A recent report from the National Coffee Association (NCA) indicates that while overall daily coffee consumption in the United States has held steady, the specialty coffee segment continues to expand. The Fall 2026 National Coffee Data Trends report also reveals a post-pandemic high for out-of-home coffee consumption and a record level of ordering through mobile applications.
According to the survey, 66% of American adults consumed coffee within the past day, a figure consistent with previous reports. Within that group, past-day specialty coffee consumption increased to 48%. On a weekly basis, specialty coffee consumption grew to 59%, now equal to the consumption of traditional coffee. The growth is largely driven by espresso-based beverages, which a record 47% of adults reported drinking in the past week.
The findings signal important shifts for the coffee industry. Out-of-home coffee drinking, a key channel for roasters, reached its highest point since January 2020, with 38% of past-day drinkers purchasing coffee away from home. Among those consumers, 40% used a mobile app to place their order, a new record. The report also noted seasonal growth in cold coffee formats, with past-week cold brew consumption rising to 21%, and a shift in at-home purchasing from grocery stores toward mass merchandisers.