The British adore coffee. You only have to check out how many coffee shops there are on virtually every high street in the country to know this. From work meetings in coffee chains to little independent stores, and even the amount of coffee we all drink at home, there are many ways to enjoy one of the world’s favourite drinks.
In this guide, we’ve collected some of the most interesting facts out there regarding people
from the UK and their love of coffee, as well as the mind-boggling amounts of coffee that are
consumed in the country.
39% of Brits have a coffee machine at home
We’re not just talking about a kettle and some instant coffee here. Surveys show that over 1/3rd of all British people have access to some kind of coffee machine in their home, from pod-style coffee makers to espresso machines.
80% of coffee lovers visit a coffee shop weekly (at least)
Most people who love coffee will keep going back to their favourite coffee shops. Around 80% of people who enjoy coffee and drinking in coffee shops say that they visit at least once a week. This is according to the British Coffee Association and their studies and surveys.
There are 30,000 places to buy a coffee in the UK
If you want a freshly made cup of coffee in the UK, there are at least 30,000 different locations where you can buy one. This includes independent cafes and coffee shops as well as huge chains like Costa and Starbucks. The coffee shop industry in the UK is thought to be worth around £15 billion annually.
The coffee industry supports 210,000 jobs in the UK
Out of the employed population in the UK of around 32.8 million people, there are 210,000 jobs that are supported by the coffee industry, from those working in roasting, to baristas, and of course those who are involved in the import of coffee. There are some huge coffee-based businesses operating in the country.
76% of British coffee’s value is added in the UK
This means that the processes the coffee goes through in the UK, such as roasting and brewing, contribute 76% of the value. 24% of the value has already been generated when the product is imported from elsewhere around the world.
The average time to have your first coffee is 9.01
British people don’t hang around too long in the morning to start drinking coffee. The average time for a Brit to have their first cup is 9.01, meaning it is clearly used to wake us all up and get us working more effectively.
Costa is the most popular chain
It may feel like there are chains everywhere in the UK, and there are around 2,400 Costa stores compared to 1,000 Starbucks, but these still only account for around 10-15% of the establishments selling fresh coffee, so the chains haven’t totally taken over, and the UK does have a thriving scene of independent coffee shops, too.
Coffee pod machines are the most popular coffee machines
The convenience of a coffee pod machine is clear, and it is not a surprise that they are the most popular form of coffee machine. While many of us would love the ability to make coffee like a trained barista, it takes a lot of effort, especially for one cup. Pod coffee machines are becoming more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, which makes them a better choice for your kitchen.
The average person spends £16 a month on coffee for the home
This excludes the coffee shop spend. Gone are the days of the people in the United Kingdom being satisfied with instant coffee, and they spend their money on coffee machine pods, ground coffee, and other coffee products. For those who consider themselves coffee lovers, this amount increases to £25 per month.
Five times more takeaway coffee is sold than takeaway tea
This is probably largely down to the fact that it is easy to make your own cup of tea at home, and it will taste no different to the cup you have paid £3 for at a coffee shop. When you buy a takeaway coffee you are paying for those barista skills.
Nescafe instant coffee is becoming less popular
While Nescafe still dominates the market for instant coffee, there are about 5 million users of their “original” variety in the UK today, this is a drop of 2 million from the figures they released in 2014. Nescafe has diversified and is about far more than just instant coffee nowadays.
Summary
It is clear that the UK is a nation of coffee lovers, even though per-capita consumption isn’t in the top 25 in the world. Coffee is both a social activity and an energy boost, and there is an ever-growing scene of aficionados.
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