UK Coffee Week 2018: Brits now drinking 95 million cups of coffee a day, survey finds

Surprisingly, it’s not millennials who are consuming the most

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Stereotypes suggest that Brits favour a builder’s brew over any other beverage but new figures released by the British Coffee Association (BCA) tell a different story.

Reliant on the caffeine spike a morning brew offers to face the day ahead, the BCA has revealed that the UK’s coffee consumption has soared to 95 million cups a day in 2018, up from 70 million in 2008.

That’s an increase of 25 million over the last 10 years.

Part of the research, conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), included a survey of 2,000 adults in the UK.

It found that nearly a third of those surveyed said they didn’t drink coffee at all, while at the other end of the scale six per cent admitted to drinking six cups or more a day, with the average person consuming around two cups a day.

Interestingly, it also revealed that 65 per cent of coffee is drunk at home, 25 per cent at work or while studying, and the rest is consumed in shops, bars and restaurants.

“In the last decade we’ve gone from a country of tea sippers who enjoy the occasional instant coffee, to a nation of seasoned coffee connoisseurs exploring a large variety of roast and ground blends,” said Chris Stemman, Executive Director of the BCA.

“Coffee consumption has boomed across the UK and with so many choices on offer, both at home and on the high street, this increase is not surprising.”

And, while as a nation we consume on average two cups a day, there are significant differences among the age groups.

The survey revealed that those under the age of 20 drink the least coffee at just 0.5 cups a day, while millennials (20-37) consume 1.3 cups and Generation X (38-52) consume 2.1 cups.

Surprisingly, Baby Boomers (53-71) and those over the age of 72 consume the most averaging on 2.2 cups a day.

“The research suggests that whilst millennials are drinking slightly less coffee than the older generations, they are probably drinking more of the speciality coffee found in restaurants, bars and coffee shops, which are often higher value, and are therefore more of a treat,” Stemman added.

Many people try to cut back on caffeine due to health concerns but according to experts there is clear evidence to show that in moderation, around three to five cups per day for most people, coffee can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.

“Despite the fact that we’re clearly enjoying coffee more than ever before, it’s still reassuring to know that coffee is one of the most well researched products in the world when it comes to our health,” said Dr. Sarah Jarvis, Clinical Director of Patient.info.

“Coffee is associated with certain health benefits such as improving alertness, physical performance levels, decreasing risk of cognitive decline and even reducing risks of some cancers.

“Of course, there are certain people who should limit their caffeine consumption, including those who are pregnant, but for most of us, we can continue drinking coffee in moderation quite happily.”