Coffee Statistics (2021) | Most Amazing Data Wake You Up

by AllannBrosCoffee Team | Last Updated: July 15, 2020

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages to ever exist, and the current coffee statistics more than indicate this. Understanding current trends in the coffee industry have a number of benefits for a wide range of different people. For the java businessperson, understanding where the market is headed can help you improve your own business model.

For the consumer, it serves both as an interesting topic of conversation, and as a unique means of getting exposed to new ideas and trends regarding the drink that you love.

Coffee Infographic

So, without further ado, let’s get right to it, shall we? Read on for a ton of different coffee statistics!

History of Coffee Statistics

1. Coffee can be traced back to the 1400s where it was first consumed as a fragrant soup in the Sufi Monasteries.

2. Coffee first made its way to the Americas in 1714.

3. In the 1800s, coffee giants Folgers and Maxwell house came into existence, causing a wave of coffee consumption that resembles the world we know today.

4. In the early 1900s, home coffee roaster, espresso makers and instant coffee made it easier than ever to enjoy a good coffee at home.

5. Starting in the 1970s, the java industry started to focus on quality over quantity. This was especially true when Starbucks emerged in 1971.

Coffee Consumption Statistics

1. 50% of people in the United States drink coffee on a daily basis (this equates to approximately 150 million java drinkers in one country alone).

2. Of those 150 million coffee drinkers, most are consuming around three cups a day.

3. Approximately 65% of coffee in America is consumed during the morning. A remaining 30% is enjoyed either with lunch or dinner, and 5% is consumed independently of any meal.

4. Like your coffee black? You are in the minority. Only 35% of people drink their coffee straight. The rest add cream or sugar.

5. The average cup of coffee is 9 ounces.

Global Popularity Statistics

1. Over 2.5 billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis all across the globe.

2. The beans for this coffee is sourced from 25 million different growers all over the world who depend on the industry to make their living.

3. The global coffee market sees at least ten million bags of coffee exported each and every month!

4. Arabica beans account for more than twice as much of the annual coffee export.

5. There are 3 billion coffee plants all over the world that are used to source our current supply.

Health Statistics

1. Drinking coffee may actually be good for your health. In fact, daily coffee consumption has been shown to have a direct correlation with a lowered risk for type 2 diabetes. Studies show that with all other factors being equal, adults who drink coffee daily are 24% less likely to get diabetes.

2. Daily coffee has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. In fact, the more you drink, the better off you will be. Those who drink between 3-5 cups a day are significantly less likely to get Alzheimer’s.

3. Though coffee and cardiovascular health don’t always have a positive association, little risk has been proven. In fact, people who drink higher quantities of coffee have, in some studies, been shown to have a lower risk of heart disease.

4. Coffee has also been shown to assist with weight loss. The drink naturally stimulates the burning of fat and the improvement of your digestive system.

5. Want to live longer? Coffee might help you get there. Though causation has not yet been proven, there is a strong correlation between coffee and longer life expectancies.

Product Statistics

1. The majority of consumers are so hooked on coffee that they would prefer to do without showers or their cell phones than they would give up coffee!

2. Coffee seems to be a beverage for the financially comfortable. Over 65% of coffee drinkers earn at least $30,000 a year.

3. The older you are, the more likely it is that you will drink coffee. Indeed, 75% of senior citizens drink coffee on a daily basis!

4. Two species of bean (Arabica and Robusta) account for nearly 100% of all coffee. While there are several regional exceptions, virtually none of them account for the export market.

5. Though the coffee shop industry is enormous, coffee is still highly valued as a home product. In fact, 80% of people make their coffee at home more often than they buy it at the store.

Export Statistics (i.e., where is coffee coming from?)

1. Coffee is currently traded and exported from over 70 countries.

2. Though America is one of the biggest consumers of coffee on the planet, the region itself is not suitable for the growth of varieties coffee beans. In fact, Hawaii and California are the only states where commercial-grade coffee beans can be grown, and they make up a negligible portion of the export market.

3. Presently, Brazil is the number one exporter of coffee, accounting for a significant portion of the global supply.

4. Vietnam is relatively new to the global coffee industry but nevertheless has proven itself to be a rising star. Presently, they export the second most amount of coffee beans in the world.

5. The global coffee trade has a staggeringly high annual worth of $74 billion and accounts for many millions of jobs all around the globe.

Demographic Statistics (what type of people drink coffee)?

1. Millennials tend to drink coffee a little bit differently than previous generations. Though the bulk of coffee consumed still comes from bulk cans, 50% of millennials are willing to pay more for gourmet beans.

2. Men and women tend to have very different motivations for why they drink coffee. The average man claims to drink coffee to help them wake up, while the average woman says they drink coffee to help them relax.  

