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Costa Coffee vs Caffe Nero: food hygiene compared

Of the branches on record, Costa Coffee has the higher share of 5-star (Very Good) ratings — 95% versus 72.7% for Caffe Nero, a 22.3-point gap. This ranks the FSA sample GeraEats holds, not every outlet.

Side by side (June 2026)

FSA food-hygiene comparison of Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero branches on record
MeasureCosta CoffeeCaffe Nero
Branches on recordThe FSA sample GeraEats holds — not the full national estate4114
Rated 5 (Very Good)Share of RATED branches with the top FSA rating38 (95%)8 (72.7%)
Rated 2 or below"Improvement necessary" — lower is better2 (5%)3 (27.3%)
Mean ratingAverage across rated branches on record4.83 / 54.00 / 5
Local authorities coveredDistinct councils the sampled branches span3714

Percentages are of RATED branches on record. The FSA directory samples the highest- and lowest-rated premises per local authority, so these figures describe the sample GeraEats holds, not a representative national average. Check any specific branch at ratings.food.gov.uk.

Costa Coffee

41 branches on record, 95% rated 5 (Very Good), mean 4.83/5.

Full Costa Coffee hygiene ratings →

Caffe Nero

14 branches on record, 72.7% rated 5 (Very Good), mean 4.00/5.

Full Caffe Nero hygiene ratings →

Frequently asked questions

Is Costa Coffee or Caffe Nero cleaner?

Across the FSA branches GeraEats holds, Costa Coffee has the higher share of 5-star (Very Good) ratings: 95% of 40 rated branches versus 72.7% of 11 for Caffe Nero. This is a sample, not every UK outlet — always check a specific branch on the FSA site before you order.

What does the food hygiene rating mean?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) rates premises 0 (urgent improvement necessary) to 5 (very good) based on food handling, the condition of the premises, and food safety management at inspection. It reflects hygiene standards on the day of inspection, not food quality or taste.

How many Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero branches did you check?

This comparison covers 41 Costa Coffee branches and 14 Caffe Nero branches on record at GeraEats (June 2026), across 37 and 14 UK local authorities respectively. The FSA directory samples the highest- and lowest-rated premises per area, so this is a sample rather than the full national estate.

Where does this data come from?

Every rating is a real FSA Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) record from ratings.food.gov.uk, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. No rating is modelled or invented.

Check any specific outlet

Ratings vary branch to branch. Look up the exact premises before you order.

Related comparisons

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Food hygiene ratings are sourced from the Food Standards Agency at ratings.food.gov.uk. Ratings reflect the most recent inspection on record and may have changed since publication.