Americans are drinking more coffee than ever, figures reveal

America has been a devout coffee-drinking nation since the infamous destruction of 92,000 tons of tea in 1773.

Well over 200 years later, the love of Java is stronger than ever, according to new industry data released this week.  

The number of Americans drinking a daily cup of coffee is at the highest level since 2012, with 64 percent of adults picking up a daily brew, up from 62 percent in 2017. 

The increase, announced at the National Coffee Association’s annual meeting in New Orleans this weekend, is largely attributed to the boom in bespoke at-home coffee gear as well as gourmet twists on the drinks in cafes. 

The survey underscores a strong US market for the caffeinated beverage even as demand for soda and juice continues a years-long decline. 

Figures reveal 64% of American adults drink at least one cup a day, up from 62% in 2017

Coffee, bottled water and tea have been major growth categories in recent years, the survey showed.

The NCA survey asked about 3,000 respondents what they drank yesterday at different times of day.

Daily coffee consumption declined into the mid-1990s, when Americans drinking coffee on any given day fell below 50 percent, according to results presented at an industry conference in New Orleans.

Coffee is a bright spot for a global food industry facing stagnating demand growth for other products. In the United States, ready-to-drink products are boosting demand. In Brazil, pods and roast coffee are growing market.

‘We see the cola industry is declining, (but) coffee is in the front row,’ Roberto Vélez, head of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation, said in a separate presentation.

EVERY EXTRA CUP BOOSTS LONGEVITY BY 8%, MEDICS CLAIM 

A study backed by the American Heart Association last fall found there was no limit to the amount of coffee, when it comes to heart health.

In fact, the University of Colorado researchers declared that adding one extra cup of coffee a day may be enough to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of how many you usually consume.

Though the high caffeine content has stirred health concerns around coffee, the overwhelming amount of antioxidants in the drink has been linked to a number of health benefits including protecting against cancers.

Among the Americans surveyed, at-home preparation continues to be the dominant spot for demand, with 79 percent of those surveyed saying they had had a cup of coffee at home the previous day. 

Coffee consumed at cafes and other out-of-home locations totaled 36 percent.

Demand for gourmet coffee, which includes espresso-based beverages and ready-to-drink, was steady relative to 2017 levels. 

The segment continued to get a boost from younger drinkers, with 48 percent of millennials saying they had a cup of coffee they consider to be gourmet the day before.

‘There’s been a huge shift toward gourmet in the US,’ market consultant Michael Edwards said in the presentation.

Gourmet represents over half the market, he said. 

Major coffee roasters have been trying to tap into it. 

Folgers maker JM Smucker is rolling out a new premium line this year and Nestle last year bought a majority stake in specialty chain Blue Bottle Coffee.

Use of smartphone apps and delivery services remains niche. Nine percent of Americans who drank coffee in the past week said they had ordered it through an app, the survey showed.



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