3. Half of all people between the ages of 18-24 drink coffee, a number that continues to go up the older you get.

4. Thought the United States feels quite strongly about its coffee, it’s still not the world’s biggest consumer of java. That distinction goes to the people of Finland. Finland has risen to the top of the coffee consumption demographic by boasting an annual intake of 12 kg per person.

This may be largely a cultural phenomenon. In Finland, coffee is not just a means to an end, but a thing to be enjoyed. Turkish coffee, known for its flavor and potency, is very popular there, and regular breaks are scheduled throughout the day for people to sit down and enjoy their java.

5. Citizens of the United States still account for a sizable portion of the global consumer demographic. Presently, the US is positioned as the 8th highest consumer of coffee in the world.

Brewing Method Statistics (How are people making their coffee)

1. The drip brew method is currently the most popular way to prepare coffee. Presently, 45% of all coffee made in the United States is done with a drip brew system. However, that number is in decline, especially as of the last 5 years. Indeed, it may be very possible that the traditional drip brew system will soon be usurped by the convenient and popular single-cup maker.

2. Espresso makers are currently the second most popular method of brewing coffee in the United States, accounting for 12% of what is brewed annually. However, this ranking may be somewhat distorted by the fact that the many different methods of sing serving brew systems are not necessarily statistically lumped together.

3. Though drip-brew systems represent the majority of coffee preparation, plain jane coffee does not account for the average person’s preference. In terms of sheer popularity, that distinction goes to cappuccinos. Indeed, 30% of coffee drinkers currently self report that the cappuccino is their favorite caffeinated beverage.

4. Though coffee production is notoriously bad for the environment, the average consumer seems to have an interest in curbing this problem. More than half of all coffee drinkers report that they prioritize brewing and consuming coffee that has been sourced from environmentally friendly farms.

5. The average millennial asks a little bit more from their coffee than the rest of the java drinking population. Presently, approximately 74% of millennials are drinking gourmet coffee on a daily basis.

Caffeine Statistics

1. Coffee is far and away, the most popular source of caffeine. Indeed, java currently accounts for 65% of all caffeine intake.

2. There are 95 milligrams of caffeine in your average cup of coffee. Doctors recommend that individuals keep their daily intake at or below 400 milligrams. Since the average person drinks three cups a day, most of us are staying well below that threshold.

3. While you can stay safely within the recommended caffeine threshold when using drip brew, things get a little dicier when you opt for espresso. There are 64 milligrams of caffeine in a single shot of espresso. And while this is technically less than the content of a cup of average coffee, these numbers do not tell the whole story.

For perspective, the espresso figure refers to a single ounce serving, whereas the coffee numbers refer to eight ounces. This means that, to scale, espresso has substantially more caffeine than coffee.

For further perspective, most of the world’s most popular coffee drinks are espresso-based (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.).

Containing caffeine in chocolate covered espresso beans is almost the same as conventional espresso beans, but its taste enormously better, especially those who love chocolate flavors.

4. Seattle Washington leads the United States in coffee consumption. This won’t be surprising for those who know that this is where the global coffee juggernaut Starbucks saw its beginnings.

5. Currently, 90% of Americans are consuming caffeine in some form or another on a daily basis. This means that statistically speaking, it is far and away from the most addictive drug in the country!

Coffee Shop Statistics

1. Though coffee shops are very popular, the vast majority of people prefer to drink and run. In fact, more than 50% of all coffee shop orders take place at the drive-through window!

2. If you want to make money in the coffee industry, opening up a café may not be such a bad idea. On average, 60% of people visit coffee shops every month. Beware, though, the majority of those visits are happening at well-established coffee chains!

3. does it feel like there is a coffee shop everywhere you turn your head? Well, there kind of is. In the United States alone, there are over 35,0000 coffee shops. Bearing in mind that there are only 3000 counties, this means that, statistically speaking, there are probably at least ten coffee shops that are easily within driving distance of you right now.

4. Local coffee shops are great fun, but they also represent a statistical minority. Currently, 4 out of every 5 coffee shops are a chain location (think Starbucks, Einstein Bagels, etc.). It’s hard competing with the giants, so tip well the next time you go out to your local café!

5. It may come as no surprise to you that coffee shops are among the most profitable of restaurants, not just because of their popularity, but also based on their sheer profit margins. Coffee shops tend to see profit margins of 60-70%.

Closing Remarks

Woah, pretty impressive, huh? And yet, not very surprising to those of us who can’t get through a day without a cup of coffee or three. One of the most interesting things about coffee statistics is that they continue to rise each year. It seems that with each turn of the calendar, people are enjoying their java more and more.

And what’s not to like? In addition to being delicious and very helpful in terms of daily productivity, coffee may actually be good for you! While the world may need to focus on sustainability in the coffee industry in the years to come, the beverage nevertheless clearly has a bright future ahead of it.