Coffee Service

Costa Express upgrades more than 13K coffee machines

Image courtesy Costa Coffee

October 16, 2026 | Howard Horn, president of Advanced Kiosks

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Costa Express has completed upgrades to more than 13,000 self-service coffee machines across the U.K., aiming to improve drink quality, temperature, cup-fill consistency and service speed.

The program includes recipe changes, software updates and equipment enhancements informed by customer feedback and machine performance data, according to a press release.

Changes include revised recipes for popular drinks such as flat whites, adjustments to serving temperatures and fill levels, and shorter dispensing times for selected beverages. Costa Express said earlier phases improved customer satisfaction and drink quality scores while increasing flat white sales, but it did not disclose investment costs or specific performance figures.

The company said the improvements are intended to encourage repeat purchases and support retail partners in convenience, travel and food-to-go locations. Separately, 83.2% of 2,553 consumers named Costa Express when asked their favorite premium vending or self-service machine brand in Allegra's Coffee At Work Report UK 2026, according to survey details provided by Costa.