Study: Specialty Coffee Consumption Hits All-Time High
It should come as no surprise that coffee remains a staple beverage for many American consumers, but what is noteworthy is the continued growth of specialty coffee, according to the latest National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report from the National Coffee Association.
The popularity of coffee has held steady since 2022, with bottled water surpassing coffee in popularity during the summer months. Daily, 66% of American adults drink coffee, with the average consumption sitting at nearly three cups per day.
“Coffee’s staying power as a beloved touchstone in Americans’ daily lives is remarkable, and its contributions to our health and our economy give Americans even more ‘grounds for celebration’ this National Coffee Day and every day,” said Bill Murray, president and CEO of the National Coffee Association.
Specialty coffee continues to reach new heights in popularity, consumed by a record 48% of American adults in the past day (up from 37% in 2021). Traditional coffee is consumed by 41% of American adults each day (compared to 38% in 2021).
Brewing methods have remained relatively consistent, with drip brewers still the most popular preparation method (38% of past-day coffee drinkers had coffee prepared with a drip brewer), followed by single-cup brewers (23%), cold brewing (17%), and espresso machines (11%).
Instant and ready-to-drink coffee continue to grow in popularity, with 11% of past-day coffee drinkers having instant coffee (up from 6% in 2021) and 19% having ready-to-drink (up from 9% in 2021).
Additional key findings include:
- Grocery stores are the most popular place to purchase coffee for at-home preparation: 40% of past-day coffee drinkers who made coffee at home bought their coffee at a grocery store, 29% purchased their coffee at a mass merchandiser and 14% bought their coffee online. These figures have remained consistent over the past year.
- App-based and drive-thru purchasing reach record highs: An all-time high of 59% of coffee drinkers who bought a coffee out-of-home in the past week purchased it at a drive-thru (up 9% since 2024), and 36% ordered through an app (up almost 6% over 2024).
