Global Statistics in Coffee Consumption
It is no surprise that coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Every morning millions of people climb out of what can be deemed a ‘caffeine-induced coma’, reaching for their percolator to kick-start their day. But which country drinks the most coffee in the world?
According to the Coffee Association of Canada, it is estimated that around 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed on a global scale every day. The International Coffee Organization (ICO) states that “the increase in the price of coffee and robust global demand, have driven increases in global export volumes”, indicating that the culture of drinking coffee is increasing as the economic availability of the commodity is also on the rise.
Brazil is one of the countries that saw the highest rate of increase in coffee consumption in the past decade, where the average person drinks around three cups a day. This is just behind the number of cups consumed per day per person in Finland, which is the highest in the world with 4.3 cups a day. It is known that the Finns love their coffee, and their strong dependence on the beverage is apparent in their routines. An expert from the ICO, Harvinder Naik, commented that “Finns take the time to appreciate their coffee and to drink it slowly and without any hurry, unlike in other countries where it is seen as a quick energy boost to start their day”.
The second largest consumer of coffee is followed by the countries of Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, with around 3 cups a day per person. The average amount of cups consumed in the USA is around 2.4 cups a day per person. Many of the Western European countries are also large consumers of coffee, with an estimated 1.8 cups per person per day. On the contrary, Japan has the lowest amount of coffee intake, estimating around 0.4 cups a day person, with other Asian countries similarly having low rates of coffee consumption.
Which Country Will Drink the Most Coffee in 2022?
In 2022, if the rate at which caffeine intake is increasing globally continues to increase, it is expected that the Finns will still have the highest average number of cups consumed per day per person. However, many experts predict negative economic growth in countries with higher economic levels of coffee consumption, with the possibility that coffee consumption may decrease if the price of coffee increases too much. Therefore, there is a chance that countries such as Brazil or the USA and other western countries, could overtake Finland as the world’s highest coffee drinkers.
Meanwhile, it is predicted that countries such as India and China will see an increase in the average coffee consumption rate due to the projection of strong economic growth in the next two years. Additionally, as the demand for specialty coffee roasts rises, some experts anticipate Asian countries becoming more open to the idea of coffee being more than a morning beverage to give people an energy boost for their day.
The Impact of Coffee Roasters on Emerging Markets
In countries such as India and China, where tea is the traditional beverage of choice, the development of specialty coffee shops has allowed for the interest in coffee to increase. As such, many coffee roasters have begun to open their branches all over both of these countries looking to tap into the growing interest in drinking coffee.
The increasing emergence of third-wave coffee roasters has begun to challenge the traditional coffee shop chains, as they concentrate on creating a unique coffee drinking experience. This, therefore, encourages people to form relationships and connections with coffee, as opposed to just taking it as a morning beverage to get energy and to keep going.
Many experts anticipate the emerging coffee market in the Asia-Pacific to continue to grow significantly in the next couple of years, as more and more people become interested in the idea that coffee can be much more than just an energy booster and a thirst-quencher, but an experience and cultural identity for themselves as well.
Third-Wave Coffee and the Global Surge of Specialty Coffee
Third-wave coffee is a relatively new concept that has been developing in the past decade all across the world. Specialty coffee is focused on the quality of the coffee beans, the roasting process, the preparation of the beverage, and the social experience of those who consume it. It has been heavily associated with the idea of coffee as an art, and the entire coffee-making process as a performance.
As a result, specialty coffee has become increasingly popular globally, and this is reflected in the increasing demand for higher quality coffee beans, as well as the emergence of the culture of making coffee an individual experience. Specialty coffee has grown especially in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Scandinavia.
The Increasing Popularity of Takeaway Coffee
The development of takeaway coffee has been on the rise for the past decade, and is expected to continue increasing in the next couple of years. Takeaway coffee is usually consumed by people on the go, who do not have the time to make a cup of coffee at home, but need a quick energy boost. Additionally, it has been seen as a way of sharing a daily activity and routine with those around us, as going to get a takeaway coffee with friends or family members has become a popular activity for some people.
The market for takeaway coffee to-go cups has been influenced by the surge of specialty coffee, and many cafes have begun to specialize in providing an experience as well as the beverage itself. This concept of leisurely drinking coffee on the go has become increasingly popular as multinational companies have begun to catch on to the emerging market of takeaway coffee.
The Economic Effects of Coffee Consumption
Coffee is a major commodity in the world market, as a large number of countries are exporters of coffee beans. According to the ICO, “In 2018/19 the world output of coffee for the 2017/18 crop year reached a record level of 174 million bags”, indicating that international trade of the commodity has increased substantially in the past decade.
The increasing demand for the commodity, as well as its economic availability, has been strongly associated with the increasing number of coffee drinkers across the world. It is believed that with an increase in production of the commodity, and with the increasing demand of consumers, the economic affordability of coffee beans around the world will also increase.
The Social Effect of Coffee Consumption
Coffee has been very heavily associated with cultural identity, and the concept of drinking coffee being part of a social activity is one that has been around for centuries. As such, coffee has become more than just a beverage for many people, but rather a social shared activity to come together with friends, family and colleagues. It has become a tradition in many cultures, and is often a representation of the social robustness and cultural diversity of individuals who consume it.
The culture of coffee consumption has been more heavily influenced by the West in the past decade, with the emergence of specialty coffee roasters and cafes becoming popular in countries that were not as enticed by the idea of coffee consumption before. Now, many countries express their social and individual identities through coffee consumption, and its importance in forming relationships has become much more evident in many parts of the world.
Conclusion
In 2022, it is expected that countries such as Finland and Brazil will lead the way in coffee consumption, with the other western countries following closely behind and with the Asia-Pacific regions catching on soon after. With the upcoming surge of specialty coffee shops and the rising demand for specialty coffee roasts, coffee consumption is expected to become more than just a morning beverage, and more of an experience in many countries around the world. The economic, cultural and social impacts of coffee consumption are immeasurable, and the beverage is quickly becoming a global phenomenon that unites us all.
