Recently I posted some maps showing global alcohol consumption. As a follow-up, here’s a map, via Blame It on the Voices, showing global consumption of coffee (with the rather major omission of China, among other nations, due to lack of data):
Consumption is measured in kilograms and, as ChartsBin explains, “Weight is presented as Green Bean Equivalent (GBE). 1 pound roasted coffee = 1.19 pounds of green coffee beans.”
Scandinavians drink the most coffee, on average. Based on the most recent available data, Finland, at 12 kg GBE each per year, tops the charts, and Norway, Denmark, and Sweden also make it into the top 10 (from ChartsBin):
The U.S. comes in at #26, consuming 4 kg/person annually. Apparently we’re too busy drinking beer to get serious about coffee.
Comments 42
Lynne Skysong — February 18, 2011
Wow, with the predominance of Starbucks's and other coffee shops that i see here in the US, 26th seems rather low. I wonder what Finland and Norway are like. Are they more coffee shops and/or are people individually buying more? Is there a strong cultural connection that I'm missing?
Tina — February 18, 2011
I am a Swede living in the US so I can attest to the fact that the individual consumption is much, much higher. In fact coffee is a food staple. If you come to someone's house they'll offer you coffee, if you go to any social function there'll be coffee. Coffee is the appetizer and the dessert. Swedes have "coffee breaks" by right, in the morning and afternoon at work. My dad drinks a thermos a day, easy.
However, I am curious if there is not something else that makes a difference too... This chart measures the amount of coffee beans consumed, and I'd argue that in general per Swedish cup of coffee made more grinds are used (in addition to the grind being much finer), because the coffee is usually a lot stronger.
In the US the coffee seems weaker (as in I can see the bottom of my cup), or when it's not weaker, roasted much, much darker (re: burnt taste at Starbucks.)
If you'd measure the consumption by the volume drunk, the map would possibly look somewhat different. I mean, the cups in Sweden are tiny, no drinking by the vente.
Dr. Kate — February 18, 2011
Drinking beer? No. I think it is caffeinated soda in the US.
jfruh — February 18, 2011
I wonder if there's something about living further north with long nights in winter that spurs a coffee culture. Note that Canada drinks more coffee than the US too. (Though maybe it's just because Tim Hortons is cheaper than Starbucks.)
Bronny — February 18, 2011
We have lots of Starbucks in Canada, too. Coffee shop culture is huge in parts of Canada, particularly in Vancouver. There are sometimes 4 coffee shops on a single block, or more. Not really sure why we are #10 though, compared to the states' #26
Bronny — February 18, 2011
And personally I quite dislike Starbucks and Tim Horton's. Lukcily there are lots of local coffee shops and small chains to choose from here
Ana — February 18, 2011
Seems like there is a general trend of farther away from the equator = more coffee. My guess is this has to do with northern winters being long and dark. @Tina, do you think this could be the case?
gre'nichgrendel — February 18, 2011
holy crap! something the US does not consume the most of!
nix — February 18, 2011
Sure, but who drinks the BEST* coffee? ;)
*Interpret that how you will!
Helga — February 18, 2011
a number of folks come up with the theory of "long and dark winters" is reason for much coffee drinking in the northern areas. could the reason maybe rather be a) the climate is colder and b)other drinks much more expensive ?
mdaele — February 18, 2011
Is it somewhat intriguing that some of the top coffee consuming countries are also the highest preformers in the PISA rankings? link: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/54/12/46643496.pdf
udge nudge wink wink!
rarian rakista — February 18, 2011
I use 6-7lbs a month, 2-3 pots a day at home and at least 3-4 16 oz refills throughout the day, but I live in Portland, OR. Is it that different in the rest of the country? What do you drink if not coffee?
bearmonkey — February 19, 2011
Can we get a US state-by-state at some point? I'm struck by the northerness of this list (and coffee originates in the Middle East, I do believe)
J.R. — February 19, 2011
I agree with my Swedish and Norwegian neighbours, in Scandinavia coffee is an institution, drank mostly at workplace and private homes. Here in Finland when people meet, have a break from anything or are invited anywhere they expect to have coffee.
Since coffee is always imported from far away, historically coffee used to be fairly luxurious. These days it is a basic need for most; one needs it to wake up , for dessert or in connection with a smoke. I don't personally drink coffee but I speak of it, just so people know what I mean when I suggest a break or a casual meeting.
