Ranking England's Most Popular Chain Coffee Shops

I've found that there are four main coffee chains in England, and the frequency in which you see them depends on where in the country you are. I've traveled around England and have had the chance to sample all of these coffee chains; here is my ranking.

1. Caffe Nero

It doesn't matter what you order from Caffe Nero; it will be good. My go-to has been carrot cake and an iced hazelnut latte with oat milk as the weather has begun to warm up. The pastries, cakes, and savory snacks are all delicious. They're fast, consistent, and flavored syrups are the best by far.

2. Pret a Manger

Oh, you're in Central London? Do a 360 and tell me how many Pret's you see. Pret has good coffee, good snack options, and a good vibe. They're fast, they're consistent, but they aren't as good as Caffe Nero. However, if you're in London and looking for coffee, odds are you'll end up at Pret a Manger.

3. Costa Coffee

Costa is usually what I see in train stations, but that might just be because I live in Northern England. Every cafe at my university is Costa. It's not bad, it's what I usually get, but it's not my favorite.

4. Starbucks

Surprised? Starbucks is made differently here than it is in the US - not in a good way. The first thing I did when I landed in Manchester got a coffee from Starbucks, and it was terrible. Since then, I've given Starbucks the opportunity to redeem itself multiple times. It never has.

I hope this helps next time you're looking for coffee in England.