The world loves coffee, so much so, that over 2 billion cups are consumed per day. In the United States and United Kingdom, overall coffee consumption has increased dramatically in the past 10 years, and show no signs of stopping.
In the United States, the daily consumption of espresso based beverages has tripled since 2008, with a 45% increase in third-wave branded coffee.
This has partly to do with the widespread growth of places to get quality coffee, such as third-wave cafes, and the ever-present blossoming of Starbucks’ Reserve line stores.
The largest increase in coffee consumption comes from the age group of people between 18 and 35, an age group that encompasses those known as millennials.
Very recently though, within the past 5 years or so, the United States has seen a minor decline in brewed coffee, such as that made with a standard drip machine.
Usually, more than half of all coffee consumed is regular brewed coffee, but that percentage has dipped slightly under 50% in recent years, likely due to more modern espresso drinks, such as flavored lattes and blended espresso drinks, as well as the growth of buying power in the younger generation; willing to spend more for a better product.
The United Kingdom drinks around 55 million cups of coffee each day alone, around 1.8 billion a year, with 80% of households drinking instant coffee, especially if over 65 years of age. And more recently, in certain parts of the UK, coffee has become quite a rival for, and even surpassing, tea.
Instant coffee consumption has been on the decline in recent years, as easy brewing methods that yield fantastic results are becoming more mainstream, and people are becoming more aware of what quality coffee is like.
Costa, one of the largest and most loved coffee chains in the United Kingdom, is estimated to be one of the most prominent sources for quality coffee, rapidly contributing to the estimated 30,000 cafes that may spring up by 2025.
Not only are cafes serving as a place for people to get quality coffee, but they are also serving as a sort of community hub where people can get together and socialize.
This cafe growth, as it does in the United States, brings in a plethora of jobs each year. Costa Coffee, Starbucks, and Caffe Nero account for nearly 50% of the United Kingdom’s branded coffee chain market.
Just from 2014 to the present day, 7% of coffee consumers own a range of third-wave coffee equipment, such as an AeroPress or Chemex, compared to 2% in 2014.
Lastly, the United Kingdom is one of Europe’s fastest growing nations for coffee consumption, according to the Allegra World Coffee Portal, with Greece in second place.