Countries That Drink the Most Coffee: Ranked

Finland drinks more coffee per person than any other country, at around 12 kilograms per capita each year. It is followed by Norway, Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland — a list overwhelmingly dominated by Nordic nations.

Introduction

Coffee is the world's most popular hot drink, but consumption is far from evenly spread. The countries that drink the most coffee per capita are not the tropical nations that grow it — Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia — but the cold, wealthy nations of northern Europe. Finland tops the list by a wide margin, and its Nordic neighbours fill most of the remaining places.

This guide ranks the biggest coffee-drinking countries by consumption per person, explains why the Nordics lead, and clears up the common confusion between consuming coffee and producing it.

The Top 7 Coffee-Drinking Countries

Ranked by consumption per person per year

• Finland: At roughly 12 kilograms of coffee per person a year — around four cups a day for the average adult — Finland is the world's undisputed coffee champion. Coffee breaks, or "kahvitauko," are so ingrained that they are written into some Finnish labour agreements.
• Norway: Norwegians drink close to 10 kilograms per person annually. Coffee is a daily ritual, often taken black and enjoyed both at home and in the country's thriving café culture.
• Iceland: With consumption of around 9 kilograms per capita, Icelanders pair long, dark winters with a strong coffee habit and a vibrant independent café scene in Reykjavik.
• Denmark: Danes consume roughly 8 to 9 kilograms per person each year. Coffee is central to "hygge," the Danish idea of cosy contentment, and is rarely far from any social gathering.
• Netherlands: The Dutch drink around 8 kilograms per capita, sustaining one of Europe's oldest coffee cultures. The Netherlands was historically a major coffee-trading power through its colonial shipping networks.
• Sweden: Swedes consume roughly 8 kilograms per person a year and have their own coffee-break tradition, "fika," a daily pause for coffee and something sweet with friends or colleagues.
• Switzerland: The Swiss round out the top seven at around 7 to 8 kilograms per capita. Switzerland is also home to some of the world's largest coffee companies and a strong espresso culture.

The pattern is unmistakable: six of the seven leading countries are in northern Europe, and five are Nordic. Long, dark winters, high incomes, and deeply rooted social customs around coffee breaks all help explain why these nations drink so much. Finland's lead is so large that no other country comes close to matching it.

Consumption Versus Production

One of the biggest misconceptions about coffee is that the countries that drink the most also grow the most. They do not. Coffee grows only in the tropical "bean belt" near the equator, so the world's top producers are Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia. None of the top per-capita consumers grow any coffee at all — every bean the Nordics drink is imported.

It is also important to distinguish per-capita consumption from total consumption. The United States and Brazil drink far more coffee in absolute terms simply because they have large populations, but their per-person figures are well below Finland's. Ranking by consumption per person is what puts the small Nordic nations on top.

People Also Ask

Which country drinks the most coffee?

Finland drinks the most coffee per person, at around 12 kilograms per capita each year — the equivalent of roughly four cups a day for the average adult. No other country comes close on a per-person basis.

Why do Nordic countries drink so much coffee?

Long, dark winters, high average incomes, and strong social traditions around coffee breaks all contribute. In Finland and Sweden, coffee breaks are a cultural institution, and in Finland they are even embedded in some workplace agreements.

Do the top coffee-drinking countries grow coffee?

No. Coffee grows only in tropical regions near the equator, so none of the top per-capita consumers — all in northern Europe — produce any. They import every bean. The world's largest producers are Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia.