Costa Coffee Pay £13.12: What Baristas Earn in 2026
• July 27, 2026
Quick answer: Does Costa Coffee pay £13.12 an hour?
Yes. Costa Coffee raised its starting hourly rate for baristas in UK company-owned stores from £12.60 to £13.12 on 1 April 2026. Baristas working in central London receive £14.12 an hour.
Costa said the 4.1% increase formed part of a £7 million investment affecting more than 16,000 team members. The company also confirmed that it does not use age-related pay bands, meaning eligible team members and new starters in the affected stores receive the same starting rate regardless of age.
| Pay detail | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Standard barista starting pay | £13.12 an hour |
| Central London barista pay | £14.12 an hour |
| Standard Barista Maestro pay | £13.75 an hour |
| Central London Barista Maestro pay | £14.75 an hour |
| Effective date | 1 April 2026 |
The announced rates apply specifically to employees working in Costa Coffee’s UK company-owned stores. Pay at franchised, concession or partner-operated outlets may be set by a different legal employer.
Key Takeaways:
- Costa Coffee’s standard starting pay for baristas is £13.12 an hour
- Central London baristas receive £14.12 an hour
- The new rates took effect on 1 April 2026
- Costa’s announcement covered more than 16,000 employees in UK company-owned stores
- Costa does not operate age-related pay bands for the affected team members
- Barista Maestros receive £13.75 an hour, or £14.75 in central London
- The standard £13.12 rate is 41p above the 2026 National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over
- Actual weekly and annual earnings depend on contracted hours, overtime, unpaid leave and location
What Changed in Costa Coffee’s 2026 Pay Rise?
Costa increased its standard barista rate by 52p an hour, moving it from £12.60 to £13.12. This represents a rise of approximately 4.1%.
The company described the increase as its seventh pay rise for store team members since 2021. The £7 million investment applies to more than 16,000 workers across approximately 1,500 company-owned UK stores.
Costa announced the increase in February 2026, but the higher rate did not begin until 1 April 2026. Articles published before that date may therefore say that the rise “will” take place. As of July 2026, the rate is already in effect.
Costa Coffee Pay Rates at a Glance
| Role | Previous reported rate | Rate from 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard barista | £12.60 | £13.12 |
| Central London barista | £13.60 | £14.12 |
| Barista Maestro | £12.93–£13.43 | £13.75 |
| Central London Barista Maestro | Up to £14.43 | £14.75 |
Barista Maestros are more experienced team members who may lead shifts and support the training of other baristas. Their higher rate should not be confused with the standard starting rate for an ordinary barista position.
Costa Coffee store managers received a separate overall pay increase of 3%, although individual managerial salaries may vary according to the position, store and location.
Who Receives Costa Coffee’s £13.12 Pay Rate?
Costa’s announcement says the £13.12 starting rate applies to team members in its UK company-owned stores.
The wording matters because not every shop displaying the Costa Coffee name is necessarily operated directly by Costa. Some outlets may be run by franchisees, transport operators, hospitals, universities, hotels, service stations or other commercial partners.
Costa’s national announcement does not establish that every independently operated Costa outlet must use the same pay rates.
Before accepting a position, applicants should check:
- the name of the legal employer
- the exact hourly rate in the employment contract
- whether the role is based in a company-owned or partner-operated outlet
- whether the higher location rate applies
- the number of guaranteed weekly hours
- whether breaks and training time are paid
- whether overtime or night work attracts additional pay
The job title alone is not enough to confirm the applicable rate.
Does Costa Coffee Pay Younger Workers £13.12?
Costa said it does not operate age-related pay banding for the team members covered by its 2026 announcement. It stated that all affected team members and new starters benefit from the increase.
This means a qualifying younger barista in a company-owned store may receive the same £13.12 starting rate as an older colleague doing the same role, rather than being placed on the lower statutory rate available for their age group.
For comparison, the statutory UK minimum rates from 1 April 2026 are:
| Worker category | Statutory minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Age 21 and over | £12.71 |
| Age 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| Age 16 to 17 | £8.00 |
| Eligible apprentice rate | £8.00 |
These are legal minimums rather than recommended salaries. An employer may choose to pay above them.
How Does £13.12 Compare With the National Living Wage?
The statutory National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over increased to £12.71 an hour on 1 April 2026.
