54% OF UK ADULTS FEEL CAFÉ TEA IS OVERPRICED AS MAJOR CHAINS SNUB NATION’S FAVOURITE BREW
The nation's favourite tea is Yorkshire Tea. However, that isn't the brand served by major coffee chains in the UK
Over half of UK adults feel they are being charged too much for a simple cup of tea when eating out, according to new survey data released by MyVoucherCodes. The findings reveal widespread consumer dissatisfaction with the price of a brew. Upon visiting the UK's largest coffee chains, a MyVoucherCodes shopping and lifestyle expert discovered that tea lovers aren’t even getting the nation's favourite brand - Yorkshire Tea.
- The Café 'Rip-Off': A clear majority, 54% of UK adults, feel that tea served in cafés and coffee shops is overpriced.
- The Brand Mismatch: Major café chains like Costa, Starbucks, and Caffè Nero routinely leave the nation's favourite brew off their menus. Yorkshire Tea took the top spot with 30% of tea drinkers naming it their brew of choice, leaving supermarket own-brands (12%), PG Tips (10%), Tetley (9%), and Twinings (7%) trailing far behind.
- Britain's Daily Habit: Around 60% of UK adults drink at least one cup of breakfast tea on an average day, while a sizeable minority (20%) consumes 4+ cups daily. Proving that tea will always be an essential part of the day.
- The Mug Factor: Physical presentation also drives consumer taste, with 51% of tea drinkers stating the mug or cup used significantly affects how tea tastes.
MyVoucherCodes shopping and lifestyle expert said:
“In a time when money is tight for most people, it’s sad that the simple pleasure of stopping off for a cuppa has been taken away. With 54% of people feeling that a café tea is overpriced. When we visited the major coffee chains in the UK, we found that consumers aren’t even getting the nation's favourite tea in their cups. It seems that you will find the best value brew at home”
Sarah-Jane Outten
Notes to EditorsAll figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2110 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7th - 8th May 2026. The survey was carried out online.
