The flavoured Costa that still tastes of coffee: the salted caramel is bold and buttery, but the salt stops it cloying the way the pure sweet Mocha can, and the coffee backbone is a notch stronger here, so it reads as a treat latte rather than a liquid pudding. Stable foam, silky from the skimmed milk, made in seconds with no machine. The pick of the sweet Costa sachets if you want indulgence without losing the coffee entirely; cheaper than the cafe and a decent cosy evening or office break upgrade.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £4.00 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g is the salt balanced caramel latte sachet in the Costa at home range, built around Costa Mocha Italia coffee with a properly balanced sweet salt caramel character. How this carton performs, what each cup actually costs versus the cafe drink, and why this is the afternoon treat variant for daily Costa drinkers who want the cafe cup at home for a fraction of the price.
The blend is a powdered Costa coffee + salted caramel latte mix built on Costa Mocha Italia coffee for the proper coffee bite, salted caramel flavouring for the sweet salt top note, skimmed milk powder for cafe style cup body, sugar, and foam aid emulsifiers. One sachet (17g) into a 250ml mug, top with 200ml hot water, stir for ten seconds, and you get the cafe grade salted caramel latte in 30 seconds.
The carton holds 6 single serve sachets at 102g total, working out at approximately £0.66 per cup. A clear sixth of what Costa charges at the counter for the same drink; portion control is automatic with each sachet being one cup. The outer carton is FSC certified card and fully kerbside recyclable; sachets foil pouch construction for freshness, around 12 months unopened shelf life in a cool dry cupboard.
Texture is creamy with the salt balanced caramel character on top, less indulgent than Millionaires Mocha (no chocolate) but sweeter than Creamy Cappuccino because of the added caramel flavouring. The salt cuts the caramel sweetness, preventing the cup from being syrupy sweet, and making this the most versatile of the flavoured Costa latte sachets. Suitable for vegetarians, contains dairy from the milk powder.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
The drink pours a deep coffee caramel brown colour with a creamy foam head. Aroma off the cup is caramel first, then the Costa Mocha Italia coffee underneath, with a faint salt note showing up when held over the cup longer. The salt is subtle rather than aggressive, proper salted caramel rather than salty caramel, and it sits at the back of the nose rather than the front.
Mouthfeel is creamy with a salt balanced sweet finish, sitting between the standard Creamy Cappuccino (less sweet, no caramel) and the Millionaires Mocha (sweeter, chocolate forward). The salt is what separates this from a plain caramel latte, it cuts the sugar perception and gives the cup a balanced finish rather than a cloying sweet residue.
Flavour progression is caramel coffee salt. Opening is sweet warming caramel. Mid palate brings the Costa Mocha Italia coffee bitterness rising through the caramel, with the milk powder cream coating the tongue. Finish is the salt note pulling everything back into balance, the cup never crosses into syrupy sweet because the salt always brings it home. The cafe replica gets the layering right.
Aftertaste is balanced caramel coffee with a salt close. Sugar content is medium high (~12g per cup), lower than Millionaires Mocha (14g) but higher than Creamy Cappuccino (9g). The cup sits in the dessert leaning daily cup territory, sweeter than morning cappuccino but not as indulgent as evening mocha. Versatile across the day.
Storage tip: keep the sachets in their carton in a cool dry cupboard. Each sachet is single serving. Foil pouch keeps the caramel aromatics sealed for around 12 months unopened. Best made with hot water; works well with hot milk for the indulgent variant. Optional pinch of sea salt + caramel sauce drizzle on top for cafe grade presentation.
Four dimension profile
Salted Caramel5/5
Sweet caramel with proper salt balance; the most balanced flavoured cup in the Costa range.
Creamy Body4/5
Milk powder + caramel give a satisfying mouthfeel without crossing into Millionaires Mocha thickness.
Coffee Bite3/5
Costa Mocha Italia coffee at the back; balanced by caramel + salt for a daily cup profile.
