How Coffee Consumption is Shifting Post-Pandemic
When the pandemic hit the US last year, coffee drinking habits of Americans were totally upended.
A study by the National Coffee Association (NCA) found that this January 58% of Americans had at least one coffee a day compared to 62% a year earlier. It’s not a dramatic change and doesn’t necessarily indicate a change in overall coffee volume consumed.
Coffee is still the favorite beverage in the US, but the way they people get their coffee changed due to lockdowns. Restricted movement forced many retail coffee establishments to reduce hours and services.
However, consumers reported drinking more coffee at home by about 8% and an incredible 23% reported buying some kind of new coffee machine or appliance. Coffee purchases at the drive through increased 30%! 1
While opportunities to drink coffee at work or at their favorite cafe became more limited many consumers tried new coffee types and products. Nestle’, maker of Nespresso pod-based coffee machines reported that sales of those products grew a whopping 17.1% just in the first quarter of this year.
While enjoying new home coffee routines, about 35% of Americans miss their favorite coffee businesses and beverages. Nearly half of Americans (48%) are already returning to coffee shops or plan to within the next month.
As some Americans return to work, they are getting more comfortable using shared coffee stations and returning to local coffee businesses – compared to September 2020, 23% fewer have decreased use of shared coffee stations because of the pandemic, and 17% more have returned to local coffee shops. 2
Coffee retailers have had a challenging year. Including problems in the supply chain, as evidenced in well documented shortages of certain ingredients at Starbucks, and worker shortages that are still catching up to a new post-pandemic demand.
Despite everything that’s happened, America’s love of coffee appears to be strong, and they are very ready to get back to drinking it at their favorite cafe. Not even a pandemic can get in the way of the need for good coffee!
Photo credit: mike-kenneally-TD4DBagg2wE-unsplash