Costa Coffee’s standard £13.12 rate is therefore:
- 41p an hour higher than the statutory rate
- approximately 3.2% above the National Living Wage
- around £15.38 more per week for someone working 37.5 hours
- approximately £799.50 more per year over 52 paid weeks at 37.5 hours a week
These figures refer to gross pay before tax, National Insurance, pension contributions or other deductions.
The statutory National Living Wage should not be confused with the voluntary “real Living Wage” calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. The two use different methods and rates. An employer paying above the statutory minimum is not automatically an accredited Living Wage Employer.
How Much is £13.12 an Hour Per Week, Month and Year?
The amount a Costa barista earns depends mainly on their paid hours. Many hospitality roles are part-time or use changing weekly rotas, so the hourly rate should not be presented as a guaranteed annual salary.
The following estimates assume the worker receives £13.12 for every listed hour and works the same number of paid hours for 52 weeks.
| Paid hours per week | Gross weekly pay | Average gross monthly pay | Gross annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | £131.20 | £568.53 | £6,822.40 |
| 20 hours | £262.40 | £1,137.07 | £13,644.80 |
| 30 hours | £393.60 | £1,705.60 | £20,467.20 |
| 37.5 hours | £492.00 | £2,132.00 | £25,584.00 |
| 40 hours | £524.80 | £2,274.13 | £27,289.60 |
Monthly figures are calculated by dividing estimated annual pay by 12. Multiplying weekly pay by four would understate the average because a year contains slightly more than four weeks per month.
Real-life Pay Example
Consider a barista contracted to work 30 paid hours each week.
At £13.12 an hour, the calculation is:
£13.12 × 30 hours = £393.60 gross per week
Over 52 paid weeks, that would equal approximately:
£393.60 × 52 = £20,467.20 gross per year
The worker’s actual earnings could be lower if their hours vary or they take unpaid leave. Earnings could be higher if they receive paid overtime, a central London rate or promotion to a more senior role.
How much more do baristas receive after the increase?
The standard hourly rate rose by 52p, from £12.60 to £13.12.
For a barista working 37.5 paid hours a week:
| Calculation | Previous rate | New rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly pay | £12.60 | £13.12 |
| Weekly gross pay | £472.50 | £492.00 |
| Annual gross pay over 52 weeks | £24,570.00 | £25,584.00 |
This produces an estimated:
- £19.50 increase per week
- £84.50 average increase per month
- £1,014 increase per year
These figures show the gross difference before deductions and assume the employee works the same 37.5 paid hours every week.
How Much Does Costa Coffee Pay in London?
Costa’s standard central London rate is £14.12 an hour for baristas, which is £1 above the standard national rate.
A central London Barista Maestro receives £14.75 an hour, compared with £13.75 outside central London.
At £14.12 an hour, a barista working 37.5 paid hours each week would earn:
- £529.50 gross per week
- approximately £2,294.50 gross per month
- £27,534 gross over 52 weeks
Applicants should not assume that every store within Greater London qualifies for the central London rate. The job advert or employment contract should identify the applicable location rate.
How Much Could You Earn at Costa Coffee?
Select a role, location and working pattern to estimate your gross weekly, monthly and annual pay.
Estimate Your Gross Pay
The calculation assumes that every selected hour is paid at the applicable hourly rate. It does not deduct tax, National Insurance, pension contributions or unpaid leave.
| Role | Standard UK Rate | Central London Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Barista | £13.12 an hour | £14.12 an hour |
| Barista Maestro | £13.75 an hour | £14.75 an hour |
Test What You Learned
Answer three quick questions to check your understanding of the Costa Coffee pay announcement.
What is a Costa Barista Maestro?
A Barista Maestro is a more experienced store team member who helps lead colleagues and train baristas. The role may include supporting shift operations, maintaining service standards and helping less-experienced employees develop their coffee-making skills.
From 1 April 2026, the standard Barista Maestro rate increased to £13.75 an hour, while the central London rate increased to £14.75.
At £13.75 an hour, someone working 37.5 paid hours a week would earn approximately:
- £515.63 gross per week
- £2,234.38 gross per month
- £26,812.50 gross per year
Promotion to Barista Maestro therefore adds 63p an hour compared with the standard £13.12 barista rate outside central London.
