What does the cryptic crossword clue "What one pays when visiting a coffee chain (5)" mean?

The definition is "coffee chain". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). COST (synonym="”What one pays”") + A (synonym="taken from surface") = COSTA; definition: "coffee chain" The answer is COSTA.

What one pays when visiting a coffee chain (5)

Guardian Cryptic #29218 | 25 Down | 2023-11-03 flower

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