Our coffee culture
April 16th, 2008 by CatAmericans are addicted to coffee.
In 1999 there were 108 million coffee consumers in the United States, spending about $9.2 billion dollars in the retail sector and another $8.7 billion in the food-service section every year, according to the SCAA 1999 Market Report.
The average coffee-drinker spends $164.71 a year on coffee.
And in 2000 54 percent of U.S. adults, according to the National Coffee Association, reported drinking coffee daily, with nearly 20 percent choosing gourmet coffee drinks.
Just look around Honolulu. There's a Starbucks next to a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf next to an indie coffee house next to another Starbucks.
And speaking of Starbucks, there are more than 50 of these coffee shops in Hawai'i alone. (Some right across the street from each other.) Worldwide, Starbucks boasts more than 15,000 stores in 43 countries, including in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Chile, 
South Korea and on the remote island of Amami off Japan.
In fiscal 2007, the publically traded company generated $9.4 billion in revenues and reported net earnings of $673 million, or $0.87 per share.
To say business is doing well would be a gross understatement.
Even kids are getting into the coffee craze.
According to a story on yesterday's NBC "Today," in 2001, 10 percent of visits to gourmet coffee and tea shops were by consumers under the age of 18, according to market research firm NPD Group. Last year it was 13 percent.
Young people are drawn in by the dessert-like coffee drinks and promise of a highly caffeinated experience. Not to mention, today's coffee shops are like yesterday's soda shops. They've become hangouts and venerable "scenes."
Now, I don't drink coffee -- though I'll admit to indulging in coffee-flavored ice cream and the mocha espresso milkshake at Mocha Java in Ward Center.
But I don't get how people spend at least $5 on coffee a day. That's $1,825 a year! Do the math!
Anyone addicted to coffee? How much do you spend on the caffeinated beverage? What do you think about the growing number of kids and teens downing the stuff?
April 16th, 2008 at 2:30 am
My wife and I gotta have our coffee before we start the day. We just fire up the old trusty coffee maker and voila! Anyone addicted to coffee needs to have to resources to make their own.
We used to go to Starbucks a lot when we were dating in college (mostly as a hangout and study place). I think we've 'outgrown' that scene and now visit maybe twice a week for a dessert drink. Gotta save to pay our mortgage too!
Now Jamba Juice, that's a different story but its getting a little addicting too....:)
April 16th, 2008 at 2:46 am
I did not start drinking coffee until I was in almost my mid-20s. But once, I started, it has become an addiction for me. When I was working, single and had a pretty good paying job, I used to go to Starbucks and then eventually The Coffee Bean every single day! I felt like I was the "Norm" of the coffee shop because they knew my name and my libation! Now that I'm married and work from home, I make coffee every morning. I'm content with the stuff straight up and not espresso'd, latte'd or whatever. Luckily, here in NC, I can buy bags of Kona coffee at the warehouse club. I would rather pay for that and make my own coffee than buy the stuff at a coffee place anytime!
April 16th, 2008 at 3:18 am
I'm convinced that the anti-christ will be one of the future CEOs of Starbucks!
I think it's ridiculous that people will pay 3-4 dollars for burnt beans in water.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:52 am
CAT,
I gave up drinking coffee after college and started a full time job. It happened that one day the coffee in the cafeteria was so bad I went cold turkey! I now drink only tea and usually a cup or two a day. Spouse unit is addicted to caffeine and nicotine. Brews a full pot of coffee, 12 cups, first thing in the morning and takes it to work in a thermos. I think she drinks the whole thing by lunch time. For what she pays for coffee and cigarettes, our kids could have a Harvard education in no time. That much coffee and cigarettes stain the teeth badly...that is why she rarely smiles, or is it because she is PO'd at me all the time?!!
April 16th, 2008 at 6:02 am
you funny Annoddah Dave...does your spouse unit lurk?
I love fresh brewed coffee in the morning and Breyer's Coffee Ice Cream. If I must buy coffee, then it's McDonald's senior cup for $.63 but usually I make my own and drink 2 cups black in the morning and no coffee for the rest of the day.
My spouse unit must have her cup every morning otherwise he has headaches she claims. Her coffee is actually coffee flavored irish creme, very creamy looking and sweet...yuck.
