Coffee is undoubtedly the most popular drink in the World. People around the World love coffee, and it is estimated that 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year. This makes coffee the most exported commodity in the World after oil.
Breakfast in an average European and American household is incomplete without a great cup of coffee. There are hundreds of different brewing styles and recipes for coffee, and I must say all of them are delicious.
Have you ever wondered which country drinks the most coffee in the World?
The USA is the largest importer and consumer of coffee. The US alone consumes almost 750 thousand tones of coffee each year. But if we look at the data per capita vise, Finland and other European nations are far ahead of the USA. Finland tops the list with 12 kg of dry coffee beans in a year per person. The US sits in the 25th position on that list with 4.2 kg of dry coffee per person.
Let’s look at the chart of the top 25 countries.
25 countries that drink the most coffee
Finland tops the list with the highest coffee consumption per capita, with 12 kg of dry coffee beans in a year per person. All the nations in the top 10 are European except Canada. This makes Europe the highest coffee-consuming continent in the World.
All 5 Nordic nations make to the top 10 of the list; this makes northern Europe the highest coffee-consuming part of the World.
Coffee consumption by country
| Country | Dry coffee per capita in a year (lbs) | Dry coffee per capita in a year (kgs) |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | 26.5 | 12 |
| Norway | 21.8 | 9.9 |
| Iceland | 19.8 | 9 |
| Denmark | 19.2 | 8.7 |
| Netherlands | 18.5 | 8.4 |
| Sweden | 18 | 8.1 |
| Switzerland | 17.4 | 7.9 |
| Belgium | 15 | 6.8 |
| Luxembourg | 14.3 | 6.5 |
| Canada | 14.3 | 6.5 |
| Bosnia | 13.7 | 6.2 |
| Austria | 13.4 | 6.1 |
| Italy | 13 | 5.9 |
| Brazil | 12.8 | 5.8 |
| Slovenia | 12.8 | 5.8 |
| Germany | 12.1 | 5.5 |
| Greece | 11.9 | 5.4 |
| France | 11.9 | 5.4 |
| Croatia | 11.2 | 5.1 |
| Cyprus | 10.8 | 4.9 |
| Lebanon | 10.6 | 4.8 |
| Estonia | 9.9 | 4.5 |
| Spain | 9.9 | 4.5 |
| Portugal | 9.5 | 4.3 |
| USA | 9.3 | 4.2 |
1. Finland – 12kg per capita
Finland has been at the top of this list for decades. Coffee is an integral part of the culture of Finns. You can find a glimpse of coffee in Finns’s art, paintings, essays, and stories from the 19th century.
Average Finn drinks almost 4 cups of coffee per day, and more enthusiastic coffee lovers may drink more than 20 cups in a day. The average temperature remains below zero in Finland throughout the year, making the need for hot beverages like coffee a must.
Finns don’t like the addition of anything in their cups of coffee, like sugar or coffee. Black coffee is the most popular drink in Finland.
2. Norway – 9.9 kgs per capita
Almost 80% of Norwegian drink 4 to 5 cups of coffee per day, and the rest 20% are also coffee lovers, but they drink less frequently.
“Fika” is known as the coffee break in Norway, and it is prevalent across all the workspaces in this country.
Coffee is a social drink in Norway and has been a part of their culture since the early 1800s. People of Norway love to sit and chat with their friends and families at coffee shops.
3. Iceland – 9 kgs per capita
Icelanders drink a lot of coffee. Italian coffee drinks like espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos are most popular in Iceland.
You can find small coffee shops and cafes across all the streets in Iceland. Icelanders also claim their coffee roasting methods are the best in the World.
4. Denmark – 8.7 kgs per capita
Average Dane consumes almost 2 cups of coffee every day. Coffee is famous all across Denmark, and you can find small coffee cafes all across the country.
You can hardly find any house or office in Denmark without a good coffee machine. Coffee is an integral part of every social gathering or professional meeting in Denmark.
5. Netherlands – 8.4 kgs per capita
The Dutch are coffee enthusiasts, and the average Dutch consumes almost 2 cups of coffee per day. Dutch usually prefer simple large mugs of black coffee instead of fancy coffee drinks like Lattes and Espressos.
There is a coffee shop at every corner of the street in the Netherlands, and people love to sit there and socialize with their friends.
6. Sweden – 8.1 kgs per capita
Swedes are addicted to strong coffee. Winters in Sweden are long and dark to cope with this weather, Swedes love to have an intense cup of coffee at least two times a day.
