Anyone who is a self-proclaimed avid drinker of coffee would not be all that surprised to learn that their morning cup of coffee is considered to be one of the most enjoyed non-alcoholic drinks in the world.
With the average weight of the coffee material required to make just one cup, it is logical that coffee has a much higher value on the world market than the more globally drunk tea.
Even though coffee continues to be considered one of the more widely enjoyed beverages to date, not many know of the various statistics attached to the consumption of coffee here in the US.
World's Largest Coffee Producer
As of this writing, Brazil still holds the title of the world's largest coffee producer. Given its tropical climate and abundantly rich soil, along with its large size, the country is the ideal location for nurturing and growing coffee trees.
Brazil grows and produces an estimated 40% of the coffee in the world.
Largest Coffee Importer
Looking solely from a per capita angle, the US outranks Europe significantly in how much coffee its citizens consume. When looking at the pounds of coffee per capita consumed, the US comes in solidly at 26th, and the UK follows quite far behind in the 45th spot
What plays a large part is that coffee beans can only be grown in Hawaii and California, leaving the US as the one nation in the world with the title of the largest coffee importer.
Coffee vs. Water
Although water is the most consumed beverage in the US, coffee follows close behind. An estimated 63% of Americans start their day with freshly brewed coffee each morning.
The drink may afford its popularity to its inherent caffeine content, which makes it highly sought after for relieving tiredness and aiding in increased alertness during the morning.
Coffee Consumption from 2020-2021
From 2020 to 2021, an estimated 167 million bags of coffee, weighing 60kg each, were consumed globally. The amount was up approximately 1.9% over the 164.13 million bags from 2019-2020.
Americans alone are estimated to drink as much as 146 billion cups of coffee yearly. When considering this total, the US per capita consumes an annual amount of nine pounds.
At first glance, this may seem somewhat skewed, but an estimated 150 million Americans enjoy drinking coffee regularly.
They can drink as many as four cups of coffee daily and remain within the US Food and Drug Association’s suggested guidelines for caffeine consumption.
Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
Not only does coffee get you up and running throughout your work day, with yearly revenues totaling over $80 billion, but it is undeniable that coffee also works to power the US economy.
As it stands, the US has the most prominent coffee market globally. Not only is coffee a driving force for the economy, but it is estimated to continue to grow by an additional 5% by as early as 2025.
At Least One Cup A Day
Of those Americans that will enjoy a cup of coffee regularly, an estimated 84% will partake of at least one cup in the comfort of their own home.
The trend has been moving towards many coffee drinkers taking the splurge and purchasing various coffee machines that will allow them to brew their favorite coffee creations within the comfort of their kitchen.
So much so that the daily use of single-serve brewers in the US jumped an estimated 19% to 26% in the last few years.
Preference For Home Brewing
The coffee industry was also affected when the recent pandemic hit, and the coffee landscape morphed and changed. Avid coffee drinkers decided to forgo their usual trip to the local coffee shop due to lockdowns and closures and took to brewing their morning cup of coffee at home.
The change allowed consumers to purchase coffee machines and embark on home-brewing exploration.
Even though they found the process more complicated than just placing an order, many realized that their cups of coffee were significantly less expensive in return.
Common Home Brewing Methods
Americans prefer single-serve pods or drip coffee when considering the most popular choices for brewing their coffee at home.
When looking at drip coffee brewing, an estimated 41% of coffee drinkers in the US preferred this method the most in 2020.
These figures prove that when it comes to brewing their coffee at home, many Americans prefer the convenience of speed. That is not to say they are willing to compromise on the quality of their cup of coffee. So much so that only 5% of those surveyed said they would drink instant coffee.
Decline In Gourmet Coffee
With the ever-growing interest in brewing their coffee from the comfort of their home, the demand for gourmet coffee-shop coffee has steadily declined.
What were once hot commodities and all the rage, such as cappuccinos, lattes, and cold brews, are not considered to be quite as trendy these days.
Only 36% of coffee drinkers today say they are likely to indulge in a gourmet cup of coffee. On the contrary, indications suggest that today's coffee consumers are looking for more traditional brews utilizing grounds sourced from premium beans.
Age Groups And Coffee
Data gathered from studies show that the demographic for the most devoted coffee drinkers in the US is 60 years old and older. The data shows that of those older coffee drinkers, 72% said they typically drink coffee daily.
In comparison, of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 24, only an estimated 47% stated they would drink coffee regularly. These numbers make the lowest demographic in the US for coffee drinkers overall.
Coffee Shops And Millennials
Unlike every other generation of coffee drinkers, millennials mainly enjoy their coffee at coffee shops. As stated above, gourmet coffee preference is on the decline, but that does not mean that the millennial generation is not doing its part to keep the industry afloat.
So much so that an estimated 36% of those individuals in the 25 to 40-year-old age range continue to place their orders for those once highly sought-after specialty drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.
As you can see from the various statistics presented above, there is more to the coffee industry than just grinding the beans and serving the coffee.
Statistics play a significant role in the coffee-producing economy. Those listed above are interesting when looking at and taking into considering the amount of coffee consumption in the US today.
Meet the expert
I live in the hills of Appalachia, and when I am not writing, I tend to my garden and my flock of chickens. I am presently attempting to live a slower, more simple life with my precious rescue pup Chigger by my side.