Researchers took an in-depth look into the hot beverage habits of the nation – and discovered that 61 per cent of us prefer drinking coffee. And, according to the data by syrup makers MONIN, we consume an average of four cups a day – that’s a staggering 1,460 cups of the black stuff EVERY year.
According to the poll of 1,500 Brits, the coffee capital of the UK is Cardiff – with folk from the Welsh capital downing a staggering 1,825 cups a year.
Ahead of International Coffee Day (Sunday 1 October) the survey showed the nation’s favourite coffee is by far and away the Latte, with 41 per cent saying it was their coffee of choice.
Cappuccino came second with 38 per cent, followed by Americano (26 per cent) and Mocha (16 per cent).
And it would seem Brits are more adventurous than ever, with 76 per cent claiming they regularly experiment with different styles and flavours of coffee.
Asked why people switched from tea to coffee, 46 per cent said they needed the caffeine boost they get from coffee to wake up in the morning and 39 per cent said they needed it as a pick me up during the day.
However, the majority – 65 per cent – said they simply preferred the taste to tea.
Surprisingly a further 62 per cent of Brits would even go as far to say that we now know more about coffee than we do wine. And 65 per cent of health-conscious Brits say going out for coffee to catch up with friends has now replaced heading out for a boozy night.
Lee Hyde, Beverage Innovation Manager at MONIN, commented: “We are seeing a rise in coffee shops and coffee culture across the country, and this trend is being replicated in the home too. Over a third of Brits confirmed they know more about coffee than they did five years ago and coffee drinkers are finding new ways to personalise their drinks, reaching for flavours from popular vanilla to more adventurous flavours like salted caramel.”
The survey revealed the average Brit has their first cup of coffee at 8am, with 51 per cent of us now owning our own coffee machine at home.
Over half of those who own a machine have a capsule machine, while 25 per cent have a filter system and 15 per cent own an espresso machine.
The data also revealed we spend a staggering £676 a year buying coffee from shops and cafes – that’s £13 a week on average.
“With coffee, the menu options are endless and with seasonal flavours on the rise and iced coffees during summer, coffees aren’t only functional they’re also the perfect fit for socialising too,” comments Mr Hyde.
The first coffee shop, The Angel, was opened in Oxford in 1652, with the second opening in London in the same year. According to a report* by retail research consultancy Allegra, there are now 22,845 coffee shops in the UK, a six per cent increase year on year – with 2.3bn coffees a year being bought and consumed out of home.
Almost four in ten (39 per cent) say coffee drinkers are cooler than those who prefer a nice cup of tea.
25 per cent of us admit to still having a jar of instant in the kitchen cupboard to give to friends when we can’t be bothered to make a proper cup.
A further three in ten (30 per cent) claim they have their own signature coffee – “make mine a skinny, caramel macchiato with an extra shot”.
And when it comes to added extras, 18 per cent of us like caramel syrup in our coffee, while 14 per cent ask for vanilla and ten per cent want a touch of hazelnut.
Mr Hyde added: “There’s so many ways to enjoy coffee now with different machines and gadgets its even easier to recreate that coffee shop experience in the comfort of your own home. What this study shows is there is a real thirst for coffee and people are keen to experiment and develop their signature brew.”
Britain’s Favourite Coffee
- Latte
- Cappuccino
- Americano
- Mocha
- Espresso
- Flat White
- Iced Coffee
- Frappe
- Ground
- Double Espresso
Britain’s Top Five Favourite Coffee Flavours
- Caramel
- Vanilla
- Hazelnut
- Cinnamon
- Salted Caramel
Ginger Research of 2,000 respondents
*Allegra Allegra World Coffee Portal Project Café2017 UK Debrief – January 2017