Caffeine Lift3/5
~70-90mg caffeine per cup from real Costa coffee; daytime drinking.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About CostaEST. 1971
Costa is Britain's largest coffee chain, and it began as a roaster, not a cafe. Brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa started roasting in London in 1971, supplying caterers with their slow roasted Mocha Italia blend before opening their own stores. That blend, roasted more slowly than the industrial norm to drive off the sharp notes and leave a rounder body, is still the backbone of the cup. The chain became the dominant force in British coffee retail and was acquired by The Coca Cola Company in 2019, which put its name on supermarket shelves at serious scale.
The at home range covers the cafe formats people order by reflex, cappuccino, latte, flat white, mocha and the flavoured sachets, plus straight roast and ground. Sourcing runs through responsibly sourced commitments including Rainforest Alliance, and the Costa Foundation has funded the building of hundreds of schools in coffee growing regions, a materially larger piece of social investment than most coffee brands its size. For our shelf Costa is the brand to reach for when a customer wants the familiar British high street cup at home without an espresso machine. The sachets are genuinely convenient, the flavour tracks the cafe rather than disappointing against it, and the Mocha Italia character gives them fuller body than most instant format rivals. It is comfort coffee, engineered and consistent, and the at home range tastes like the brand people already chose rather than a budget echo of it.
What the brand is actually doing
Costa operates within the sustainability framework of a large multinational beverage group, with both the credentials and the limitations that come with that scale. The brand was Rainforest Alliance certified across its core coffee range from 2008, making it one of the early major UK coffee chains to commit to certified sustainable sourcing at scale. Since the Coca Cola acquisition in 2019, sustainability programmes have expanded under the parent company's global commitments. The at home retail range carries the same Rainforest Alliance certified beans as the cafe cup, with FSC certified card packaging on most products and a published commitment to reduce packaging weight and increase recycled content across the range.
Curator says, Lee on Costa
"The flavoured Costa that still tastes of coffee: the salted caramel is bold and buttery, but the salt stops it cloying the way the pure sweet Mocha can, and the coffee backbone is a notch stronger here, so it reads as a treat latte rather than a liquid pudding. Stable foam, silky from the skimmed milk, made in seconds with no machine. The pick of the sweet Costa sachets if you want indulgence without losing the coffee entirely; cheaper than the cafe and a decent cosy evening or office break upgrade."
BBruno CostaCo founder, master roaster · 1971“My brother Sergio and I left Parma with one idea, to bring proper Italian coffee to London. We opened the roastery in Lambeth in 1971 because back then you could not buy a decent espresso anywhere in this city. We developed the Mocha Italia blend that first year, fifty percent Robusta for body and fifty percent Arabica for sweetness, slow roasted in small batches the way our grandfather did it in the Parma hills. Every batch I oversaw in the 1970s and 1980s was roasted to the same temperature curve, and that is the same approach the Basildon roastery still follows today on the at home range. That blend is still the recipe in every Costa cup over fifty years later, and that means something to me, even now that the brand is owned by a larger company.”
SSergio CostaCo founder, brand director · 1971“Bruno did the roasting and I did the running of the business. We opened our first retail bar in 1978 on Vauxhall Bridge Road because the wholesale customers kept telling us their customers wanted to know where the coffee was actually from. Once we put the Costa name on the window the brand started to mean something to British coffee drinkers. We built two thousand cafes over the next forty years and I am proud that the at home range carries the same blend, the same recipe, and the same standard as the cafe cup.”
Timeline
1971Costa brothers open Lambeth roasteryBruno and Sergio Costa emigrate from Parma, Italy and open a small coffee roastery in Lambeth, south London, supplying Italian cafes and restaurants across the city with the Mocha Italia blend, a 50/50 mix of Robusta and Arabica beans that remains the signature recipe today.
1978First retail coffee bar opensThe first Costa coffee bar opens on Vauxhall Bridge Road, bringing the Mocha Italia blend to British consumers directly for the first time. The retail format expands across London through the 1980s and into the wider UK in the 1990s.
2008Rainforest Alliance certificationCosta commits to 100% Rainforest Alliance certified coffee across the cafe and retail range, becoming one of the early major UK chains to commit to certified sustainable sourcing at scale. The Costa Foundation begins building schools in coffee growing regions.
