Popular coffee chain faces backlash over charging almost £5 for 'squash and tap water' that's sold as ice tea

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

A Costa Coffee barista has revealed the surprising recipe behind the brand's new drinks line.
Taking to TikTok, UK-based Katrina Corfield shared footage of herself making what appears to be a beverage from the 'Refresher' range.
The brand has two refresher drinks on offer, Dragon Fruit & Guava and Strawberry, Watermelon & Mint, which they describe online as being 'exotic', and including either dragon fruit or strawberry pieces.
However, she claimed that the drink, which she said costs £4.10 at her branch, is simply made of 'squash and water'.
'You're paying £4.10 for squash and water by the way babes,' Katrina wrote in the video.
In the clip, Katrina showed her process of making one of the beverages. The simple recipe involved her pouring a shot of concentrated juice into a cup, adding coloured powder, water, and ice, and shaking it all.
The barista added in the caption, 'Exposing Costa #costacoffee #fyp #sorrynotsorry #coffee.'
Katrina's clip quickly racked up over half a million views, with people taking to the comment section to share their thoughts.
MailOnline has gone to Costa Coffee for comment.
One joked, 'That will be £100 please.' A second simply said, 'Omg,' before adding an annoyed face emoji.
Another wrote, 'I got a pink lemonade the other day. She used tap water! £3.70 for tap water!'
A fourth wrote, 'Proves people will pay above the odds for literally anything they don't have to make themselves.'
But one thought differently, writing, 'And bean water and milk is the same price. It's tasty, who cares.'
It comes after Costa Coffee faced backlash for charging more for drinks at hospital stores compared to those on the high street.
UK branches located in hospitals are reportedly charging up to 20p more for dozens of hot and cold beverages.
The price hike, which has been branded a 'sickness tax' by critics, is said to see multiple beverages cost five per cent more compared to prices at high street stores.
Research conducted by The Sun found that a small latte or cappuccino costs £3.60 in Newcastle's Northumberland Street but £3.80 at nearby hospital, Medivest's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
It wasn't the only place charging different amounts for drinks purchased in a hospital, with the news outlet finding examples from across the country, including in Sheffield, London, and Chichester.
The price differences have sparked outrage, with independent consumer champion, Martyn James, saying, 'It is reprehensible that companies do this while people experience some of the most distressing times in their lives.'
Elsewhere, Dennis Reed from an over 60's campaign group, Silver Voices, said, 'Costa Coffee should be ashamed of itself for putting a tax on illness and injury'.
A Costa Coffee spokesperson told MailOnline, 'We collaborate with various partners across the UK to offer Costa Coffee in different settings, including hospitals.
'Each partner establishes their own pricing, which can result in some Costa Coffee items being priced differently due to the operating costs of those locations.
'We regularly assess pricing with our partners to ensure it remains competitive within the relevant retail environment, while maintaining a focus on quality and value.'
It comes after Pret a Manger announced the launch of new dine-in restaurants, complete with a refreshed menu and porcelain crockery in a bid to draw in hybrid workers.
Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on Katrina's clip - and opinions were mixed on the matter
The British sandwich giant will test the shop format in towns that offer fewer 'grab-and-go' options as it aims to keep customers in store for longer.
Croque monsieur and a caprese melt are among the made to order food items on offer, and the company's managing director believes there could be more than 100 dine-in stores opening in the future.
Unlike present outlets, there will only be one 'ready-to-go' refrigerated shelf as employees prepare fresh baguettes over the course of the day.
Two shops are set to be trialled in the immediate future - at Broughty Ferry near Dundee and Maidenhead in Berkshire.
The stores will be complete with their own play area for children.
Clare Clough, Pret's Managing Director for UK & Europe, said working patterns had changed since the pandemic 'and that probably is here to stay'.
She added: 'The hybrid working model gives us more confidence in more towns.'
Both trial shops incorporate a large 'community table', which Pret says could be used by local groups such as mothers or knitting clubs.
Ms Clough said: 'The white space opportunity for the brand is big and therefore we know we have to adapt the model ever so slightly.'
She explained the typically grab-and-go element to Pret was less important to customers in smaller towns than busy city destinations.
More than 80 per cent of the chain's store openings since January 2023 have been outside London.
Ms Clough has said the new shop format 'will become a significant portion of the estate in the future' - estimating there could be more than 100.
She added the list of target areas was 'long' and 'there are many regional towns around the UK where we're not, but we'd love to be in'.
Pret currently operates 500 shops in the UK and Ireland in addition to 66 in the US, 100 in Europe and another 66 across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.