A recent poll conducted in the UK has unveiled a fascinating trend: millennials are the biggest consumers of takeaway coffee, spending a whopping £728 per year on their caffeine fix. This figure surpasses the spending habits of Gen Z, who average £676 annually, while thrifty Boomers (aged 60-69) spend a more modest £260.
The study, commissioned by McDonald’s UK, delves deeper into the nation’s coffee obsession, revealing that the average coffee drinker will spend over £29,000 in their lifetime – equivalent to 4,123 pints or 515 gallons of takeaway brews. Interestingly, despite having free instant coffee readily available at work, 37% of those surveyed would rather spend money on a “nice” coffee from outside the office.
The research sheds light on the importance of coffee in people’s daily lives. A staggering 49% of coffee drinkers reported feeling incomplete in the morning until they’ve had their first cup, highlighting the beverage’s role as a morning ritual. Latte, cappuccino, and flat white emerged as the top three favorite coffee choices, with a preference for milky brews over black. The study also revealed that almost two-fifths of Brits consider themselves true coffee lovers, while 9% confessed to being full-blown caffeine addicts.
The findings underscore the particularity of British coffee drinkers. Almost a third (30%) admit to being so finicky about their coffee that they don’t trust friends, family, or colleagues to make it to their exact specifications. This high level of coffee connoisseurship is reflected in the average price people believe a takeaway coffee should cost: £1.86. This contrasts with the actual average price of £3.40, according to FreshGround.co.uk.
Despite the costs, 56% of respondents said that coffee is a luxury they can’t live without, with people purchasing an average of two takeaway cups per week. As radio presenter Jordan North, who surprised Londoners with a blind coffee tasting using McDonald’s McCafe, said, “Getting up early to do the show every morning means I absolutely need my coffee, especially on-the-go. You know I love a good bargain – whether it’s Americano or Latte – you don’t want it to cost a lot.”
