Coffee, the latest success story
recently not only to share the latest research into this popular
drink but to enjoy latest consumption statistics.
Coffee was flavour of the weekend as scientists met in Florida not only to share the latest research into this popular drink but also to enjoy latest consumption statistics.
Michelle Eichhorn, associate research director at Kraft Foods' Coffee Division, told the gathering: "It is a coffee renaissance. In 2002, 77 per cent of US adults over 18 years of age drink coffee on a daily or occasional basis, representing 161 million people. An increase of 1.8 million new daily drinkers over 2001."
These latest statistics are the result of the National Coffee Association's (NCA) 2002 drinking trends survey. Conducted on the phone, as it has been since 1950, 2,950 people over the age of 18 were randomly called in January 2002 to survey their drinking habits.
According to the survey, figures for 2002 show a staggering increase of 10.2 million weekly drinkers over 2001.
"More than half of the adult population is consuming coffee every day and now number 108.7 million daily drinkers," said Robert F. Nelson, president and CEO of the NCA.
The NCA added in a statement that 18.285 million 60kg bags of coffee were roasted in 2001, a level that the US has not witnessed for a decade.
The success of gourmet or specialty coffee roasters goes some way to explaining coffee's increase in popularity.
"The gourmet coffee sector has helped maintain overall market penetration by bringing in younger consumers, who are more likely to drink coffee in bigger cups and more often out-of-home and outside the traditional breakfast period," said Eichhorn.