Do All Costa Coffee Stores Pay the Same Amount?
No universal rate can be assumed across every Costa-branded location.
Costa’s announcement expressly refers to its UK company-owned stores. It does not confirm the employment arrangements of every franchise, concession or partner outlet.
A worker serving Costa products inside a motorway service area, cinema, hospital or another retailer may be employed by the organisation operating that location rather than directly by Costa Coffee.
Different rates can also apply because of:
- central London location premiums
- seniority or promotion
- night work
- managerial responsibilities
- local recruitment conditions
- the identity of the legal employer
The safest approach is to use the rate stated in the current vacancy and ensure the same figure appears in the written employment terms.
Misleading Claims About Costa Coffee Pay to Avoid
“Every Costa employee earns £13.12”
This is too broad. £13.12 is the announced starting rate for baristas and affected team members at UK company-owned stores. Senior staff, central London employees and workers employed by partner organisations may have different rates.
“£13.12 is Costa’s London rate”
The announced central London barista rate is £14.12. The £13.12 figure is the standard starting rate outside that qualifying area.
“Costa’s £13.12 pay rise is still coming”
The increase took effect on 1 April 2026. It should now be described in the present or past tense rather than as a future proposal.
“£13.12 guarantees a salary of more than £27,000”
That annual figure would require 40 paid hours every week for 52 weeks. Someone on a 20-hour contract would earn approximately £13,644.80 before deductions, assuming all 20 hours were paid each week.
“Younger Costa workers must receive less”
Costa stated that it does not use age-related pay banding for the workers covered by the announcement. This is separate from the law, which permits different statutory minimum rates according to age and apprenticeship status.
What should applicants check before accepting a Costa job?
Applicants should review the complete vacancy and written contract rather than relying only on the national headline rate.
Check:
- The legal employer: Confirm whether the position is directly with Costa Coffee or another operator.
- The hourly rate: Check whether the advertised figure is fixed or part of a range.
- The location premium: Ask whether the store qualifies for the central London rate.
- Guaranteed hours: A high hourly rate does not guarantee a particular weekly income.
- Paid breaks: Confirm whether break periods count as paid working time.
- Training: Establish whether induction and required training are paid.
- Overtime: Check whether additional hours are paid at the normal rate or a premium.
- Contract type: Identify whether the role is permanent, temporary, fixed-term or based on variable hours.
- Pay-review timing: Ask when the rate is normally reviewed.
- Benefits and eligibility: Confirm when any discounts, pension contributions or other benefits begin.
Conclusion
Costa Coffee’s £13.12 pay rate has applied to baristas in its UK company-owned stores since 1 April 2026. It is 41p above the statutory National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over, while central London baristas receive a higher rate of £14.12.
However, the hourly rate alone does not show how much an employee will take home. Contracted hours, location, role, tax deductions and the identity of the legal employer all affect actual earnings.
Applicants should therefore confirm the rate, guaranteed hours and employer in the individual vacancy and written contract before accepting a position.
Frequently asked questions
Does Costa Coffee currently pay £13.12 an hour?
Yes. The rate took effect on 1 April 2026 for baristas and affected team members in Costa’s UK company-owned stores. Central London baristas receive £14.12.
How much does a Costa barista earn annually?
At £13.12 an hour, a barista working 37.5 paid hours a week for 52 weeks would earn approximately £25,584 gross. Someone working 20 hours a week would earn approximately £13,644.80.
How much does Costa Coffee pay in central London?
Costa announced a central London barista rate of £14.12 an hour and a central London Barista Maestro rate of £14.75.
Does Costa pay the same rate to workers under 21?
Costa said it does not use age-related pay banding for the team members covered by its 2026 increase. Eligible younger workers therefore benefit from the same announced starting rate.
How much does a Costa Barista Maestro earn?
The standard Barista Maestro rate is £13.75 an hour. The central London rate is £14.75.
Is £13.12 above the UK National Living Wage?
Yes. The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 from 1 April 2026, making Costa’s standard rate 41p an hour higher.
Do Costa franchises have to pay £13.12?
Costa’s announcement specifically covered UK company-owned stores. It did not establish a universal pay rate for every franchise or partner-operated outlet.
When did Costa’s new pay rate begin?
The £13.12 rate took effect on 1 April 2026.
