Your lactose intolerant guide: Which UK coffee shops charge the most for milk alternatives

If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, your life is forever more complicated the second you step into a coffee shop: You never know what expensive milk alternatives you’re going to be forced to splash out on for your morning caffeine. Don’t worry, we’ve made it easy for you. Here’s a rundown of all your favourite coffee chains across the UK, and how much they charge for various dairy alternatives.

Pret – no charge

via Deliveroo

Although the dairy-free options are fairly limited to the basic soya and oat, you won’t have to pay any extra for them. A win for Pret, although I’m still incredibly mad at Pret for cancelling the monthly subscription.

Starbucks – no charge

via Deliveroo

You can always trust Starbucks to provide exactly what Gen Z wants, whether it’s a pink drink, fancy focaccia or, in this case, a HUGE array of milk alternatives for your coffee with no expensive charge attached. The drinks themselves may be pricey, but at least you won’t feel left out as an oat milk girlie.

Leon – no charge

via Leon

Good old reliable Leon offers coconut, oat and soya dairy alternatives with no extra costs. And unlike Pret, it also has a £25 a month subscription for 5 coffees a day. Think I just found my new spot!

Joe and the Juice – no charge

via Deliveroo

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There may not be a charge for fun milk here (WTF is sproud m*lk?!) but you still have to fork out £5.20 for a coffee. So, maybe this isn’t the most affordable option for the dairy haters out there. (unless sproud m*lk is your ride or die of course!)

Gail’s – 40p charge

via Deliveroo

What else did you expect from the most Tory coffee shop on the British high street? Boring selection, and 40p cost. Not impressed!

Costa – free soya, 45p for coconut and oat milk

via Deliveroo

I’m a big Costa girl so it did make me sad to see the charge for the oat and coconut milk, but I guess the main thing is that soya is free, so if you really do have beef with dairy products, you can still get a coffee here. Coconut milk also seems to be the decider of whether the coffee shop has fun options, so well done Costa, you made the cut.

Black Sheep – free oat milk, 79p for boujee milks

via Deliveroo

I can’t say I’ve ever had a Black Sheep coffee in my life, but it’s one of the cool few with almond milk which I actually love. I’m confused as to why soya milk is 79p and oat milk is free, yet it’s reversed in Costa? There really needs to be some sort of universal milk alternative pricing system, so that dairy free people can enjoy coffee anywhere and know exactly if they’re going to have to pay up for an expensive charge or not. It’s time to put a stop to vegans and lactose intolerant girlies living in fear!

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