Curious About What Percentage of Adults Drink Coffee? Here’s Some Interesting Coffee Stats That You May Not Have Known


Your morning cup of coffee may seem like an essential part of your morning routine.

Well, you aren’t alone. No matter which way you prefer your brew, there are millions of Americans who share in your love for a good cup of joe. Coffee has come a long way since it’s humble beginnings in Ethiopia. We’ll break down some of the most interesting coffee drinking statistics, so grab a mug, cup, or espresso glass and keep reading.

What Percentage of Adults Drink Coffee?

A 2020 consumer report by the National Coffee Association found that the percentage of Americans who drink coffee every single day is 62%, and 70% of Americans drink coffee at least once a week. So, if everyone you know has a cup in hand during morning video conferences, you’re probably right in thinking that it’s coffee.

Although the amount of people that drink coffee daily slightly fluctuates from year to year, the same report mentioned above found that, on average, the number of Americans who drink coffee has risen by a whopping 5% since 2015.

How Much Coffee Is Consumed Daily?

In the US, the average person drinks two to three cups of coffee every single day.

But, how much coffee is in a cup of coffee? The average coffee maker dispenses 6 oz of water to every one tablespoon of ground coffee. That means the typical American drinks up to 18 oz of coffee each day. How do you measure up?

Coffee Popularity

Coffee popularity is on the rise, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. In fact, the popularity of single-cup brewing machines have gone up by a massive 50% in just five years.

Coffee tech doesn’t end there. Now it’s been established that nearly a quarter of people who buy fresh coffee from restaurants or coffee shops do so using their smartphone.

While the COVID-19 pandemic hurt brick-and-mortar coffee stores, at-home consumption has skyrocketed. Americans are buying more machines, and many millennials prefer to brew their coffee using gourmet coffee beans.

Let’s break down how COVID-19 has rocked the coffee market in the US:

  • Coffee consumption has been steadily rising for the past five years.
  • During the first quarter of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical stores in America took a serious financial hit.
  • Physical sales have started to increase again, meaning Americans are drinking out of the house and at home.

Here are some 2023 stats on coffee

  • According to Statista, the average volume per person in the Coffee segment is expected to amount to 0.98 kg in 2023.
  • According to the International Coffee Organization, world coffee exports in the first three months of coffee year 2022/23 (October/22 to December/22) decreased by 2.8% to 30.27 million bags compared to 31.14 million bags in the same period in 2021/22.
  • According to a report by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, green bean (Arabica and Robusta/Conilon) exports for MY 2022/23 are estimated at 33 million bags, whereas soluble coffee exports are estimated at 3.6 million bags.

What this means for the future of coffee sales in the US is difficult to tell, but upcoming years are sure to be caffeinated.

Coffee Around the World

We know how many people drink coffee in the US, but what about the rest of the world? Looking at coffee drinking statistics on an international scale can offer insight into how you stack up against other coffee fans on the world stage.

What Percentage of the World Drinks Coffee?

Globally, a huge number of people drink coffee. The exact percentage can be tricky to quantify, but we know that about 54% of adults worldwide drink coffee every single day.

The Top 10 Coffee Consuming Countries

Based on a study presented by WorldAtlas in 2020, the following countries consumed the most amount of coffee per capita in the world:

1. Finland

At the top of our list, Finns drink roughly 25lbs of coffee per person per year. Coffee is enjoyed everywhere, but the top 10 countries are predominantly cold and snowy, which increases the consumption of delicious hot beverages.

2. Norway

Nordic countries have a firm grasp on the first and second place, and in Norway, the average person consumes 21lbs of coffee per year.

3. Iceland

In Iceland, a typical adult will drink roughly 20lbs of coffee every year. A steaming mug of your favorite java is the perfect fix on a cold winter’s day.

4. Denmark

Danes love their coffee. Most Danes consume an average of 19lbs of coffee each year.

5. The Netherlands

Famous for tulips, bicycles, and picturesque canals, the Netherlands consumes slightly less coffee per person per year than Denmark. It comes in at fifth place with 18.5lbs of java consumption on average. The amount of  coffee that is consumed daily by an average person in the Netherlands is around 2.5 cups per day.

6. Sweden

Swedes may have Stockholm syndrome for that perfect cup of joe. Taking sixth, the average Swede drinks 18lbs of coffee every year.

7. Switzerland

Pulling in at number seven, Swiss people each drink an average of 17lbs of coffee each year.

8. Belgium

With a two-pound difference from the number seven spot, a typical Belgian drinks 15lbs of coffee per year. A cup of coffee and a fluffy Belgian waffle—we can’t think of a better indulgent breakfast if we tried.

9. Luxemburg

Luxemburg is neck in neck with the tenth place contender. The average adult in Luxemburg drinks 14.33lbs of coffee each year. This is the final European country on our top ten list.

10. Canada

That’s right. Our neighbors to the North come in at number ten. Canadians drink about 14lbs of coffee per person per year. How about that, eh?

The US ranks twenty-fifth on the international coffee consumption stage. We drink about nine pounds of coffee per year. That equates to three cups of coffee per person each day.

How Many Cups Should I Drink A Day?

The FDA reported on 12/12/2018 that 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is not generally associated with any health risks, however, they added quite a few caveates and exceptions so please be sure to check their updated guidelines before acting on this.

Some people, such as anyone who is pregnant or on certain medications, should aim to drastically decrease their daily caffeine intake. Bear in mind that when it comes to your personal health, you should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Wrapping It All Up

People are crazy about coffee. And why not, when you have so many amazing drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffee, whipped coffee, cold brewed coffee or a simple pour over coffee. Coffee is versatile enough for all seasons, all occasions. Innovation in coffee makers and espresso machines is also making them more and more accessible to average people- what used to be a luxury before is not sitting in most people’s kitchens. There is also a wide variety of coffee beans and types available in most parts of the world.The java jive is more popular than you may have thought, or maybe you are a seasoned coffee fanatic who already knows how important a cup of joe can be. Pour yourself a fresh cup of however you enjoy your morning brew, and join the coffee-loving community.

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AUTHOR

Coffee aficionado Ryan Bahar is the Editor-in-Chief at CoffeeGrabber.com. While most people love a good morning cup of joe, only a few can appreciate the art involved in grinding coffee beans, taste the difference between coffee from Ethiopia to Guatemala to Colombia, or identify terrible coffee products dressed up with fancy marketing. Ryan wants to use his coffee expertise to bring you the most authentic coffee tips, guides and reviews on the web.

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