Key Takeaways:
- Evolving Consumption Patterns: The article highlights that coffee consumption in the US has shifted notably, with a significant rise in at-home brewing, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Demographic Variations: It details how consumption habits vary by age, gender, and ethnicity, emphasizing that different groups exhibit distinct preferences in coffee type and preparation.
- Preparation Methods & Preferences: Key insights include the popularity of drip coffee makers, single-cup systems, and the trend toward experimenting with new brewing methods like pour-over and cold brew.
- Market & Cultural Impact: Despite ranking 25th globally in per capita consumption, the US shows strong coffee culture with extensive branded outlets and diverse consumption habits influenced by lifestyle and convenience.
If you’re a coffee-lover, keeping up with the constantly changing statistics about coffee can be a bit challenging. That’s why we gathered the most detailed statistics the best we can. It involves trends, facts, and questions on coffee consumption in the US.
A study reports that Americans consume about 646 million cups of coffee daily. They added that COVID significantly contributed to the rise of “at-home” coffee consumption.
Does this make your heart skip a bit? Then read on! This article will give you the most exciting trends about coffee consumption in the US.
To further enhance your experience, we’ve added insights from coffee industry experts.
- According to renowned barista and coffee consultant, “Understanding consumption trends not only informs market dynamics but also inspires creative home brewing techniques that resonate with the modern coffee lover.”
- Try experimenting with pour-over methods to mimic café-style flavors in your own kitchen.
Coffee Consumption in the US
We’ll also be answering some of the most frequently asked questions:
- Who drinks the most coffee in the US?
- Does the US consume the most coffee?
- Where do Americans search for coffee most on Google?
Let’s dive right in the coffee consumption statistics!
America’s Favorite Beverage
The majority of Americans drink coffee over any other drink (National Coffee Association, 2021)
- 58% (Coffee)
- 46% (Tap Water)
- 47% (Tea)
- 36% (Soda)
- 24% (Juice)
Coffee Consumption According to Age Group (Roast Magazine)
The largest coffee market are those 60 years old and above.
- 13-18 years old- 37%
- 18-24 years old- 47%
- 25-39 years old- 63%
- 40-59 years old -64%
- 60 years old- above-72%
An average person in the United States drinks nearly 3 cups of coffee per day (National Coffee Association, 2021)
Here are some fascinating takeaways on the effects of the pandemic on coffee drinking: (National Coffee Association, 2021)
- Eighty-five percent (85%) of coffee were drunk at home since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- There’s been an increase of 8% in at-home coffee consumption since the pandemic started. And that’s a 10% increase since 2017.
- Forty-one percent (41%) of Americans report that they tried a new type of coffee during the pandemic.
- Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Americans tried to recreate their popular coffee shop drink at home.
- Drive-through & app coffee orders went up to 30%.
- Reports say people started buying new coffee machines for their homes since the pandemic.
- Since Spring 2021, people have begun visiting their favorite coffee shops or planning to come in the following months.
- A few 23% workers are decreasing usage of shared coffee stations as compared to September last year.
- The pandemic has caused a 55% reduction of coffee sales in workspaces, 20% in convenience stores and gas stations, 33% in fast-food restaurants, 50% in full-service restaurants, and 33% in cafe and coffee shops.
US ranking on the Top Consuming Countries in the World (World Atlas, 2021)
- The US ranks 25th on the Top Coffee-Consuming Countries globally, with 9.26 lbs coffee consumption per person per year.
Top Preparation Methods in the US (NCA, 2021)
- 42% of American coffee drinkers use drip coffee makers to prepare their coffee.
- 24% prefer to use single-cup systems to make their coffee.
- 10% use the cold brew coffee method to make their coffee.
- 8% use instant regular coffee, while 8% choose ready-to-drink coffee.
- 83% of Americans drink their coffee for breakfast. While 18% drink their coffee at lunch, and 9% drink their coffee at dinner.
Milk vs. Sugar (NCA, 2021)
- 6 out of 10 persons add milk or other alternatives to their coffee. On the other hand, 4 out of 10 adds sweetener or sugar. Yearly Coffee-spending in the US by Gender. (NCA, 2021)
- Women spend an estimate of $2,327 annually on coffee.
- Men spend an estimate of $1,934 annually on coffee.
Daily coffee consumption in the US (NCA, 2021)
- Almost half of the US adult population that’s equivalent to 150 million people drink coffee.
Coffee Consumptions According to Demographic Trends (NCA, 2021)
- Almost 60% of the coffee drinkers interviewed didn’t have kids in their homes.
- 44% of coffee lovers prefer dark roasts, then a minority of 16% choosing light roasts.
Consumption by Ethnicity (NCA, 2021)
- Coffee consumption was highest among the ethnic groups Hispanic Americans at 44%. Followed by White Americans at 64%, 60% Asian-Americans, 54% Black- Americans.
Coffee Market Size in the US (WCP Project Cafe USA, 2021)
There’s an estimated total of 37,189 total branded coffee shop outlets in the USA as of today.
Drive-Thru (Allegra Consumer Study, 2021)
About ⅔ of consumers prefer using the drive-thru service.
There’s a 24% drop in the market value of the coffee brands in the US this 2021 (Allegra Consumer Study, 2021)
Coffee Consumption in the US Reasons (Statistica)
- To have energy
- To stay awake
- It’s tasty
- To stay focused
- Following the trend
- For Digestive Health
- Others
Coffee Consumption per Capita from 2011-2019
- In 20188, Americans’ coffee consumption was highest at 2.6 cups per day.
- From 2011 to 2019, 2016 had the least consumption at 1.65 cups per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who drinks the most coffee in the US?
There could be different answers to this question, depends on what you ask. For example, comparing women and men, women are more likely to spend on coffee than men.
But in a 2020 survey conducted by Statistica.com, men in the US love drinking coffee at about 1.93 cups of coffee per day. Women’s coffee intake was lower at 1.82 cups a day that same year.
Does the US consume the most coffee?
In a 2019 report, Finland holds the record of the world’s top coffee-consuming country per capita. Also, about 6% of men and 14% of women drink more than 10 cups a day. In the same year, Americans consumed less, having an average of 4.5/ day.
The statistics didn’t change much in the year 2020. Finland still landed the top spot consuming 26.45 lbs per capita (12kg). That year, the USA is at the 25th spot having an average of 9.26 lbs per capita (4.2 kg).
Which state do Americans search for coffee most on Google?
In the past 12 months, the state of Montana has had the highest search trend for coffee on Google. Montana has over 100 searches on the topic of coffee. Hawaii followed this with 97, District of Columbia-97, Washington 96, and Oregon at 95.
Did you enjoy reading these interesting facts and statistics about coffee? I’m sure you did! We hope it gave you a great insight into the latest coffee trends. Click here for more tips and tricks for coffee making.