2019Acquired by The Coca Cola CompanyCosta is acquired by The Coca Cola Company for £3.9 billion, becoming the largest coffee acquisition in UK history. Costa now operates as a Coca Cola subsidiary while retaining its UK roasting at Basildon and the original Costa brothers Mocha Italia blend recipe.
The outer layer is aromatic: a caffeine free infusion of costa salted caramel latte. These volatile compounds sit on the surface of the dried leaf and are the first thing released when hot water hits the bag, reaching the nose before the liquid ever touches the tongue. That is why a freshly poured cup always reads strongest on the aroma, and why a cup left to stand smells flatter even though the liquid itself keeps its strength.
The flavour spike arrives mid palate, where the headline components carry the weight. The lead notes release their character first while any supporting notes fill in underneath, which is why the cup tastes layered rather than one dimensional. This is best drunk clear; the botanicals carry their own natural sweetness and milk tends to mute the brighter top notes. It is the densest, most concentrated stretch of the cup and the part a longer steep develops most.
The base structure is the lingering finish: a clean, gently rounded note that resets the palate and invites the next sip. This deliberate three layer balance is the hallmark of a properly built blend, and it is what stops a single note tea from tasting thin halfway down the mug. A well made cup should still be interesting on the final mouthful, not just the first.
Getting it right in the cup. Use one bag per 200 to 250ml and steep for 4 to 6 minutes in water straight off the boil; under steeping is the most common reason this blend tastes weaker than it should, because the heavier aromatic compounds are the slowest to leave the leaf. Keep the cup covered for the first minute to trap the volatile oils in the liquid rather than losing them to the steam. Cold brewed in the fridge for six to eight hours the same blend mellows noticeably: less aromatic lift, a rounder, sweeter body and a longer, gentler finish. Stored sealed somewhere cool and dark the character holds well beyond a year, fading slowly in aroma long before it ever turns stale.
How water and temperature change it. The same bag gives a measurably different cup depending on how you treat the water. Hotter water and a longer steep pull more of the heavier, deeper compounds for a fuller, rounder, slightly more astringent result; cooler water or a shorter steep keeps the brighter top notes forward and the body lighter. Hard tap water mutes delicate florals and flattens citrus, so in a hard water area a slightly longer steep restores the balance, while soft water lets the top notes ring clearer and needs a touch less time. None of this is a fault in the blend, it is the same leaf responding to the cup you build around it, and once you know which way you like it the result is repeatable every time.
Ingredients & pack
Ingredient
Proportion
What it brings
Coffee
present
Signature instant and ground blend from Rainforest Alliance regions
Dairy Powders
present
Provides a creamy body and stable froth structure from the United Kingdom and Europe
Natural Flavouring
present
Authentic salted caramel aromatic profile from global specialists
Sweeteners
present
Sugar and Glucose for body and sweetness from EU and Non EU sources
Pack: Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g; caffeine free infusion. Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Globally sourced, blended and packed to brand specification.
Sourcing & blend. Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g is put together by Costa, held to a fixed quality and purity specification. Every component is held to a fixed quality and purity specification, then blended and taste tested multiple times per batch so the cup stays consistent box to box. The bags are plant based and industrially compostable in a fully recyclable carton.
What's in Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g, and what isn't:
In: a caffeine free infusion of costa salted caramel latte, with nothing in the bag but the listed components and any infusion base.
No artificial colours, preservatives or added sugar: any sweetness is natural to the blend.
Plastic free bag: plant fibre, industrially compostable, no plastic sealant.
Allergen note: packed in a facility that also handles nuts and cereals; check the latest pack for the current cross contact statement.
Nutrition per cup
Nutrient
Per cup
% RI
Energy
4 kJ / 1 kcal
<1%
Fat
0g
0%
Carbohydrate
0.2g
<1%
of which sugars
0g
0%
Protein
0.2g
<1%
Salt
0g
0%
Caffeine
60-100 mg
n/a
Per 200ml cup, no milk, no sugar.
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6
100mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: 60-100 mg per 200ml cup.
Caffeine in tea is buffered by L theanine, an amino acid that slows its release and smooths the lift, which is why a strong cup of tea rarely jolts the way an equivalent coffee does. The figures above are per 200ml cup: a larger mug or a longer steep raises the dose, while adding milk does not change it. Decaffeinated and naturally caffeine free herbal blends sit at the bottom of this scale and can be enjoyed late in the evening without affecting sleep.
