Which Countries Drink the Most Coffee
Coffee consumption is widely observed all around the world. From the morning jolt of brew to the calming afternoon cup, coffee is one of the most popular drinks worldwide. But which countries are guzzling the most coffee? Here we explore the evidence and offer expert opinions to try and find out.
At the beginning of 2021, it’s safe to say that the entire world is in love with coffee. The bitterness of the beans, the creamy flavor of the latte, the comforting aroma of a steaming cup of joe – it’s all a hit. But each region takes its coffee differently, with varying levels of consumption. For instance, during self- reported survey studies, along with information gathered from various sources, it was concluded that on average, Northern Europeans drink up to 5 times more coffee than Southern Europeans each year.
When we look at the global picture, Finland leads the market as the world’s biggest coffee drinkers, with an estimated 12 kg per person consumed each year. That’s close to 26.4 cups of coffee for every Finn – enough to alert the most dedicated of night owls. According to Professor Harold Brown of the Institute of Caffeine Studies, the Finns’ love of coffee is rooted in how the beverage is “boundary-crossing” and could be seen as “part of a wider culture of social drinking around the world.”
However, this doesn’t mean the Finns hold an absolute monopoly in global coffee consumption; nearby neighbor and rival Sweden isn’t far behind at 10.3 kg of coffee per person, or 22 cups a day. Norway and Denmark occupy the third and fourth slots respectively, with an average of 9.9 and 8.7 kg of coffee consumption each year. While coffee consumption is higher in urban areas than rural, Scandinavians of all walks still clock in a hefty caffeine intake, be it from their morning cappuccino or their third espresso post-dinner.
Moving away from Scandinavia, Europe is still home to some of the world’s most avid coffee drinkers. In terms of annual per capita consumption, the Netherlands ranks fifth at 8 kg with Austria in sixth at 7.9 kg. And it’s no coincidence that these two countries make the top 6 – as stated by author Anna Brones in her book ‘Coffee: A world history’, they are among the oldest European countries with a coffee culture.
Further to Europe, American countries still remain some of the world’s biggest coffee consumers, led by the United States. In the US, there are roughly 8.3 kg of coffee consumed per person each year, and given the country’s size and population, this can easily be translated into millions of kilograms of served brew every week. Canada follows close behind at 8.1 kg while Brazil rounds off the world’s top 10 at 7.7 kg.
Impact of the Cafe Culture
The incredible popularity of coffee around the world has wider implications for different countries beyond just the numbers on an annual consumption report. Taking the United States as an example, the average American consumes around 3.2 cups of coffee per day, a figure that has been steadily growing over the years. With this sort of ubiquity and demand, the US coffee industry has had to adapt and evolve in order to meet the preferences and needs of its customers.
What’s resulted is a twist on the typical ‘café’ experience, with the gourmet specialty coffee movement and the rise of third-wave coffee brand Starbucks. Traditional North American outlets like Dunkin’ Donuts, have had no choice but to keep up with the trend, offering new flavors and drinks to compete in this increasingly saturated market.
In Europe, the coffeehouse culture is more deeply entrenched in everyday life, and cafes don’t just sell caffeinated knock offs but also specialize in unique brews. Some Scandinavian countries have gone further by allowing coffee consumption in public places such as libraries, parks, and beaches. One of the main purposes has been to encourage coffee (and caffeine) consumption in different settings to bring people together: to be used as a social lubricant in addition to its nutritional benefits.
In Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, coffee continues to gaining better acceptance, aided by the younger generations’ embrace of the westernization. Coffee chains such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee have been growing since the early 2000s, selectively targeting major cities to meet growing demand.
What Makes Coffee So Desirable?
Coffee has been gaining cult-like status for years now and for very good reason. For one, it contains up to 400 active ingredients, including caffeine, theobromine, antioxidants, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium – all with potential health benefits.
Coffee’s popularity also means that modern science has been able to develop further understanding and explore new ways of harnessing the drinks potential. In October 2019, the Coffee Innovation Park was opened in Nairobi – it represents the world’s first research laboratory to explore the science behind brewing, roasting, and consuming specialty African coffees. Such initiatives offer greater insight into how coffee can be used in different countries and cultures, which can lead to possible health benefits and higher quality brews.
On the other hand, there is a darker side to coffee. Coffee’s international success in both scientific and commercial circles has come at tremendous cost to the people living in the world’s largest coffee-producing countries. Oftentimes, exploitation of the workers and unequal distribution of wealth are rampant. Changes are being made, however, with initiatives like International Coffee Partners (ICP), which seeks to create sustainable change.
Coffee Trends of the Future
Looking to the future, a major question hangs in the air – where will the global coffee market go next? From a regional perspective, the trends may differ. For instance, large-scale festivals such as the 2018 Coffee Expo in Japan saw the growing popularity of cold brews and a focus on the exotic flavors of Ethiopian and Colombian coffee.
Elsewhere, one of the key drivers would continue to be convenience. Automated machines, subscription services and the rise of delivery apps like UberEats and Deliveroo have made it easier for people to get their daily fix, no matter where they are.
As with all trends, the underlying drive of understanding certain principles and pairing that knowledge with innovation is one of the main constants. This ethos of exploration will shape the coffee consumption markets of the coming years, with roasters, shops and cafes alike looking for the best practices to optimize their product.
Environmental Benefits
The third wave of coffee consumption has also created an avenue for conservational talk. Those from the specialty coffee sector are exploring ways to reduce the negative environmental impacts of coffee production, starting with the packaging. Packaging materials such as plastic, can be replaced by renewable, biodegradable products in a bid to reduce waste and pollution.
From a chemical point of view, coffee farmers are also experimenting with safer agrochemical products. These involve the use of natural pest control systems, crop rotation and intercropping, which are all feasible alternatives that protect both producer and consumer. Finally, a handful of coffee roasters now source their product from sustainable farms and farmers, duly accredited by the United Nations and other international organizations.
Conclusion
It’s increasingly clear that coffee consumption is an ingrained part of global culture and one that’s not showing any signs of abating. While environmental concerns remain an issue, the rise of initiatives such as those from ICP show that the issue is not being taken lightly. As for the science behind coffee and consumer opinion, time will tell us which combinations and flavors work best for the different parts of the world – although, if Scandinavia is anything to go by, the coffee scene is only going to get bigger.
