Most Americans live within minutes of several specialty coffee shops, while our grocery stores carry a plethora of flavorful options as well. The facts are clear: in the United States, coffee consumption is a cultural staple. In fact, even when the recession floored commodity sales nationwide, coffee consumption remained strong. Coffee drinking, as a cultural, business, pleasure and energy-producing activity, is here to stay.

The National Coffee Association states that on average, 54 per cent of the American adult population drank coffee beverages daily in 2009. This number is statistically equivalent to the 2008 percentage, while the number of cups drank per-person and per-capita are also on par with levels since 2003, when consumption amounts increased. Thirty per cent of the population drinks coffee occasionally.

“Consumers still see coffee as an integral part of their everyday lives,” said Robert Nelson, President and CEO of the National Coffee Association.  “Even if economic conditions cause some to alter their coffee choices, they are nonetheless continuing to enjoy coffee at levels very much on par with recent years.”

The Association’s survey also brought light to an increasingly popular trend: at-home coffee brewing due to movements toward greener, cheaper and anti-establishment alternatives. Eighty-three per cent of consumers reported brewing their previous day’s coffee at home. Figures also suggest that consumers in the United States are gravitating towards bringing their at-home brew on their commute more often, while a steady 18 per cent of coffee-drinkers reported getting their coffee fix at work. Fewer Americans are partaking in coffee consumption at restaurants.

Coffee consumption in the United States remains at the 8th highest level in the world; today, the average American drinks 3.1 cups of coffee each day. This contributes to the massive $18 billion U.S. coffee market (the global coffee market is worth upwards of $80 billion dollars), an amount that continues to increase with the upsurge of specialty coffee sales. These sales account for 8 per cent of the market and are jumping at an astounding 20 per cent per year. Coffee statistics show that 50 per cent of Americans enjoy cappuccino, espresso, latte, or iced coffees.

Here are some more interesting facts and figures about coffee consumption in the United States:

• The average coffee cup size is nine ounces.
• The average price for an espresso-based drink is $2.45.
• The average price for a cup of brewed coffee is $1.38.
• 35% of coffee drinkers prefer their coffee black.
• 65% of coffee consumption takes place during breakfast hours.
• Seattle has 10 times more coffee stores per 100,000 residents than the United States has overall.
• The United States imports more than $4 billion dollars of coffee each year.

Chicago-based foodservice research and consultant firm Technomic, Inc. estimates that about 20 to 30 per cent of coffee sales are made up of flavored coffees, another trend that is expected to rise throughout the years as young adults from Generation Y continue to enter the work force. The top flavors, in 2007, were chocolate, vanilla, caramel, hazelnut and cinnamon.

Whether you like your coffee hot or iced, specialty or regular, with or without cream, you’re not alone in rewarding yourself – or just rolling out of bed – with the world’s favorite drink.

Coffee consumption is an internationally shared and enjoyed morning wake-up routine, pastime and social event. A great morning brew brings smiles to faces from every country around the world. These smiles bring the world together, speaking the same language of comfort and joy. Whether it be gourmet coffee or a classic homestyle brew, and whether you prefer coffee in the form of coffee beans, ground coffee, k-cups or coffee pods, a great cup of coffee is a worldwide favorite.
 
Just take a look at the numbers: coffee consumption has never been bigger. You might be surprised to know that the United States is far down the list of the world's top coffee drinkers. In fact, Finland is home to the world's highest per capita coffee consumption. The Fins consume coffee at an astounding rate of over three times higher per person more than in the United States. The official list, compiled by the World Resource Institute in 2008, states that on average, each person in Finland consumes 12 kilograms of coffee per person each year.

Taking second place in these coffee-drinking standings is Norway at 10 kg. In third, and you might be noticing a trend here, is the frigid country of Iceland, where residents consume an average of 9 kg of coffee. Trailing closely behind are Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Aruba, Canada and Germany, at rates decreasing from 8.7 kg to 6.4 kg. The United States sits at 26th place in the standings at only 4.2 kg of coffee consumed per person annually, even though the U.S. consumes about 45 per cent of the world's coffee. And people from the United Kingdom drinks much less coffee than most Europeans, according to the charts: it sits at 47th place at 2.8 kg.
 
In Finland, coffee is far more than just a social drink. It is a way of life. Decades ago, alcohol was banned throughout the country and coffee was the favorite drink for social gatherings. Because of this, cafes became popular gathering places. Now, coffee has become a staple in the local economy by creating and funding jobs at cafes throughout the nation. Vietnam has also decided to cash in on the increasing popularity of coffee over the past few decades by making coffee beans a major cash crop. When the idea was implemented, however, it forced the price of coffee down worldwide and almost caused the market to collapse. The industry responded by identifying market saturation points, introducing quality control plans and encouraging higher standards through the introduction of new varieties and blends of coffee.
 
Today, coffee consumption is even growing in countries that were originally recognized as tea-drinking nations. Asian countries like India, China and Japan are now jumping on the gourmet coffee bandwagon after a successful rebranding of the coffee industry by the International Coffee Organization. Coffee consumption is now an internationally loved luxury and economy stabilizer with the accepted price tags of about $4 for a specialty coffee with a particular flavor. And as long as the public will shell out that money for a good brew, coffee consumption will only continue to climb around the world.

Thanks to offchance / flickr for the coffee consumption map.