NEW YORK, U.S. – Americans are drinking significantly more coffee at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the number of Americans drinking coffee away from home decreased by nearly 20 percent, according to a major new national poll released on Wednesday and commissioned by the National Coffee Association (NCA). The poll shows the pandemic has not changed how much coffee Americans drink (nearly 3 cups per day per coffee drinker) or how often (6 in 10 Americans drink coffee every day).
Just as before the pandemic, the vast majority of coffee drinkers (about 80 percent) drink coffee at home, but more than one-third miss visiting coffee shops. More than half of Americans have already returned to coffee shops or plan to do so in the next month.
NCA President and CEO Bill Murray commented:
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s profound disruptions on our lives, coffee continues to be America’s favorite beverage. New routines mean Americans are drinking more of their coffee at home than ever, but many are also returning to coffee shops around the country or plan to do so soon.”
NCA’s poll is the first of its kind to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on coffee consumption and provides an update to NCA’s annual National Coffee Data Trends Report, known as the “Atlas of American Coffee.” The complete poll and market analysis are available exclusively to 2021 NCA members who subscribe to the NCDT Market Research Series.
Additional key findings include:
75 percent of coffee drinkers say the pandemic has not changed their coffee consumption. For those who have changed habits, the most reported change is making more coffee at home.
App-based ordering, including delivery, rocketed up 63 percent amongst those who drank coffee in the last week. Drive through ordering increased 13 percent amongst those who drank coffee each day.
Consistent with measures recommended in NCA’s June 2020 COVID-19 reopening guidance, to feel comfortable and increase visits to coffee shops consumers most want to see visible precautions like workers wearing gloves and facemasks (48 percent) and mandatory facemasks for all customers (44 percent).
