Just in time for National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, the Fall 2024 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) analysis has been released. The analysis was conducted by Dig Insights on behalf of the National Coffee Association (NCA).
Findings showed that home remains the most popular place for coffee consumption. Eighty-one percent of past-day coffee drinks had coffee at home, compared with 36% of past-day coffee drinkers having coffee out-of-home. However, at-home and out-of-home coffee consumption are not mutually exclusive, as some consumers will drink coffee in multiple locations, the analysis notes.
According to the report, 51% of Americans believe that coffee is good for their health, with 66% believing that coffee improves mental focus. Forty-six percent believe it improves physical endurance, while 48% have heard information in the past year about health benefits associated with drinking coffee.
“There’s no better way to celebrate National Coffee Day than with the great news that coffee remains America’s favorite beverage other than bottled water, and that most American’s are familiar with coffee’s unique health benefits,” said William “Bill” Murray, NCA president and CEO, in a statement. “America loves coffee, and it loves them back.”
Another key finding of the analysis was that specialty coffee has maintained its 13-year high, with 45% of Americans having that type of coffee in the past day. Past-day consumption grew the most for non-espresso-based beverages, up 26% since January. The most popular non-espresso-based beverage was cold brew coffee, with 21% of Americans drinking cold brew in the past week. This is a jump of more than 30% since January.
Additionally, drip coffee makers “have long been the most popular preparation method,” the report notes, with 36% of past-day coffee drinkers utilizing the method. Meanwhile, single-cup brewers remain in second place at 24%. Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee remains in third place at 18%, but continues to grow in popularity. Past-day consumption of RTD coffee has more than doubled since 2023.