With so many coffee shops to choose from, it takes a company with a truly bright personality to shine amongst the crowd. It’s common knowledge in Kuwait that if you’re a coffee lover, then you’re a Costa Coffee lover. Known for their stellar coffee and customer service, Costa Coffee prides itself on handcrafting every drink, however big or small.

2014 has been a year of exciting change and innovation for the British brand; which has made an effort to make its array of handcrafted coffees more accessible to patrons. Costa’s special blend of Arabica and Robusta beans is what differentiates it from its competitors. Their Mocha Italia blend is roasted in the UK, the brand’s birthplace, but the flavors are rooted in the Italian palates of founders Sergio and Bruno Costa.

Costa’s Chief coffee taster Gennaro Pelliccia ensures the quality of every batch of beans that leaves the UK, and his taste buds are so skilled that his tongue is insured for 10 million pounds! That’s why Mocha Italia is the foundation of every Costa Coffee drink, from the flat white, to the corto, or their three-bean dusted cappuccino; everything is handcrafted by expertly trained baristas from start to finish.

Since their first Kuwait store in 1998 Costa Coffee’s mission has been the same, to serve artisanal handcrafted coffee with the best atmosphere and customer service possible. And now, they are doing that in over 35 locations across Kuwait. Their new store locations at Kuwait Airport and Miral Mall, Mangaf join old favorites at Avenues, Bidaa, Marina Crescent, and Al Kout. Costa Coffee is even putting a pep back into your step during those grocery store trips through its new partnership with The Sultan Center.

Aside from new store openings, the most drastic change for Costa Coffee in 2014 has been its overhauled food range. With the goal of offering the highest standard of ingredients and products, the coffee chain teamed up with the expert chefs at Le Notre to create a new artisanal food range exclusive to Costa Coffee. After months of brainstorming, their new menu is overflowing with French pastries, sandwiches, salads, and cakes using fresh and premium ingredients.

If you’re looking for a simple yet tasty sandwich, they have a chicken fajita bursting with intricate flavors and a juicy roast beef sandwich sprinkled with Parmesan and delicately caramelized onions. Costa even offers twists on the basic chicken sandwich by using indulgent toppings such as Avocado, mature cheddar cheese, and nut pesto. For those craving a light pasta dish, they offer a Pesto Fusilli salad overflowing with slow-roasted vegetables and crisp cherry tomatoes. Costa Coffee has even brought a bit of New York into select stores, that now offer Magnolia Bakery’s cheesecake and cupcakes.

Coffee enthusiasts will also be able to indulge in menu items and fresh décor at their new flagship store within the Miral Mall Complex in Mangaf. The store features an inventive style influenced by modern Metropolitan cafes and overlooks the sea. They even offered the option of using camel milk as a healthier alternative to cow’s milk for a short period in October.

Costa Coffee has seen major growth in the past year, but remains dedicated to their core mission of delivering the best coffee possible. With their plentiful locations and an abundance of exclusive menu items, a visit to Costa Coffee will leave you both satisfied and somehow craving more. Whether you’re looking for a quick cuppa Joe before shopping at The Sultan Center, a Magnolia cupcake at Marina, or sipping on an exquisite blended drink and enjoying the sea view at Miral, Costa Coffee will provide you with more than just coffee. Costa is an experience!

Visit Costakuwait.com to find your nearest location. For more information, follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @CostaKuwait.