How Different Generations Drink Coffee
And How Our Choices Affect the Coffee Industry
Coffee — a product imported since the mid-17th century and enjoyed by our parents, grandparents, kids, siblings and us. But the taste could be shifting between generations, shaped by lifestyle, values, and how people enjoy their daily cup. From price to quality to experience, the way we drink coffee keeps changing. So we’re sharing this article to help you understand which coffee now fits you the best.
Long-Time Drinkers: When Coffee Was Simply Coffee
For my grandfather, coffee is a familiar morning friend — part of a long-standing daily rhythm rather than a trend or experiment. According to UK coffee consumption data, older generations enjoy about 2.2 cups of coffee per day, noticeably more than Millennials (~1.3) and Gen Z (~0.5).
They usually drink coffee at home and prefer classic flavours: straightforward brews and no exotic add-ins — sugar is the only thing needed. Long-Time Drinkers value reliability and comfort over origin stories or limited-edition releases. For them, coffee is not a statement or experiment, it’s a dependable part of everyday life.
Millennials: When Coffee Became a Ritual
And here comes the largest group of coffee consumers in today’s market: Millennials, who turned coffee into a lifestyle category. They drove the rise of specialty cafés, home brewing, pour-over kits, pods, and subscription coffee. For this generation, coffee is both a daily ritual and a form of self-expression.
They care about bean origin, roast profiles, sustainability, and brand storytelling. Based on the UK coffee consumption data, Millennials are more likely than older generations to drink specialty or premium coffee, reflecting their willingness to pay for quality and taste. Modern consumers buy more intentionally, often choosing fewer drinks at higher quality rather than more cheap ones.
Gen Z: When Coffee Becomes Content
As the future generation, Gen Z no longer drinks coffee just hot and black — it’s iced, flavoured, visually striking, and designed to fit their lifestyle and, most importantly, their social feeds. According to Grocery Trader, nearly half of younger consumers prefer cold brew or iced coffee over traditional hot drinks, showing that taste and presentation matter just as much as caffeine itself.
This generation loves to experiment, switching between coffee, matcha, chai, turmeric and many more.
Why Your Coffee Choice Matters
Each generation buys coffee for different reasons: habit, identity, or experience. Brands that understand this don’t just make better products, they price smarter, waste less, and build stronger loyalty.
At X° Robusta, we speak to modern coffee drinkers who care about taste, origin, and creative formats, from distinctive beans to playful concepts. Our new specialty coffee menu is on the way, and we hope you’ll enjoy it with us.
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