Americans appear to have an insatiable appetite for coffee: every year, we consume over 400 million cups of coffee, making the United States the world leader in coffee consumption. However, while all states drink some coffee, there’s a clear discrepancy in how much coffee is drunk by different states. According to numerous analyses, three states, California, New York and Texas, lead the pack in drinking the most coffee in the United States.
One of the factors that seems to contribute most to the high consumption of coffee in these states is the high population. California, New York and Texas are the three states with the highest populations in the U.S. and as a result, have an exponentially larger amount of coffee drinkers than other states with lower populations.
Getting a bit more into the specifics, an analysis from the National Coffee Association found that California was first in the country in domestic coffee consumption, with over 28 million people regularly drinking coffee. New York was the second-highest state, with 25 million people drinking coffee daily. Texas rounded out the top three, with a total of 22 million coffee drinkers on average.
These statistics don’t just reflect population size, though: experts believe that lifestyle factors can affect coffee consumption as well. For example, New York is one of the most densely populated cities on the planet and many of its citizens rely on coffee to stay energized and alert. California, meanwhile, is home to many trend-setting organizations that champion the image of being coffee-obsessed. Finally, Texas has a vibrant coffee culture due to its cultural diversity and an enthusiastic embrace of many coffee-drinking traditions such as Spanish-style coffee drinking.
It’s also worth noting that the three leading states in coffee consumption aren’t necessarily the only ones drinking coffee. Other states such as Florida, Washington and Massachusetts consume a lot of coffee as well, just not quite as much as California, New York and Texas. Furthermore, States like North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa have also been drinking coffee for years, but their consumption hasn’t been analyzed in a meaningful way.
Economic Factor
Of course, when discussing the states that drink the most coffee, one very important factor must be taken into account: economics. While Californian, New Yorker and Texan coffee drinkers may be better off financially, those in other states may not be as lucky, meaning they can’t afford to drink as much coffee. And while states like North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa may consume less coffee, that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy coffee as much. After all, with economic restrictions on coffee-buying, these states may not just be buying more coffee but also taking the time to enjoy it more, which would offset their lower totals.
Local Coffee Shops
Also important to note in this discussion is the prevalence of local coffee shops across the states. California, New York and Texas are home to many specialty coffee shops across their cities, offering a variety of coffee options to those living in these states, making it easier and more enjoyable to drink coffee regularly, in comparison to other states that may lack any local specialty coffee shops.
Small Coffee Culture
Finally, coffee-drinkers in states with lower coffee consumption could simply be more content with cheaper instant coffee. For states like North Dakota and others, they may not have as strong of a coffee-drinking culture, with locals feeling more content with quick and inexpensive ways of consuming coffee. In these states, many don’t see the appeal of spending more money on a premium product, such as specialty coffee.
State Impact on Coffee Culture
In the end, one thing is for sure: the states that consume the most coffee have a powerful impact on the culture of coffee drinking in the United States. These three leading states—California, New York and Texas—have an influence over the coffee-drinking population in the U.S., setting the trend for where coffee is drunk and what kind of coffee is drunk. As a result, the coffee-drinking culture in the U.S. is largely determined by the habits of these three states.
Coffee Plants Adapted
However, while California, New York and Texas might be the most coffee-drinking here in the U.S., they’re not the only places in the world where coffee is consumed. For example, Latin American countries, like Brazil and Colombia, make up a large part of the global coffee consumption. This is in part due to how coffee plants have adapted to their climate, making the cultivation of coffee easier and more effective.
Relationship to Tourism
This large consumption of coffee in these Latin American countries is also closely tied to tourism: many tourists enjoy visiting these countries specifically for their coffee-drinking culture, contributing to the large amounts of coffee consumed there. In places like Colombia, the production of coffee has a huge positive economic impact, largely due to how important it has become to the tourism sector.
Coffee as Part of a Culture
Finally, it’s important to note that while certain states may drink more coffee, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re any better at doing it. Coffee-drinking is part of many cultures and it’s important for Americans to appreciate the unique rituals that other countries have adopted. From Japan’s slow-paced coffee ceremony to the Italian espresso tradition, coffee-drinking is a cultural pastime that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
