Next to water and tea, coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. From bitter black coffee to light and frothy lattes, the love of coffee is something that unites people across all countries, cultures, and demographics. It’s not difficult to find a lot of people investing in high quality coffee makers, grinders, and other equipment just to have a good cup of coffee every day. Here’s our roundup of the Coffee Industry Statistics for 2021, 2022 and Beyond.
The deep, chocolatey notes of freshly brewed coffee have hypnotised mankind for many years and become a staple part of our everyday lives. For many people, coffee is the first thing they think about when waking up, and billions of us claim we couldn’t go a full day without drinking at least one strong cup.
The statistics available on how much humans love coffee are astounding, but we shouldn’t be surprised. The winning combination of coffee’s rich aroma and energy-boosting caffeine has us wrapped around its little finger – and studies suggest this isn’t going to change anytime soon.
In 2021, coffee was the third-most popular beverage of choice across the board and it held its place through 2022. What else have we recently uncovered about this special beverage?
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UK Coffee Consumption Statistics
Although Brits are known for their deep and long standing love for tea, coffee has certainly made its way into mainstream British culture. Here are some notable coffee consumption facts from the United Kingdom.
- Each day in the UK, 95 million cups of coffee are consumed
- 80% of British coffee-drinkers prefer home-brewed instant coffee
- Millennials and Gen Z account for 16% of all coffee drinkers in the UK
- The UK’s favourite type of coffee to consume is a latte, followed closely by the cappuccino
- 80% of coffee drinkers in the UK visit coffee shops once per week
- 16% of UK coffee drinkers visit coffee shops at least once per day
- The UK coffee shop market brings in £15 billion annually
- The most popular time of day for the first cup of coffee is 09:01
- 39% of Britons have a coffee machine at home
Even though the consumption level of coffee in the UK has increased significantly over the past decade, it still doesn’t have a place on the world’s top 25 list of coffee-drinking countries.
International Coffee Industry Statistics
No matter where you find yourself in this world, you can be sure to find a cup of coffee when you need one. Whether it is used to energise your busy morning or keep global industries turning, coffee is clearly something that keeps the world spinning.
- 44% of the world’s coffee comes from Brazil
- There is no difference between the amount of coffee the average man drinks versus the average woman
- 65% of all coffee is consumed during the first few hours of the day. 30% is consumed in between main meals, and 5% at other times of the day
- 35% of people prefer plain black coffee
- More than 58% of countries produce coffee in some capacity
- Finland consumes more coffee per capita than any other country in the world
- Between 2020 and 2021, more than 166.63 million 60 kg bags of coffee were consumed
- 65% of people take their coffee with additional ingredients like milk, sugar, or cream Women care more about the price of coffee than men do
- In 2020, worldwide coffee sales dropped by 3.8% due to the pandemic
Coffee Market Growth
Despite some logistical setbacks caused by the pandemic, the coffee industry remains strong and continues to grow every year. Here is a round-up of some of the most notable coffee industry and market growth statistics from 2021.
210,000 UK jobs have been created through the coffee industry
- In 2020, the global coffee market was worth USD $102.02 billion
- The current growth rate of the coffee market is 4.6%
- Post-pandemic, the growth rate for the coffee market is expected to return to its 9% average before increasing further
- Approximately 44% of the coffee market is fuelled by Millennials
- Adults aged 60+ years decreased their consumption of coffee by 12% since 2016
Coffee Trends In 2021
As illustrated by the growing number of Millennial and Gen Z coffee drinkers around the world, international coffee trends continue to evolve. Based on recent predictions, this is what to expect from the future of coffee culture:
More sustainable production lines
2021 is bringing with it a huge demand for more environmentally conscious consumables and this trend is likely to continue. With Millennials and Gen Z now beginning to depend on coffee, it is predicted that things like compostable packaging, electric instead of gas bean roasting, and carbon-neutral cafes are expected to become more popular.
Alternative coffee beverages
Companies like Starbucks have got it right. While a significant chunk of the global population prefers black coffee, many are turning to alternative spins on traditional coffee like dalgona, affogato, and infused lattes.
Plant-based milk coffee
There has been a huge shift in attitude towards vegan and vegetarian diets over the past decade. The global plant-based milk industry is expected to exceed $21 billion by 2024. Cafes that sell a variety of plant-based milks like almond, oat, or rice milk can expect to see good business in 2021 and beyond.
Snap-chilled convenient coffees
Chilling coffee enhances its flavour and adds an attractive aroma to the brewing process. The convenience of purchasing a strong cup of pre-chilled coffee now appeals to many consumers from around the world. Snap-chilled coffee is already popular in the US and various EU countries, but the trend is only expected to increase over time.
The Coffee Trends to Come
Many of the trends seen in 2021 are here to stay. No surprise when you consider what a spanner the COVID-19 epidemic threw in the works. Here are some predictions as to the evolution of this market going forward from 2022 and into 2023:
Bigger drinks
Climate change’s impacts on our environments are becoming ever clearer. Temperatures the world over are soaring and the United Kingdom is experiencing unusually warm weather alongside its neighbours in Europe. This is unlikely to change any time soon, and, since most cities were not built with this kind of heat in mind, consumers are increasingly turning to iced beverages. Certain retailers are reporting increases of nearly 30% in orders of iced coffees and similar beverages.
More eye-catching packaging designs
Packaging trend insights reveal that customers are drifting away from minimalist design work. More vibrant colours that attract attention on the shelf are becoming more popular. Psychologically, this has been seen to happen when consumers are feeling experimental, ready to take a risk, and looking for excitement.
Sustainability is here to stay
The focus on environmentally friendly, sustainably sourced, and ethically produced packaging is here to stay. More than 30% of consumers now prefer eco-friendly options and report that they’ll choose these over other products, even if they cost more. This includes takeaway cups, lids, and sleeves.
Miscellaneous Fun Coffee Facts
The past few years have been complicated for the coffee industry, but over time the market is expected to make a full recovery. In the meantime, here are some quirky facts about coffee you probably didn’t know about.
- Light-roast coffee contains more caffeine than dark roast coffee
- Despite its title, decaffeinated coffee still has up to 3% of caffeine in it
- The average age of an Italian barista is 48. In Italy, being a barista is a well-respected job
- Coffee is almost the most traded consumable in the world – second only to seafood
- The most expensive coffee in the world is the South Asian Kopi Luwak, which is made using civet-digested coffee beans. It costs $1,500 a bag!
- According to several scientific studies, drinking dark coffee from a clear cup makes it taste sweeter
Whether you are a fan of coffee or not, there’s no denying that our species is in a deep-seated relationship with it. Besides, if you don’t like drinking it, there are many other creative ways to enjoy the benefits of this aromatic plant.
Nathan has always been captivated by numbers and patterns. With a Master’s degree in Statistics, he’s honed his skills to decipher complex data sets and discern market trends.
Over the past decade, Nathan has worked with various firms compiling and analyzing industry spending figures to forecast market movements.