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Starbucks logo
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Starbucks vs Costa Coffee: The Data Privacy Comparison

Discover how Starbucks (US) and Costa Coffee (EU) handle your data. Find out which offers stronger security for your personal information.

Last updated: February 2, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Costa Coffee?

What You Gain

Gain a commitment to quality and support for EU-based businesses.

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Starbucks has a wider variety of specialty drinks.

Starbucks has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if you prioritize privacy and supporting EU brands; otherwise, stay.

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇬🇧GB

GDPR protected

Pricing

Starbucks

paid

Costa Coffee

paid

Migration

Migration info not available

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaStarbucksCosta Coffee
Server Location
UnknownUnknown
GDPR Compliance
UnknownUnknown
Open Source
E2E Encryption
UnknownUnknown
Data Portability
UnknownUnknown

CLOUD Act Notice

Starbucks is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Costa Coffee is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Starbucks logo

Starbucks

🇺🇸

Starbucks

VS
Switching to
Costa Coffee logo

Costa Coffee

🇬🇧

Costa Coffee

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

No certifications listed

Reasons to Switch

  • Costa Coffee has a strong European heritage with over 1,000 locations in the UK.
  • Offers a diverse range of beverages, including unique seasonal drinks.
  • Focuses on quality with a commitment to ethically sourced coffee beans.
  • Often has lower prices compared to Starbucks for similar beverage sizes.

Things to Consider

  • !Starbucks has a more extensive food menu, which Costa may lack.
  • !Switching may require adjusting to different drink preparation styles.
  • !Costa Coffee's loyalty program may not be as rewarding as Starbucks Rewards.

Other alternatives to Starbucks

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Costa Coffee today and take control of your data privacy.