Coffee Reclaims Top Spot as America’s Most Consumed Beverage in 2025

Coffee has once again emerged as the most consumed beverage in the United States, surpassing bottled water. According to the Spring 2025 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report released by the National Coffee Association (NCA), two-thirds of American adults (66%) reported drinking coffee daily—outpacing tea, juice, soda, and bottled water. This marks a nearly 7% increase in daily coffee consumption compared to 2020.

The report, conducted in January 2025 by Dig Insights on behalf of the NCA, underscores coffee’s enduring popularity and its deep integration into the American lifestyle. On average, every U.S. coffee drinker consumes about three cups per day.

Specialty Coffee Fuels Growth

Specialty coffee has been the main driver of this five-year growth trend. In January 2025, 46% of American adults reported consuming specialty coffee the previous day—up from 39% in 2020, an 18% increase. Meanwhile, traditional coffee consumption has remained stable, with 42% of adults consuming it daily in 2025, compared to 43% in 2020.

Espresso-based beverages—such as lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and Americanos—saw a 17% jump in past-day consumption (from 24% in 2020 to 28% in 2025). Non-espresso-based specialty drinks—such as cold brew, nitro, and frozen blended coffees—rose even more sharply by 42% (from 12% in 2020 to 17% in 2025).

Despite the rise in specialty coffee, the ratio between specialty and traditional consumption has remained consistent. For every 100 cups of coffee consumed, 59 are specialty and 41 are traditional.

“Coffee holds a unique place in Americans’ daily lives—no other beverage is such a beloved and prominent touchstone,” said Bill Murray, President and CEO of the NCA. “Coffee’s popularity brews big benefits for American coffee drinkers and the entire U.S. economy.”

Home Brewing Dominates

Home remains the preferred place for coffee preparation. In 2025, 71% of daily coffee drinkers reported preparing their coffee exclusively at home, compared to 63% in 2020. Only 16% had coffee exclusively prepared outside the home, and 13% prepared it both at home and out—down from 19% in 2020.

Shifts in Purchasing Habits

Grocery stores continue to be the top location for purchasing coffee, with 40% of past-day coffee drinkers buying coffee there. However, online purchases have doubled—rising from 7% in 2020 to 14% in 2025. Meanwhile, purchases at mass merchandisers rose from 25% to 29%, club stores declined slightly to 10%, and purchases at coffee shops remained steady at 5%.

Evolving Brewing Methods

Drip coffee makers remain the most common household brewing method (62% in 2025 vs. 58% in 2020), but other methods are gaining popularity:

• Single-cup brewers: 42% (up from 40%)

• Instant coffee: 35% (up from 27%)

• Bean-to-cup machines: 15% (up from 10%)

• Espresso machines: 12% (up from 8%)

• Slow-drip cold brew setups: 11% (up from 7%)

• French presses: 12% (down from 14%)

• Pour-over makers: 6% (up from 5%)

The NCDT continues to serve as a vital indicator of evolving coffee trends in the U.S. For access to the full report, visit ncausa.org/ncdt.

About the National Coffee Association (NCA):
Founded in 1911, the NCA is the United States’ oldest and largest trade association for the coffee industry, representing companies responsible for 90% of U.S. coffee commerce. Coffee supports 2.2 million U.S. jobs and contributes nearly $350 billion annually to the American economy.