Coffee consumption outside the home returns to pre-pandemic levels.

Out-of-home coffee consumption has reached its highest point since January 2020, with a majority of Americans now believing coffee is beneficial to their health, according to the Fall 2024 National Coffee Data Trends analysis, released ahead of National Coffee Day on September 29.

The analysis, conducted by Toronto-based Dig Insights on behalf of the National Coffee Association (NCA) in New York, found that while home remains the most popular location for coffee consumption (with 81% of past-day coffee drinkers having coffee at home), 36% of coffee drinkers now enjoy coffee outside the home. However, the report notes that many consumers have coffee in both locations, and at-home and out-of-home coffee consumption are not mutually exclusive.

The report revealed that:

• 66% of Americans believe coffee improves mental focus.
• 51% think coffee is good for their health.
• 48% have heard information in the past year about the health benefits of coffee.
• 46% believe coffee improves physical endurance.

“There’s no better way to celebrate National Coffee Day than with the great news that coffee remains America’s favorite beverage, second only to bottled water, and that most Americans are aware of coffee’s unique health benefits,” said NCA President and CEO William Murray.

The analysis also found that:

• 65% of consumers had bottled water the previous day.
• 63% drank coffee.
• 51% had tap water.
• 45% drank tea.
• 44% consumed soft drinks.
• 26% had juice.

In terms of coffee preferences, 61% of Americans had traditional coffee, while 56% enjoyed a specialty coffee. Notably, 24% of past-day coffee drinkers chose cold coffee, reflecting a 60% increase since winter 2023. On average, American coffee drinkers consume 2.5 cups per day, with about 413 million cups consumed daily, enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool more than 39 times.

Other Key Findings

Specialty coffee remains strong, with 45% of Americans drinking it on the previous day, maintaining a 13-year high. Among specialty coffees, non-espresso-based beverages have seen the most growth, up 26% since January 2024. Cold brew, the most popular non-espresso-based option, is now consumed by 21% of Americans weekly, marking a 30% rise since January 2024.

Drip coffee makers remain the leading method of coffee preparation at 36%, followed by single-cup brewers at 24%. Ready-to-drink coffee, now at 18%, continues to grow in popularity, with consumption more than doubling since 2023.

Reasons for Coffee Consumption

The main reasons people enjoyed coffee in the previous day were:

• 76%: It wakes them up and gets them going.
• 67%: It helps them get things done.
• 66%: It improves mental focus.
• 63%: It’s a trendy beverage.
• 51%: They believe it’s good for their health.

Time of Day for Coffee Consumption

• 84%: Had coffee at breakfast.
• 32%: Drank coffee mid-morning.
• 19%: Drank coffee in the afternoon.
• 15%: Had coffee with lunch.
• 10%: Drank coffee in the evening.
• 6%: Had coffee at dinner.

Geographical Coffee Consumption Patterns

Coffee consumption is highest in the Northeast, with 69% of adults in the region drinking coffee daily. Other regions follow with:

• 64% in the West.
• 62% in the Midwest.
• 61% in the South.

The National Coffee Association (NCA), founded in 1911, is the oldest and largest trade organization in the U.S. representing coffee businesses, including producers, roasters, brands, and other companies responsible for 90% of U.S. coffee commerce. Coffee supports 2.2 million jobs in the U.S., contributing nearly $350 billion to the economy annually.