June 17, 2025 | NEW YORK – 46% of American adults had specialty coffee in the past day, up 84% since 2011 and surpassing past-day traditional coffee consumption (42%), according to the National Coffee Association’s (NCA) Specialty Coffee Report, released today (Tuesday).
Specialty coffee’s growth plays a key role in coffee’s overall popularity, with NCA’s full Spring 2025 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report having shown that 66% of Americans had a coffee in the past day—making coffee America’s favorite beverage.
Drawing on a nationally representative survey conducted by Dig Insights and released in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), the report further reveals that 64% of 25–39-year-olds drank specialty coffee in the past week, more than any other age group.
The report also found that past-day specialty coffee drinkers are more likely to have their coffee prepared out-of-home (35%) than past-day traditional coffee drinkers (20%). 87% of past-day traditional coffee drinkers had their coffee prepared at home, while 74% of past-day specialty coffee drinkers had theirs prepared there.
The Specialty Coffee Report also found that specialty coffee drinkers are aware of the health benefits associated with drinking coffee, with 61% saying they believe coffee is good for their health. This follows the FDA’s “healthy” rule recently going into effect, which automatically qualified plain coffee to be labeled as healthy, for the first time.
NCA President and CEO Bill Murray commented:
“Coffee’s remarkable ability to meet coffee drinkers' evolving needs and preferences over time, is one of the many reasons it remains America’s favorite beverage. While specialty coffee’s rise in popularity has now reached record levels, traditional coffee remains a staple, too.
Consumers’ interest in specialty coffee also coincides with a growing interest in health and wellness. Decades of robust, independent scientific evidence has shown that coffee drinkers live longer, healthier, happier lives.”
SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos remarked:
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the NCA on the NCDT Specialty Coffee Report. These findings affirm what our community has long believed—specialty coffee isn’t just growing; it’s becoming a defining part of how people experience coffee today. From origin to café, consumers are seeking quality, connection, and meaning in every cup. Together, we see this as a continued opportunity to collaborate across the value chain to make coffee better—for everyone involved in its journey.”
Additional key findings include:
- The West has the highest past-week specialty coffee consumption (58%) in the United States.
- 43% of American adults enjoyed an espresso-based beverage, and 28% enjoyed a non-espresso-based beverage in the past week.
- Past-day specialty coffee drinkers' favorite method of coffee preparation is the drip coffee maker, with 36% choosing to have their coffee made this way.
- Their favorite type of roast is a medium roast, with 62% of past-day specialty coffee drinkers enjoying this type of coffee in the past day—up 35% since 2020.
Specialty coffee is defined as including any espresso-based beverage (lattes, cappuccinos etc.); non-espresso-based beverages like frozen blend, cold brew, nitro; and traditional coffee that consumers perceive to be brewed from premium coffee beans/grounds.
The 2025 NCDT Specialty Coffee Report is available here.
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For media inquiries, contact media@ncausa.org.
About the National Coffee Association: The National Coffee Association (NCA), established in 1911, is the United States’ oldest and largest trade organization representing coffee businesses of all types and sizes, including the producers, roasters, brands, and other companies responsible for 90% of U.S. coffee commerce, as well as nonprofit organizations involved in the world of coffee. More American adults drink coffee each day than any other beverage, and coffee supports 2.2 million U.S. jobs—operating in every U.S. state and territory and contributing nearly $350 billion to the U.S. economy every year. For more information, visit ncausa.org or contact coffee@ncausa.org.
About the Specialty Coffee Association: The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is the largest global coffee trade association dedicated to making coffee better by fostering a global coffee community and supporting activities to make specialty coffee a thriving, equitable, and sustainable endeavor for the entire value chain. Through collaboration and progressive approaches, it supports the industry through research, standards, education, and events. Working around the world, the SCA elevates worldwide standards, providing value and connectivity to the growing global community. To learn more, visit sca.coffee or follow @specialtycoffeeassociation on social media.