NCA: Coffee tops beverage charts again, specialty coffee hits new high

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) Fall Report, conducted by Dig Insights on behalf of the National Coffee Association in June 2026, finds overall past-day coffee consumption 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. 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 commented:

"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."

Other key NCDT findings include:

• 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. 21% of past-day coffee drinkers had cold coffee, compared to 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.

For more information and to purchase the NCDT report, visit ncausa.org/NCDT. To download media highlights, click here.

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. 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 [email protected].

About the National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT): 
The NCDT, conducted by Dig Insights and commissioned by the National Coffee Association since 1950, is the longest-running study on U.S. coffee consumption, beverage preferences, and consumer behavior. The NCDT is now conducted twice annually. Data for the 2026 NCDT Fall Report were collected June 8–24, 2026, and respondents are a nationally representative sample of 1,882 Americans aged 18 and over. All respondents drank a beverage other than tap water past-day; drinking coffee is not a requirement to participate in the research.

SOURCE National Coffee Association