Costa Coffee

Shorter queues than Starbucks is the whole point of this Costa.

This Costa Coffee sits in Terminal T3 at Delhi (DEL) and usually moves faster than the nearby Starbucks during morning and late-night rush. It’s post-security, price tier sits around $$, and the menu is the standard Costa lineup: cappuccinos, Americanos, lattes, plus a few flavored options. One regular on Google Maps flat-out says, “Costa at T3 is my choice over Starbucks – same caffeine, less queue.”

Most flyers stick to basic drinks: a strong cappuccino or straight Americano in the ₹250–₹400 range, which is where the value feels least painful compared with city outlets. Reviews flag that the “fancier” blended or flavored drinks can be slower and more hit-or-miss. One reviewer notes that the coffee itself is “good” but that airport pricing “reminds you you’re in an international terminal,” so budget a bit more than your usual Delhi mall Costa.

Food is simple but functional. Expect muffins and croissants in the ₹200–₹300 band, and several travelers mention these are often still available even late in the evening, after 10 pm, when other spots have slim pickings. It’s a solid move if you landed from a domestic hop and need something quick before a midnight long-haul out of T3’s international gates.

Watch out for inconsistent drink temperature: a few reviews complain about cappuccinos coming out either too hot to sip or oddly lukewarm. If that matters, ask the barista at ordering to keep it extra hot or “not too hot” so there’s no guesswork. Service speed, though, gets better marks than Starbucks next door, especially at peak 6–9 am and 10 pm–1 am bank times.

Tip: On a short connection in T3, glance at the Starbucks line first; if it snakes into the concourse, walk straight to Costa and order a basic cappuccino to-go for the fastest turnaround.