Costa Coffee was founded in London in 1971 by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa. True to Italian tradition, Costa Coffee has been preparing its special Mocha Italia Espresso blend for thirty years – a mix of seven different coffee beans roasted using a slow process that guarantees exceptional flavour. Another reason why Costa Coffee cafés are gaining popularity all over the world is the hand-crafted preparation of drinks from freshly ground coffee. Unlike most other chains, Costa does not use automated machines and employs experienced baristas, whose training the company oversees itself. Costa Coffee currently operates in 31 countries and, with more than 3,247 outlets, is the largest and fastest-growing chain of Italian cafés in the world. In the UK it is the market leader and has been regularly voted customers' favourite café for several years.
