Brits drink nearly 18,000 LITRES of coffee over their lifetime… and most can’t function without it, new research shows
THE AVERAGE UK coffee drinker will sip on almost 18,000 litres – or 62,000 mug-fulls – of coffee over their lifetime.
A poll of 2,000 adults who consume coffee found they enjoy an average of three cups a day, with 7am being the most popular time for the first brew.
As many as 41 per cent revealed they struggle to function properly until they’ve had their first caffeine kick.
But it’s a case of cappucci-NO when it comes to trying something new – 43 per cent of consumers admitted they’ve ordered the same coffee for 21 years.
Following the study, Breville, which commissioned the research, has opened a pop-up ‘Spill The Beans’ café to inspire coffee fans to be more adventurous with the drink.
And the home appliances brand has also created a quiz where coffee lovers can put their knowledge of the beverage to the test.
Spokesperson for the brand, Iain Stuart-Crush said: “As the study shows, UK consumers can’t get enough of coffee.
“As anyone who loves a cup will tell you, it very quickly becomes an established part of our daily routines.
“But it’s interesting to see how many people aren’t sure whether they’re making the best out of their coffee at home.
“Perhaps this is why so many people prefer to leave it in the hands of the baristas more often than not.
“We want to show consumers that they can make delicious, barista quality coffee from their kitchen with our latest espresso machine innovation.”
The most popular type of coffee among those polled is latte (21 per cent), followed by cappuccino (20 per cent), americano (18 per cent) and flat white (15 per cent).
But nearly 74 per cent admitted they have no idea which type of coffee bean is used to make their favourite cuppa.
And while 80 per cent have heard of the Arabica variety, many don’t recognise the three other popular types.
A third have heard of Robusta, but only nine per cent know of Liberica and just eight per cent are familiar with Excelsa.
Surprisingly, the study carried out through OnePoll found 51 per cent don’t know the difference between a cold brew and an iced coffee.
The key difference being cold brew is made from coffee grounds, steeped in cold water for 12 hours, whereas iced coffee is cooled regular coffee.
Using the new Breville Barista Signature Espresso Maker, founder of Artisan Coffee Co. Ashley Palmer-Watts, gave visitors to the café pop-up coffee-making tips.
He said: “People often find themselves sticking to the same coffee they’ve been drinking for years, not fully exploring the rich world of coffee.
“It was great to be at the Spill the Beans Café with Breville to help coffee-lovers master the art of homebrewing and teaching people all about the depth of coffee.
“I want to help people understand their coffee choices and give them the confidence to explore different ways of drinking coffee including from the comfort of their own home.”
ASHLEY PALMER-WATTS’ TIPS FOR CREATING THE PERFECT COFFEE AT HOME:
START WITH A WARM MUG
Run it under hot water before making your coffee, to keep your coffee piping hot for longer.
USE FILTERED WATER
Water makes up 98 per cent of coffee so better water = better coffee.
Get water to the perfect temperature – water has to be between 90 to 96 degrees for the perfect cup of coffee.
LEARN TO ‘TAMP’
When using an espresso machine, tamping is essential to ensure the coffee bed is level.
If it’s not level, the water won’t run through it evenly, resulting in an uneven extraction and unbalanced flavour.
FREEZE YOUR COFFEE BEANS
This helps maintain the freshness of the beans to make them last double the length of time.
Once you’ve defrosted the beans, don’t re-freeze them, and make sure they’re sealed to keep them fresh.
This comes after Costa Coffee one of the UK’s favourite chains announced the closure of a shop at a key location.
Or check out which supermarket’s instant coffee economically tastes the best.