Quick answer
Order at a participating Costa coffee shop and have the card scanned at the till: the QR code on the back of a plastic card, or the eGift on your phone or a printout. The UK card works in England, Scotland and Wales, not in Northern Ireland, at Costa Express or overseas. Costa's rules are at gifting.costa.co.uk/faqs.
Redeem a Costa gift card step by step
Visit a participating Costa
Choose a Costa coffee shop in England, Scotland or Wales. Costa Express machines do not take the card.
Order as usual
Coffee, food and merchandise can all be paid with the card. Other gift cards cannot.
Scan the card
Show the QR code on the back of a physical card, or open the eGift on your phone. A paper copy of the eGift works too.
Top up the payment if needed
Pay any difference with cash or a bank card. Costa treats the gift card as one more payment method.
Does a Costa gift card expire?
Only if you stop using it. Costa says the balance expires when the card is not used for 12 consecutive months. One purchase a year keeps it alive.
Every purchase is deducted from the balance and the rest stays for later. Costa gives no change, offers no refunds and does not swap the card for cash. You can still collect Costa Club beans on valid purchases paid with the card.
How do I top up or check a Costa gift card?
Both happen online on Costa's gifting site, not in store. You need the card or eGift number to check the balance.
Top-ups run from £5 to £75, and a card can never hold more than £75. You cannot top up a Costa gift card at the till.
What if my Costa card is lost or will not scan?
Contact Costa Customer Services at once through the Contact us form, quoting your name and order number if you have it. At the time you report it, Costa replaces the card and moves the balance onto a replacement eGift.
If a store refuses the card, check where you are. Northern Ireland shops, Costa Express points and overseas stores are excluded, and Costa reserves the right to cancel cards it suspects of fraud. For a code you bought from us, contact [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Costa gift card in Northern Ireland?
No. Costa says its UK gift cards and eGifts cannot be used in Northern Ireland. Customers there buy cards through a separate link on Costa's site.
Can I split a coffee bill between a Costa card and cash?
Yes. Costa treats the gift card and eGift as a payment method, so you can combine it with cash or bank cards.
Can I use a UK Costa card in Dubai or Poland?
No. Costa states the UK card cannot be used in overseas stores. Buy the version for the country where the recipient drinks Costa.
Can I buy a Costa gift card with crypto?
Yes. A UK Costa card costs its face value in pounds, settled in BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL or LTC. We ask for no KYC up to US$1,000 per order, and the code is credited to your client area within 24 hours of payment confirmation.
Official sources (1)
- Gift Card FAQs | Costa Coffee — Costa Coffee (checked 2026-10-21)