Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with millions of people consuming it daily. But just how much coffee do we drink globally? Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Global Coffee Consumption
According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the world consumed about 9.76 billion kilograms of coffee in 2020/21. That’s equivalent to about 165.21 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee beans. To put that in perspective, if you lined up all those coffee bags end to end, they would circle the earth over 7 times!
The ICO estimates that global coffee consumption has increased at an average annual growth rate of 2.3% over the last decade. So the world is drinking more and more coffee each year.
Coffee Consumption by Country
The top 5 coffee consuming countries are:
- Brazil – 34.3 million 60kg bags
- United States – 25.5 million 60kg bags
- Germany – 8.7 million 60kg bags
- Japan – 7.5 million 60kg bags
- Italy – 5.9 million 60kg bags
Brazil is by far the largest consumer, drinking about a third of the world’s coffee. The US comes in second, consuming about a quarter of global coffee. Germany, Japan, and Italy round out the top five.
Some other big coffee drinkers are Mexico, France, Canada, Spain, Colombia, and Vietnam. Together the top 10 coffee consuming countries account for over 65% of total global consumption.
Per Capita Consumption
Looking at overall consumption doesn’t tell the whole story. If we look at per capita consumption, the numbers change a bit. Here are the top 5 coffee drinking countries per capita:
- Finland – 12 kg per capita
- Norway – 9.9 kg per capita
- Iceland – 9 kg per capita
- Denmark – 8.7 kg per capita
- Netherlands – 8.4 kg per capita
The Finns come out on top, drinking around 12 kg of coffee per person per year. That’s equivalent to around 3-4 cups per day! The top coffee consuming nations per capita are generally Nordic countries, along with the Netherlands.
Coffee Consumption in the United States
Zooming in on the United States specifically, coffee consumption has remained relatively stable over the past few years at around 25 million 60kg bags. However, per capita consumption has declined slightly from 4.2 kg in 2015 to 3.8 kg in 2020.
Over half of the US population drinks coffee every day, with the average coffee drinker consuming around 3 cups per day. That equals over 400 million cups of coffee consumed in the US every day!
Coffee Consumption by State
Some interesting patterns emerge when looking at coffee consumption by state:
- Washington has the highest coffee consumption, with an average resident drinking 2.5 cups per day.
- California, New York, and Illinois are also top states for coffee drinkers.
- The Mountain West states like Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho drink the least coffee per capita.
In general, the Pacific Northwest and New England have the heaviest coffee drinkers, while the central flyover states are more moderate coffee consumers.
Coffee Consumption Trends
The way people consume coffee has changed over the years. Some interesting trends include:
- A shift towards specialty and gourmet coffee shops instead of regular diners and donut shops.
- Younger generations favoring ready-to-drink and cold coffee beverages.
- An increase in single-serve systems like pods and capsules for at-home brewing.
- More awareness about ethical sourcing and sustainability in coffee production.
Consumer preferences have also shifted more towards premium blends, single origin coffees, and espresso-based drinks. Nevertheless, the traditional regular roasted coffee remains the most widely consumed type globally.
Cups of Coffee Consumed Globally
Now to answer the big question: Exactly how many cups of coffee are consumed globally per year?
Estimating this requires a few assumptions and calculations:
- Global coffee consumption is about 9.76 billion kg per year.
- An average cup of coffee weighs around 240g or 0.24kg.
- So 9.76 billion kg of coffee equals about 40.7 billion 240g servings.
- Assuming 1 cup per serving, that’s 40.7 billion cups consumed!
Doing the math, approximately 40.7 billion cups of coffee are consumed around the world each year! That’s over 110 million cups per day.
Coffee Cups Lined Up
To visualize how many cups of coffee that is, if you lined up all those cups end to end, the line would:
- Stretch over 1.2 million km long, enough to circle the Earth 30 times.
- Reach halfway from Earth to the Moon.
- Cover the entire length of the Great Wall of China over 2,500 times.
That’s a whole lot of coffee cups! It illustrates just how incredibly popular coffee is as a global beverage.
Economic Impact of Coffee
All this coffee consumption also has a significant economic impact. The global coffee industry is valued at over $460 billion. Some key economic facts:
- Over 125 million people depend on coffee for their livelihoods.
- The top 3 coffee producing countries are Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia.
- Brazil alone produced over 60 million bags in 2020.
- Coffee accounts for over 30% of Ethiopia’s exports.
- The US coffee industry generates over $28 billion in taxes annually.
Coffee truly is a massive industry worldwide. For many countries, it’s a vital cash crop and one of the major exports. The number of livelihoods supported by coffee is a testament to its global importance.
Environmental Impact
With so much coffee being consumed worldwide, it inevitably has an environmental impact. Some key considerations include:
- Coffee farming uses up large areas of land and water resources.
- Some coffee practices have led to deforestation in sensitive areas.
- Processing and disposable pods result in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Excess fertilizer usage can cause water pollution.
However, the coffee industry has been actively working to improve sustainability. Many farmers now use shade-grown, organic techniques that protect forests and wildlife habitats. Sustainable certifications like Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance promote better social and environmental practices.
Future Projections
As the global population grows and emerging markets develop, demand for coffee is forecast to keep rising. Some predictions for future coffee consumption include:
- World coffee consumption will reach over 11 billion kg by 2025.
- Specialty coffee will make up over 40% of cups consumed in the US.
- Ready-to-drink coffee will be the fastest growth segment.
- Developing countries will account for increased consumption.
The future of coffee seems bright, with no slowdown expected in the world’s coffee obsession anytime soon. The industry faces challenges like climate change impacts and price volatility, but continues to find new consumers globally.
Conclusion
Coffee is a beloved beverage for good reason. Every year, the world consumes over 40 billion cups of the drink. Coffee culture continues to thrive and evolve across consumer markets. While coffee must be cultivated and consumed responsibly, it provides livelihoods for millions and remains integral to many societies. The world’s coffee addiction shows no signs of fading anytime soon.
