NCA’s Spring 2026 NCDT report shows record home brewing numbers, the highest in 14 years.
America runs on coffee, and the numbers have never made that clearer. The National Coffee Association's Spring 2026 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report confirms that 66% of American adults drank coffee in the past day, outpacing bottled water (64%), tea (47%), soda (46%), and juice (26%). The average coffee drinker consumed 2.8 cups daily. What this edition of NCDT reveals, however, is not merely that Americans love coffee. It is how deeply, consistently, and creatively that love has evolved.
The Northeast Leads Regional Consumption, but All Regions Hold Strong
Regional disparities in coffee consumption have long been a feature of NCDT, and the spring 2026 report reveals nothing new, though the scale of the Northeast's lead is striking. Three-quarters of adults in the region drank coffee in the past day, the highest of any US region.
In an interview with STiR Coffee and Tea, a spokesperson from NCA placed this in a broader context: "The Northeast does typically have the highest concentration of past-day coffee consumption, and our Spring 2026 NCDT report found that this is still the case, with 75% of Americans in that region having a coffee in the past day, up from 61% in fall 2025,” explained the representative.
“Past-day coffee consumption by Americans in other regions has also remained stable, with 68% of those in the West having a coffee in the past day, 66% in the South, and 57% in the Midwest,” they continued.
That regional stability is itself a story. Coffee consumption across the US is not concentrated in one corner of the country; it is a genuine national habit, with even the lowest-ranking Midwest region surpassing the majority threshold.
Hot Coffee Dominates Winter, but Cold Coffee Refuses to Yield
One of the more nuanced findings in the Spring 2026 NCDT report concerns temperature trends. Conducted in January, the survey captured consumer behavior in the heart of winter, and the data reflects it. Seventy-eight percent of yesterday's cups were served hot, a significant seasonal lift.
"Warm coffee consumption naturally tends to rise in the colder winter months, and cold coffee consumption typically rises in the summer,” the spokesperson explained. “Research for our latest NCDT report was conducted last winter, and we found that 78% of yesterday's cups were served hot. That is up 13% since summer 2025. Cold coffee consumption also remains popular in winter months, with 17% of yesterday's cups served cold or iced and 5% of yesterday's cups served frozen blended; this is consistent with cold coffee consumption in previous winters."
The persistence of cold coffee through the winter months reflects a structural shift in American consumption habits. Cold brew, iced lattes, and frozen blends are no longer just warm-weather indulgences. They have become year-round preferences for a meaningful share of the population.
Specialty Coffee Surges, Driven by Younger Drinkers
Perhaps the most commercially significant finding in the Spring 2026 NCDT report is the continued rise of specialty coffee. Fifty-eight percent of Americans had a specialty coffee in the past week, up from 56% in 2025. Among espresso-based beverages, latte leads at 21%, followed by espresso (20%), cappuccino (17%), caffè mocha (12%), americano (10%), macchiato (9%), and flat white (5%). Cold brew tops the non-espresso specialty category at 18%, with frozen blends at 15% and nitro coffee at 6%.
The NCA representative attributes this growth largely to a generational shift: "Younger adult coffee drinkers appear to be driving the increase in specialty coffee consumption, with 69% of those ages 25-39 drinking this type of coffee in the past week, more than any other age group,” they said.
“The growth in specialty coffee consumption also coincides with a recent phenomenal rise in consumption of some beverages that were virtually unknown before, such as cold brew and ready-to-drink."
This trajectory has significant implications for coffee retailers, roasters, and foodservice operators. The 25-to-39 demographic is not just experimenting; it is establishing durable preferences that will shape the market for decades.
Home Brewing Hits a 14-Year High as Preparation Methods Evolve
At-home coffee consumption reached 85% of past-day drinkers. This is the highest figure recorded since 2012. The drip coffee maker remains the most widely owned brewing device (60%), followed by single-cup machines (47%) and instant coffee (35%). Among past-day preparation methods, drip leads at 37%, with the single-cup brewer rising sharply.
NCA contextualizes the shift without overstating it: "Home has always been Americans' favorite place to enjoy their coffee, and that is still the case, with 85% of coffee drinkers having their coffee at home in the past day, up slightly from 82% in fall 2025,” stated the spokesperson. “Out-of-home coffee consumption remains popular too, with 36% of past-day coffee drinkers enjoying their coffee out and about, consistent with recent years."
The workplace (14%), transit (13%), and eating places (10%) remain the most common out-of-home venues. The single-cup brewer's near-22% rise since fall 2025 signals a consumer appetite for convenience and customization that bridges home and café-quality coffee.
507 Million Daily Cups Cement Coffee's Cultural Status
The Spring 2026 NCDT report delivers a verdict on coffee's place in American life that requires little elaboration. "It is difficult to make predictions, but coffee has been America's favorite beverage for decades, other than (sometimes) bottled water, and we do not expect that to change,” concluded the spokesperson.
With 507 million cups consumed daily, enough to fill 48 Olympic-sized swimming pools, the report is less a snapshot than a confirmation. Coffee is not merely popular in America; it is woven into the rhythms of daily life across every region, generation, and season. For the industry, the direction of travel is clear: more specialty, more cold, more home, and no signs of slowing.
The Spring 2026 National Coffee Data Trends report is published by the National Coffee Association USA (NCA). Data is based on surveys of American adults aged 18 and over.