Coffee Service

US coffee consumption hits 20-year high

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March 15, 2022

Coffee consumption has soared to a two-decade high as Americans brew up new post-COVID routines, according to exclusive consumer polling released today by the National Coffee Association.

Two-thirds (66%) of Americans now drink coffee each day, more than any other beverage including tap water and up by nearly 14% since January 2021, the largest increase since NCA began tracking data, according to a press release on the findings.

The Spring 2022 National Coffee Data Trends report prepared by Dig Insights on behalf of the NCA found that Americans have increased coffee consumption away from home by 8% since January 2021.

At home coffee consumption remains above pre-pandemic levels. Some 84% of coffee drinkers now have had coffee at home in the past day, compared to 80% in January 2020.

Consumption of espresso-based beverages, typically prepared away from home, have shot up 30% since the start of the pandemic, signaling recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and also indicating new growth.

Other findings include:

• Specialty coffee consumption hit a five-year high: 43% of coffee drinkers chose specialty coffee in the past day, up 20% since January 2021.
• Cappuccinos and lattes are tied for America's most popular coffee beverage, followed closely by plain espresso and cafe mocha.
• 41% of coffee drinkers use a drip coffee maker, followed by single-cup systems (27%), cold brewing (9%) and espresso machines (8%).