What is the Most Popular Coffee Order in America?
Espressos, cappuccinos, lattes—the list is endless, but is there a specific order that is most popular by Americans?
It’s no secret that coffee is one of the most popular drinks in The United States, if not in the world. No matter the hour, wherever you turn people are coming in and out of coffee shops holding their liquid energy booster.
You would think that with so many people relying on coffee daily, baristas are given thousands of different orders per day. We wanted to check if there is a particular coffee order that is being ordered just a little bit more by most people across the nation. Curious to know if your favorite coffee drink is shared by thousands of others as well?
WAHT'S THE MOST POPULAR COFFEE ORDER IN THE US?
There are so many different coffee options, so how do you pick just one for your go-to order? It seems as if each day you are in need of a different type of coffee. One day you crave that iced coffee with as much milk and sugar as possible, and the next day you find yourself wanting only a simple black coffee. If you are changing your coffee order every day, you would imagine that the rest of the country is doing the same as well. Is it right? Well, with technology we can now know what is the most popular coffee order in America.
Between 2017 and 2018 the Specialty Coffee Association and Square analyzed data from millions of coffee purchases in the US. In their research, they found out that in that period of time there were over 67 million latte orders! By far the most popular coffee order analyzed. The average American did not only want a regular latte, but requested two additional add-ons to their customized coffee order.
Lattes make the best coffee choice for all moods of the day, regardless of where you live. A latte is primarily steamed milk (the word “latte” is an English word shortened for the Italian café latte meaning “milk coffee”). A latte can easily absorb other flavors when you add sweeteners or other flavoring ingredients in or on it. This is why lattes can come in different shapes and flavors such as, vanilla, peppermint, Irish crème, caramel, cinnamon, almond, hazelnut, toffee, buttered rum, orange, and raspberry.
Coffee Statistics
- 64% of Americans age 18 or over said they had a cup of coffee the previous day.
- Baby Boomers are the most avid coffee drinkers (56% drink coffee every day)!
- 31% of coffee drinkers make coffee the most important part of their morning routine.
- The instant coffee category is growing faster than the overall coffee market in the US (4.4% compared to 4.2%). You can even make iced lattes with instant coffee!
WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR COFFEE IN THE WORLD?
Unlike in the United States, we couldn't declare only one winner from our research, but a few notable winners in some of the countries we checked.
Asia
Vietnam: Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk!
Thailand: Roasted espresso beans over intense charcoal fire.
Japan: Espresso is becoming increasingly more common, but pour over is still the most common coffee type.
China: Instant coffee still makes up the vast majority of consumption; however, as more international and local coffee chains grow in popularity in China other espresso-based drinks become more common as well.
Europe
The UK: Just like in the US, the latte was named the most popular coffee order by the British people as well.
Italy: As the birth place of the espresso, no surprise here that this is the most popular coffee order in Italy.
Germany: Germans generally like milder flavors and our research found out that the most popular coffee order is the Americano.
France: The most popular coffee order is a Café au lait. Typically a drink served in a large bowl-like mug, the Café au lait is made out of equal ratios of freshly brewed coffee and steamed milk.
Africa
Ethiopia: If Italy is known to be the birth place of the espresso, Ethiopia is the place where coffee was initially discovered. Coffee is still commonly enjoyed as part of a ceremonial gathering where friends and family members come together around the table to roast coffee in a pan and grind it fresh before mixing it with hot water in a brewing pot called a jebena.
South Africa: As of the last decade, the demand for premium and speciality coffee has increased in South Africa; however, there is still a sustained demand for instant coffee, which is the most common coffee type in the country.
Egypt: In Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, Turkish coffee is the most popular coffee type. Turkish coffee is made by bringing finely ground coffee beans with water, and usually sugar, to boil in a special pot called cezve.
South America
Colombia: The most popular drink there is the classic black coffee (called Tinto). Some Colombians like to sweeten their coffee with panela (sugarcane juice), and others with a cinnamon branch.
Brazil: Brazilians love their Cafezinho, which is black coffee in a small cup with lots of sugar. We also discovered that iced and cold brew coffees are increasingly becoming more popular in Brazilian coffee shops.
Australia
Flat white is the most popular coffee drink in Australia and accounts for 25% of sales. Qneensland, ACT, Tasmania and WA also favor flat whites. With that being said, Australians also love their instant coffee!
