CHICAGO, USA — Circana, the leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behaviour, reveals a significant surge in global coffee consumption, signalling a promising opportunity for coffee brands in Europe and worldwide. According to analysis based on Circana’s CREST Commercial Foodservice data, total coffee servings across the ‘Big 5’ European countries (UK, Spain, France, Italy and Germany) experienced a +8% year-over-year growth, outpacing the +5% recorded globally (across the 12 countries it tracks).
This growth trend was observed in each one of the five European markets tracked.
In a nation that traditionally favours tea, China emerged as the global frontrunner, experiencing the highest coffee consumption growth rate of +15%, followed by France with +11% and then Canada +10%. Across the Big 5 European markets, the UK was fourth +10%, Italy was sixth +8%, Spain was seventh +7% and Germany was eighth with +4% year-over-year growth.
Circana’s extensive research combines global data with local depth, providing nuanced insights for each country, spanning restaurant chains, and independent segments. This holistic perspective enables industry stakeholders to navigate the key trends and growth patterns within the coffee industry across 12 major countries.
Edurne Uranga, Vice President Foodservice Europe said: “The coffee industry has successfully reinvented itself, transitioning from being one of the hardest hit during COVID-19 to becoming one of the fastest-growing sectors within the restaurant industry.
“Cold coffee and coffee specialties emerge as a standout trend, experiencing substantial growth across all the countries we monitor. However, the competitive landscape, encompassing both chain and independent establishments, exhibits unique characteristics in each country. Understanding both the overarching global trends and the intricacy of the local marketplace is critical for success in this category.”
Key findings include:
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- Growth across countries. Coffee servings, at over $36 billion, witnessed growth of +5% across nations, with 11 of the 12 monitored countries forecasted to grow. South Korea stands out as the only country that did not experience year-over-year growth in coffee servings.
- Rising popularity of cold coffee. While hot coffee remains the dominant choice globally, cold coffee has gained momentum, indicating a long-term growth trend. China led cold coffee consumption growth from 2019 to 2023, boasting a 20% compound annual growth rate, with cold servings constituting 33% of total coffee consumption.
- Global beverage comparison. Coffee outpaced both tea (+4%) and carbonated soft drinks (+3%) in terms of year-over-year servings growth, emphasising its position as one of the fastest-growing beverage categories globally.
Through these insights, Circana continues to empower industry stakeholders with a deeper understanding of global coffee consumption trends, facilitating informed decision-making, and strategic market positioning.
