Coffee tops beverage charts again, specialty coffee hits new high
Data shows more American adults now drink specialty coffee than traditional coffee
The 2026 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) Fall Report, conducted by Dig Insights on behalf of the National Coffee Association in June, finds that overall past-day coffee consumption remains steady at 66% of American adults, with out-of-home coffee consumption nearing pre-pandemic levels and specialty coffee consumption at a new record high.
Overall, coffee remains America’s favorite beverage — consumed by more adults each day than any other beverage, including tap or bottled water, according to the report. The vast majority of past-day coffee drinkers (83%) have coffee at home, while out-of-home consumption among past-day coffee drinkers reached 38% in the survey — the highest level since January 2020.
More American adults now drink specialty coffee than traditional coffee — 48% had specialty coffee in the past day, a new record. Espresso-based beverages such as lattes, cappuccinos, and caffè mochas play a key role in specialty coffee’s rising popularity, and a record-high of 47% of American adults had an espresso-based beverage in the past week, up by 17.5% since 2022.
NCA President and CEO Bill Murray stated: “Few things are as deeply woven into American life as coffee, and these numbers show our love for coffee is only growing stronger and more diverse. Whether it’s brewed at home, ordered at a drive-thru, or enjoyed in a favorite espresso-based drink, coffee continues to evolve while remaining an essential part of millions of Americans' daily routines.”
The following are other key NCDT findings:
• 55% of past-week out-of-home coffee buyers ordered at a drive-thru, and a record high of 40% ordered on an app.
• Grocery stores remain the leading channel for coffee purchases for in-home preparation, although their share declined to 35% from 42% in January 2026. Purchases at mass merchandisers increased to 28% from 23% in January 2026.
• As expected for the summer survey, cold coffee consumption is up among past-day coffee drinkers. Twenty-one percent of past-day coffee drinkers had cold coffee, compared with 71% who had hot coffee (17% had cold and 78% hot in the January 2026 survey). Overall, cold coffee consumption is up from 16% in 2022.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
