties - Wheat bread, cheese (lactose)
- Croissants - Wheat flour, butter
- Pastries - Wheat flour
- Soup - Typically contains onion
Potentially Safe
Some Costa locations have:
- Gluten-free brownies - Check ingredients for high FODMAP items
- Fresh fruit - Choose FODMAP-friendly options
- Some protein pots - Check what’s available
Always check the ingredients even on GF items - gluten-free doesn’t mean FODMAP-free.
Cross-Contamination Warning
Costa’s allergen guide states they cannot guarantee products are allergen-free. Key concerns:
- Shared steaming wand for all milks
- Shared preparation areas for food
- Same display cases for all items
If you have severe sensitivities, mention this when ordering.
How to Order
For a safe coffee:
“Can I have a medium flat white with lactose-free milk please?”
Or:
“Americano with a splash of almond milk, please.”
For food questions:
“Do you have any gluten-free options? And can I see the ingredients?”
Costa vs Other Coffee Shops
For FODMAP dieters, Costa compares favorably:
| Chain | Drink Options | Food Options |
|---|---|---|
| Costa | Good (alt-milks) | Limited |
| Starbucks | Good (alt-milks) | Limited |
| Pret | Good (alt-milks) | Slightly better |
| Greggs | Basic | Very limited |
Allergen Information
Costa provides detailed allergen information:
- In-store: Leaflets and posters
- Online: PDF guides on their website
- App: Digital allergen information
Their guide covers October 2025 - January 2026 and uses a clear system:
- “Yes” = allergen present
- “C” = cross-contamination risk
- “No” = allergen not present
Visit Costa’s nutrition page for details.
Similar Restaurant Guides
Looking for more UK options?
- Pret A Manger - Similar coffee, slightly more food
- Greggs - Coffee only realistically
- Nando’s UK - For actual meals
Last verified: January 2025. Menu items and ingredients can change.