Coffee Retains Its Crown as America’s Favorite Beverage in 2025, Surging Past Bottled Water

Coffee continues to reign as the most consumed beverage in the United States, with two-thirds of American adults (66%) drinking coffee on any given day, surpassing bottled water, tea, juice, and soda. This finding, released in the Spring 2025 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report, highlights a significant 7% increase in daily coffee consumption since 2020.

According to the report—conducted in January 2025 by Dig Insights on behalf of the National Coffee Association (NCA)—coffee is more deeply embedded in American routines than ever. On average, American coffee drinkers consume three cups per day, contributing to a staggering total of 516 million cups daily, enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool 48 times.

Specialty Coffee on the Rise

The 2025 data shows a notable shift toward specialty coffee, which now accounts for 59 out of every 100 cups consumed. Consumption of specialty beverages has jumped nearly 18% in five years, with 46% of adults reporting past-day consumption, up from 39% in 2020. In contrast, traditional coffee has held steady, consumed by 42% of adults in 2025, compared to 43% in 2020.

Among specialty coffee drinkers, preferences have evolved:

• Espresso-based beverages (such as cappuccinos, espressos, lattes, mochas, macchiatos, flat whites, and Americanos) are consumed by 28% of adults daily—up 17% from 2020.

• Non-espresso-based beverages (including cold brew, nitro coffee, and frozen blends) have experienced the largest growth, increasing nearly 42% from 12% in 2020 to 17% in 2025.

NCA President and CEO Bill Murray stated:

“Coffee holds a unique place in Americans’ daily lives—no other beverage is such a beloved and prominent touchstone. Coffee’s popularity brews big benefits for American coffee drinkers and the entire U.S. economy, and we expect America’s love affair with coffee to continue for many decades to come.”

Regional and Daily Patterns

Regionally, the Northeast leads the nation in daily coffee consumption at 69%, followed by the Midwest (67%), South (66%), and West (62%). Most coffee is consumed in the morning, with 83% of Americans pairing coffee with breakfast.

Hot coffee remains dominant, particularly in winter. In January 2025, 78% of coffee consumed was served hot—up 13% from the summer—while 16% was iced and 7% frozen blended. Still, cold coffee remains popular in winter, reflecting the growing year-round appeal of chilled formats.

At-Home and On-the-Go Brewing

The majority of Americans (82%) still enjoy their coffee at home, while 38% consume it on the go. Drip coffee makers remain the most common home brewing equipment (62% ownership), followed by single-cup machines (42%), instant coffee (35%), bean-to-cup machines (15%), and espresso machines (12%). Ownership of slow-drip cold brew systems has climbed to 11%, reflecting a surge in at-home cold brew preparation.

Coffee brewed at home has also increased in prevalence. In 2025, 71% of daily coffee drinkers reported preparing coffee only at home—up from 63% in 2020—while 16% consumed coffee only outside the home, and 13% did both.

Purchasing Trends

Grocery stores continue to dominate coffee purchases, with 40% of coffee drinkers buying there. However, online purchases have doubled, from 7% in 2020 to 14% in 2025, illustrating a growing shift toward digital convenience. Mass merchandisers (big box stores) accounted for 29% of purchases, while club stores dropped slightly to 10%, and coffee shops remained steady at 5%.

Conclusion

The Spring 2025 NCDT underscores coffee’s enduring appeal and its evolving presence in the lives of American consumers. From the increasing popularity of specialty formats to the growing trend of at-home and online coffee consumption, the beverage continues to adapt to new habits while maintaining its central place in American culture.

For more insights and to purchase the full NCDT 2025 report, visit ncausa.org/ncdt.