Tea vs. Coffee: Drinker Demographics

Tea vs. Coffee: Drinker Demographics

Throughout the UK and across the globe, hot drinks are our beverage of choice in a whole host of situations. From setting ourselves up for the day at the breakfast table, enjoying a catch up with a friend or finding fuel to get through the last couple of hours of the working day, both tea and coffee act as reliable friends in many settings and climates. Whilst many people love both drinks and simply prefer one over the other only based on their activity or the time of day, many others have a sworn favourite. In this article, we take a look at how age, location and occupation can play a part in determining which of the two will be an individual’s preference.

Age

In the UK, the “standard” English Breakfast tea has decreased in popularity amongst the younger generation as its biggest fans have grown older, and sales are now driven by those over 35. The so called “millennials” are much more likely to opt for coffee, which is now the most popular drink worldwide, as they begin their careers in the workplace. This doesn’t mean, however, that this generation have lost interest in tea altogether, they are much more likely to explore herbal and speciality teas, which have become trendy alternatives in fashionable coffee shops, than the older generation who have established a firm favourite.

Location

As with most things, upbringing plays a key role in determining a person’s tastes, and many have undertaken to discover which countries prefer either tea or coffee. Though it’s easy to assume that the UK would come at the top of the tea-drinking list, we actually fall below many Asian and some African countries, whilst North and South American, along with many continental European countries, dominate the coffee-drinking charts.

Occupation

Office culture often influences tea/coffee consumption in the workplace, access to a commercial coffee machine alone can have a remarkable impact, though naturally this is difficult to distinguish entirely from age and location. Those with more demanding jobs which entail long working hours and high-stress levels are likely to drink more coffee, most probably because of the higher caffeine content per cup. This coincides with age as the age demographic shown to be drinking the most coffee are those likely to be progressing in their careers, whilst those reaching retirement age drink significantly less coffee and notably more tea.

Liquidline strive to cater for all requirements and preferences of our clients, so whether you’re an avid tea-drinker or a coffee addict, browse our site or get in touch to find a hot drinks machine that suits you.

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