Costa Coffee

Near non-Schengen gates in T1, Costa beats the Starbucks line.

This Costa Coffee in Terminal T1 sits airside near non‑Schengen departures and basically competes with the Starbucks a few steps away. Prices run in the mid range ($$), roughly in line with city Costa branches and similar to Starbucks, so you’re paying airport markup either way. Regulars on Reddit say they “hit Costa in T1 rather than Starbucks – same prices, coffee a bit more consistent.”

Open across the main flight banks (early morning through late evening in T1), Costa works best as a grab‑and‑go stop before security calls your group. Travellers on TripAdvisor call it “the easiest place to grab a latte before boarding” when flying out of the non‑Schengen pier. Expect standard Costa drinks: flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, and seasonal specials, usually in the 80–130 CZK range depending on size and extras.

Food is the typical Costa lineup: small packs of cakes, muffins, and desserts, similar to what you see in T2, plus a few sandwiches. Reviews mention gluten‑free items more clearly at the T2 branch, so treat T1’s options as a bonus, not a guarantee. Frequent flyers suggest buying coffee here and picking up cheaper snacks from landside shops in T1 if you care about value.

Watch out for two things: drinks can come out lukewarm when the queue spikes around the 06:00–09:00 and 17:00–20:00 banks, and seating around this T1 gate‑area Costa is limited. People camp at tables, so turnover is slow and solo seats vanish fast. Many regulars simply grab a to‑go cup and head straight to their gate rather than hunting for a chair.

One practical tip: if the Starbucks line in T1 is wrapped around the corner, walk 30–60 seconds further down the non‑Schengen side toward your gate and check Costa first; chances are the queue is shorter and you’re still paying roughly the same price for your pre‑flight caffeine.