Coffee is a part of Swedes’ culture. Every social gathering, official meeting or party is incomplete without serving of a black and strong cup of coffee.
7. Switzerland – 7.9 kgs per capita
Coffee is the most popular drink in Switzerland. It is estimated that an average Swiss person drinks about 1100 cups of coffee per year.
Swiss don’t like filtered as it’s very weak. Most Swiss people prefer to have either Espresso or French Press.
Swiss people love innovations in their coffee drinks. Switzerland is home to one of the largest unique pod-based coffee machine brands “Nespresso”.
8. Belgium – 6.8 kgs per capita
Belgians are very serious about the cup of your coffee. Almost 79% of Belgians drink almost 2 cups of coffee per day.
Pod-based coffee machines are pretty popular in Belgium. Classic Americano is the most popular coffee drink in Belgium.
9. Luxembourg – 6.5 kgs per capita
Coffee-based drinks are quite popular in Luxembourg. More than 60% population of Luxembourg drinks 2 cups of coffee per day.
You can find a large number of cafes and restaurants serving coffee across the city. Most people in Luxembourg prefer to have a good cup of coffee after a meal.
10. Canada
Canada is the only non-European nation that makes it into the top 10 of the list while consuming 6.5 kgs of coffee per capita per year. Canadians love to have a good cup of coffee during breakfast to start their day.
Drip coffee is Canada’s most popular coffee drink, while Iced coffee sits in second place.
11. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 6.2 kgs per capita
Coffee became popular in Bosnia in the 14th century after the extension of the Muslim Ottoman empire. Alcohol was banned in the Muslim regime, so most Bosnian population shifted towards coffee as an alternative.
Still, coffee is the most popular drink in Bosnia. Bosnians love to brew their coffee with the Turkish coffee method.
12. Austria – 6.1 kgs per capita
More than 90% of Austrians are regular coffee drinkers who love to drink one or more cups of coffee in a day.
Vienna, the capital city of Austria, has an amazing coffee culture, and it has been crowned the “Coffee Capital of the World”. Cappuccino and other milk-based coffee drinks are pretty famous in Austria.
13. Italy – 5.9 kgs per capita
Italians love coffee, and it is an integral part of Italian culture. Espresso, the most popular coffee drink around the World, originated in Italy.
Espresso machines were invented in the 19th century in Rome, Italy. These pressure-driven machines are way quicker than traditional coffee machines and deliver strong Espresso shots with a wonderful layer of crema over them.
14. Brazil – 5.8 kgs per capita
Brazil is the largest producer of coffee. That’s why coffee in Brazil is way cheaper than in Europe. You can get a good cup of coffee at local shops and cafes for only 0.5 to 1 dollar.
Brazilians like a large mug of black coffee with a lot of sugar. Brazilian don’t enjoy bitter or too much intense coffee like Espresso.
Also read: What country has the best coffee
15. Slovenia – 5.8 kgs per capita
Slovenians are coffee lovers, and more than 83.7% of Slovenians drink at least 2 cups of coffee per day.
Turkish is the most common brewing method in Slovenia, with lots of sugar and milk. Slovenians love to have a cup of coffee both in the morning with breakfast and in the afternoon with lunch.
16. Germany – 5.5 kgs per capita
Almost 89.7% of Germans drink coffee every day, making coffee the most popular drink in Germany.
Coffee is a part of German culture, and evenings in Germany are incomplete without a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. Most Germans prefer to have simple drip coffee instead fancy milk-based coffee drinks.
17. Greece – 5.4 kgs per capita
Greece is not only known for its fancy beaches and popular tourist places but it’s also known for the culture of coffee it has. You can sit and enjoy the scenic places of Greece while taking sips of coffee.
Coffee shops and cafes are quite famous in Greece. They remain open day and night, and they are the favorite place of Greeks to socialize.
18. France – 5.4 kgs per capita
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in France. French people like a strong and intense cup of coffee like Espresso or French Press. They don’t like the addition of milk or sugar in it. According to the French, milk, and sugars destroy coffee’s true essence.
Pod-based coffee machines are also very popular in France. The average French person loves to go to a café to have a cup of coffee at least 4 to 5 times a week.
19. Croatia – 5.1 kgs per capita
Coffee came to Croatia during the Ottoman Empire and eventually became a part of their culture.
Street cafes are trendy in Croatia. Most Croatians prefer to have a cup of coffee at cafes instead of at their homes. Turkish coffee is by far the most popular brewing method in Croatia.