Allergens, dietary & safety
🌱VeganNo animal derived ingredients.🌾Gluten freeNaturally gluten free.⚡Caffeine60-100 mg per 200ml cup.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenCaffeinated, served with care.
Manufactured in a facility that handles multiple tea types. Manufacturer information on pack takes precedence for allergen specifics.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the ingredients, nutrition and science of Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g
The questions buyers ask most. If yours isn't here, ask us directly. We reply within 4 hours, Monday to Friday.
Curated from real customer messages
🌱
How do I make Costa Salted Caramel Latte? Most asked+
Empty one sachet (17g) into a 250ml mug, top with 200ml just off boil water, stir vigorously for ten seconds until fully dissolved. For an indulgent version: use hot milk instead of water and top with whipped cream + a pinch of sea salt + caramel sauce drizzle for the proper cafe presentation.
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What's in the sachet? +
Skimmed milk powder, sugar, Costa Mocha Italia coffee (50/50 Robusta + Arabica), caramel flavouring, salt (for the salted caramel balance), glucose syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil (foam aid), and emulsifiers/stabilisers. Suitable for vegetarians, contains dairy.
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Is it caffeinated? +
Yes, real Costa Mocha Italia coffee delivering approximately 70-90mg caffeine per cup. Roughly equivalent to a standard cup of brewed coffee. Suitable for daytime drinking; not recommended late evening.
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Is it vegan? +
No, contains skimmed milk powder. Suitable for vegetarians. For a vegan salted caramel latte, brew Costa instant coffee with hot oat milk and add separately a vegan caramel syrup + pinch of sea salt.
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How does the salt caramel balance actually work? +
The salt content is calibrated to be subtle rather than aggressive, you taste the caramel sweetness first, then a clean salt finish that cuts the sugar perception. The cup never crosses into salty savoury territory; it sits in proper sweet salted caramel balance, similar to a salted caramel ice cream or salted caramel chocolate.
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How does it compare to a cafe Salted Caramel? +
The cafe version uses fresh steamed milk, fresh espresso, and a real caramel drizzle with crystal salt finish. The sachet version uses milk powder, instant Costa coffee, caramel flavouring and integrated salt. Quality is good but cafe still has the texture edge. £0.66 vs £4.95 is the trade off.
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How does it compare to the Millionaires Mocha? +
Millionaires Mocha is chocolate + caramel + coffee, thicker and sweeter, dessert leaning. Salted Caramel is just caramel + coffee + salt, lighter and more balanced, afternoon cup friendly. Pick Salted Caramel for daily afternoon, Millionaires Mocha for evening treat.
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How much sugar per cup? +
Approximately 12g per cup, sitting between Creamy Cappuccino (9g) and Millionaires Mocha (14g). The salt balances the sugar perception so the cup doesn't read as syrupy. Acceptable as a daily afternoon cup; reduce to half sachet if you want less sweet.
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Can I make it iced? +
Yes, particularly good for summer afternoons. Brew strong in 100ml hot water (essential for dissolving), top with 100ml cold milk and ice in a tall glass. Optional whipped cream + extra sea salt sprinkle + caramel drizzle for the indulgent presentation.
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How long does the carton last? +
Each sachet has its own use by date stamped on the foil pouch, typically 12 months from manufacture. Once opened, each sachet is single serving. Unopened sachets keep in a cool dry cupboard.
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Is the coffee Rainforest Alliance certified? +
Yes, Costa coffee across the at home and cafe ranges is Rainforest Alliance certified since 2008, supporting growers in protected biodiversity zones.
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Is the packaging recyclable? +
Outer carton FSC certified card, kerbside recyclable. Inner sachet foil pouches not generally kerbside recyclable; check local council for foil pouch or mixed soft plastic collection.
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Where is the coffee roasted? +
At Costa's UK roastery in Basildon, Essex. The Mocha Italia blend recipe has been the same since the Costa brothers founded the company in 1971.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Costa Salted Caramel Latte, 6 Sachets 102g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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