Andrew — February 19, 2011
Chinese consumption is pretty low. Poking around, consumption estimates are 30-50 thousand tonnes (about half domestically produced), which would work out at about 30g/person - about half that of India, and well in the lower end of the bottom group on the map.
I agree with the comments above that "preponderance of coffee shops" is at best only a limited indicator of coffee consumption. I think perhaps 1% of my coffee intake is bought over the counter like that!
Equinox — February 19, 2011
Us Canadians drink quite a bit of coffee, Vancouver has tons of chain and indie coffee shops (it's almost silly how many cafes there are usually with free wifi with purchase) and outside of that Tim Horton's is an institution here and they always guarantee a fresh pot. Orange pekoe tea is also very popular which is probably a part of our British heritage though I'm more partial to Earl Grey
Linda — February 20, 2011
I'm Swedish too, I agree with the Scandinavians that coffee is an institution over here - a few more points that hasn't been brought up yet.
Drinking coffee in Sweden, at least in the area I come from (Northeast, border to Finland) is a kind of rite of passage in a sense. As mentioned, you are always offered coffee when you visit friends and family (and sometimes, more often nowadays, tea) - and children are usually offered juice, cordial or milk. When you reach an age of 16-17 years, you don't want to be a child anymore, so then most will take coffee instead. I didn't begin to enjoy coffee until I was 19 and I remember that I felt awkward asking for the 'children's' drink when I wanted to count myself as being grown up.
Also, if you want to invite someone to your house, you can say "I'll put the coffee on (the stove)" (Jag sätter på kaffet) to express your invitation.
Drinking instant coffee is (thank heavens) seen as poor taste, bad quality and is mostly unpopular.
In the Northeast of Sweden, as well as in some parts of Finland, coffee is also drunk with 'coffee cheese' (kaffeost). I found a lovely video showcasing how this is done: http://wn.com/bilboteket
It is an old tradition, according to this video, done in the same way since the invention of the iron stove was brought to the north. The cheese has a slightly sweet, milky taste, a soft rubbery texture and a distinctive, frosty squeaky sound when you eat it.
During the past year or so (at least as I'm aware of it - maybe someone else knows more) the trend of having a coffee pod machine at home is growing stronger - so instead of buying ground coffee beans, or buying whole beans and grinding them yourself - you buy small aluminum cups which each is good for making one cup of coffee each.
Coffee Pods: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IYwKlKpdwUA/TME8yGIpU0I/AAAAAAAABsc/zBwTr34gQio/s1600/kaffekapslar.JPG
This is supposed to give the perfect coffee experience. As I'm rather engaged in environmental issues, I'm concerned with the environmental impact of this practice. The Swedish Society for Nature Protection has been addressing the issue, for example. But I also wonder what it means, if it is just a fashion trend without any deeper significance or if it is part of a new trend in Sweden. Showcasing wealth and (excessive) bragging with material success used to be fairly anathema over here, but it seems like it is getting more acceptable. I'm wondering, because of the luxury and elegance that the products are marked with, plus the fact that they are a lot more expensive than making coffee (even fancy coffee) in other ways, if this is a part of the same trend.
Apologies for digressing, I wanted to point out some more how socially situated coffee is in Sweden. I used to live in Nicaragua (which produces coffee) and I was struck first by how weak the coffee people drink there is, and second (though particularly one traditional dish (nacatamal) was always drunk with coffee). that coffee was not so integral to social life - sometimes you could be offered (or offer) coffee, sometimes a fresco - fruit juice drink. That is very different.
Food Maps | Consumer Culture in an Age of Anxiety (CONANX) — February 25, 2011
[...] A map of global coffee consumption (Scandinavians drink the most – the ‘filke’ effect?) [...]
Jonathan Dey — June 20, 2019
Do you think if we made using Solo-Cups more convenient...easier to use that we could put a halt to K-Cup usage? The trends and amounts of K-Cup plastic waste entering our waste-streams is ugly, detesting and harmful on all levels as a member of this planet. Have we really agreed that saving 15 seconds in the morning is worth destroying our environment? Oh btw as we rush to the gym??
Maximilian Hohenzollern — January 25, 2022
It always seemed to me that drinking coffee is much more popular nowadays than drinking alcohol because many simply cannot start their day without coffee. Well, I have so. I don't start my day without Donut shop coffee pods because that's what helps me feel energized. At least I can wake up thanks to this drink.