20. Cyprus – 4.9 kgs per capita
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in Cyprus. The Turkish method is the most widely used brewing method in Cyprus.
Cypriots love to serve a cup of coffee with a glass of water and sugar.
21. Lebanon – 4.8 kgs per capita
Lebanon is the only Arab country in the top 25 list. Coffee is an essential part of the life of the average Lebanese person.
Part of the Lebanese population loves to have American-style filtered cups of coffee, while others prefer to have coffee brewed through the Turkish method.
Coffee is a social norm in Lebanon, and it is considered rude if coffee is not served to the guests.
22. Estonia – 4.5 kgs per capita
Everyone in Estonia loves black coffee. French Press and Espresso are the most common coffee drinks in Estonia.
Many Estonians prefer to drink coffee at home with breakfast and afternoon meals.
23. Spain – 4.5 kgs per capita
Almost 87% of the Spanish population drinks coffee regularly, making coffee the most popular drink in Spain.
Spaniards love Espresso based coffee drinks like Cappuccinos or Lattes. And they also like to drink intense single or double shots of Espresso.
24. Portugal – 4.3 kgs per capita
Coffee is considered a social drink in Portugal. Every friend or family gathering is incomplete without a good cup of coffee.
Like other South European countries, Espresso is the most popular coffee drink in Portugal and other Espresso derivatives like Cappuccino or Latte.
25. United States – 4.2 kgs per capita
The United States is the largest importer of coffee as Americans love coffee and can’t live without it. Coffee is more popular among the older generation of the States.
Almost 80% of Americans aged over 30 love to have a cup of coffee at least one time a day. In comparison, only 50% of the younger generation drinks a cup of coffee in a day.
In the USA, large 9 oz cups of coffee are more popular than small shots of Espresso.
What Countries Drink the most coffee overall?
Now talking about overall coffee consumption, the USA tops this list. The USA consumes 27 million 60lb bags of dry coffee beans each year, making the USA the largest importer of coffee in the World.
Second on this list is Germany, which consumes 7 million 60lb bags of coffee in a year.
The USA lies at the bottom of the list if we talk about per capita coffee consumption, but it tops the list of overall coffee consumption. The reason is the USA is a big country with a population of 332 million. In comparison, the population of European countries that tops the per capita list is very little compared to the USA.
Take a look at the top 10 countries that consume the most coffee in the World overall. The numbers are in thousands of 60 lb bags of dry beans.
| Country | Coffee consumption (overall) |
|---|---|
| United States | 27,310 |
| Germany | 8,670 |
| Japan | 7,551 |
| France | 6,192 |
| Italy | 5,469 |
| Russia | 4,820 |
| United Kingdom | 3,770 |
| Spain | 3,253 |
| Poland | 2501 |
| Netherlands | 2030 |
Why do Nordic Nations drink so much coffee?
Looking at the list of top coffee-consuming countries above, you might have noticed that all of the 5 Nordic nations, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, make to the top 6 of the list.
So, the question arises here: Why are Scandinavians obsessed with coffee so much? Even though they are located very far away from the bean belt (coffee growing regions).
Well, back in the 19th century, when the Nordic nations were not that rich, the government imposed heavy taxes on alcohol-based drinks. But the Nordic people needed some drink to keep themselves warm and energized as the weather is too cold in that part of the World.
Here coffee comes to the rescue and eventually becomes a part of Scandinavian culture. Coffee became the social norm in Nordic nations, and everyone started to praise that delicious drink.
Moreover, the temperature remains cold in Nordic nations throughout the year. And coffee is the best drink to give people warmth with its rich flavors and delicious aroma.
Final Thoughts
As of 2022, Finland drinks the most coffee in the World per Capita. Coffee is a delicious drink that keeps us warm and energetic. As we see in the top 25 list, most countries have very cold and long winter seasons. So, that makes Sense!
All of these countries share a love for coffee, but their coffee cultures differ significantly. Some prefer to drink coffee at home while others prefer to drink it in cafes. Some prefer smooth or milk based coffee drinks, while others prefer rich and intense black coffee.
Hey,
I am Johny Morrisson! Founder of CoffeeAbout
My love for coffee dates back to my childhood. I love trying out different coffee machines and recipes.
As a coffee enthusiast, I decided to start my blog last year to provide users with useful information on brewing methods.
During this journey, I have discovered many new things and facts about coffee that I will share with you here.
