Guide to Coffee Cup Sizes in the UK
Walk into a UK coffee shop and you’ll soon realise you need a translator. Is a “Medio” bigger than a “Grande”? Why is Starbucks’ Venti a different size hot than iced? And why, dear God, is a Pret flat white in a thimble compared to your Costa bucket-sized latte?
This guide sorts the lot. UK chains only, no American “Trenta” nonsense, and with proper ml ↔ oz conversions so you can finally answer “how big is a Costa Primo in ml?” without squinting at the bottom of your cup, and tipping coffee down your leg.
Quick Conversion: ml ↔ oz
For context, all UK coffee chains use US fluid ounces (29.57 ml per oz). Here’s a simple lookup:
| Millilitres (ml) | US fl oz (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 227 ml | 8 oz |
| 355 ml | 12 oz |
| 473 ml | 16 oz |
| 591 ml | 20 oz |
| 710 ml | 24 oz |
Right, now thats sorted, let’s crack on.
Coffee Chain Cup Sizes: UK Edition
Here’s the comparison everyone actually needs , the big four UK chains, side by side.
| Chain | Size Names | Hot Drinks (oz / ml) | Iced Drinks (oz / ml) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbucks UK | Short, Tall, Grande, Venti | Short 8 / 227 Tall 12 / 355 Grande 16 / 473 Venti 20 / 591 |
Tall 12 / 355 Grande 16 / 473 Venti 24 / 710 |
Trenta (31 oz) doesn’t exist here. Sorry, America. |
| Costa Coffee | Mini, Primo, Medio, Massimo | Mini 8 / 227 Primo 12 / 355 Medio 16 / 473 Massimo 20 / 591 |
Varies by drink, often same or larger | Mini was added in 2020, perfect if you fancy less milk, less guilt. |
| Caffè Nero | Regular, Grande | Regular 12 / 355 Grande 16 / 473 |
Usually matches hot drink sizes | Simple, like their black Americano crowd. |
| Pret A Manger | Mostly one size | Flat White 8 / 227 Most others 12 / 355 |
Occasional trial 16 / 473 | They love speed, so don’t expect 20 options here. |
Specialty Coffee Shop Norms (Because Not Everywhere is a Chain remember)
Walk into an indie shop and ask for a flat white, and you’ll probably get something much smaller than a Costa latte. That’s on purpose.
| Drink | Traditional Size (oz / ml) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1–2 / 30–60 | The reason you’re still awake at 2am. |
| Flat White | 5–6 / 150–180 | Should be small, creamy, and strong. |
| Cappuccino | 6–8 / 180–240 | Equal parts coffee, milk, and froth. Not a soup bowl. |
| Latte | 10–12 / 300–355 | Milk with a dash of coffee (if you ask an Italian). |
FAQs on Coffee Cup Sizes in the UK
Is a Starbucks Grande the same as a Costa Medio?
Pretty much. Both clock in at 16 oz (~473 ml). The names differ, but your bladder won’t know the difference.
Why is an iced Venti bigger than a hot Venti at Starbucks?
Because ice takes up space, and no one wants to pay £4.50 for half a cup of frozen water. Iced Venti is 24 oz, hot Venti is 20 oz.
Why does Pret only have one size?
Speed. Pret is built for the grab-and-go commuter, not indecisive menu-staring. Expect 12 oz as standard, unless you’re ordering a flat white (8 oz).
Do UK shops use US or Imperial ounces?
US ounces. That’s 29.57 ml per oz. If they used Imperial (28.41 ml), we’d all be slightly more caffeinated, but only just.
What’s the smallest coffee size I can order?
An espresso at 30 ml. Anything smaller is just licking the crema off the barista’s portafilter, and that’s frowned upon.