There has been conflicting or ever-changing reports on the benefits/hazards of drinking coffee. I guess like anything else, moderation is the key. Too much of anything is bad.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:22 am
I don't drink coffee or alcohol. A little soda or tea once in a while. I drink lots of water all day long.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:50 am
hema,
spouse unit does not lurk...if she did, as Rap would say "My eggs stay going to dat big omelet in the sky"! with all the stuff I blurt about her in this blog!! This is my secret hideout for some sanity in my life!!! Tenks, CAT!
April 16th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Hah Cat.....you no drink coffee? I pegged you as a gourmet coffee kinda person.
Me.....I drink coffee everyday but just Yuban or Costco (Kirkland) kine nuff for me. Don't care for flavored coffee or them frappa-cappu-mocha stuff. Plus like you pointed out.....too expensive.
Just black and strong for me please.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Once again living in Hawaii has prevailed for brewing a cup of high quality, perhaps the best in the world, cup of coffee is within arms reach. Any coffee aficinado will tell you that Kona coffee is the best for it's mellow yet robust flavor that is packed full of nutritious caffeine. The fins volcanic soil combined with the temperatures of the tropical sun and rainforest moisture creates such a wonderful bean that one just has to drink Kona coffee. It's just simply wonderfully marvelous and happy to say "Luck you live Hawaii" once again.
NINTH!!!
April 16th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I second what "M" said... no coffee or alcohol... a little soda or tea... mostly water for me! I used to drink Frappucinos every once in a long while, but haven't had one in months.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Started with Foldgers crystals in College. Then started upgrading from there. I couldn't resist the Lion's Vanilla Mac Nut with a slice of banana bread from UH Campus Center on my way up to BusAD.
Try to stay away from the chains and the prices. I brew a pot in the morning. Now it's straight up strong stuff, no flavored coffee. Usually Costco or sometimes Lion or Hawn Isles (Longs sale). I rarely have a refill. Maybe if I am out at night or at a dinner.
I've been drinking hot tea after dinner at home. Hopefully this has health benefits.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Before I developed my anxiety disorder, I used to drink coffee. White chocolate mochas from Starbucks, mmm. My problem was that I couldn't just drink coffee, even with sugar or cream; I needed something strongly flavored, like the white choc mocha.
Now, it's herbal tea. If I want caffeine, a couple pieces of chocolate is all my system can handle. Otherwise, things get ugly.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I don't get it....Starbucks makes the worse cup of coffee in AZ, or, even the planet. It's such a bitter tasting coffee, no amount of sugar, vanilla, or cream will overcome that burnt flavoring. The best I've tasted is from McDonald's...
April 16th, 2008 at 9:34 am
i'm not a coffee drink either but some brews smell SOOO good when its goin!! even walking into starbucks at times is awakening! lol!! one thing i can't stand though is when theres just a drop of coffee left in the pot and it starts to burn!! yuck...that smell can turn you off from coffee for sure! lol!!
April 16th, 2008 at 9:36 am
i love coffee - but don't drink it every day . . . just when i'm feeling a little burnt out mid-morning.
my weekly friday ritual is to stop by coffee talk in kaimuki on my way to work and get myself a nice cafe late and one of their onolicious scones . . . i think indie coffee houses are soo much better than the millions of starbucks and/or coffee bean and tea leaves.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I drink coffee more often for the caffeine than the taste and I can't drink it black unless I'm desperate for energy. But I LOVE the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's hazelnut latte. I could drink those every day if it weren't for the calories and cost.
For me, coffee shops are a good place to catch up with friends on a weeknight or go to with my parents after church on Sunday. We try and rotate between the independent coffee shops and Starbucks/Coffee Bean and Tea Leafs.
April 16th, 2008 at 10:12 am
as i'm reading this blog, i'm sitting here at my desk choking down the last of my store-bought, cooling down, mixed flavors (part vanilla mac nut half choc. mac nut because they ran out of vanilla...it's really pretty gross), not so strong cup of Lion's coffee
i really can't tell what kind of coffee is what or which brand is better. to me it's either too strong, watered-down, burnt, too cold, or drinkable. i always hope for just drinkable.
used to drink starbucks pretty often but that's before i realized how much money i could save by "quitting." most of the time it's water for me but there are those mornings when i need more caffeine to function! btw McDonalds coffee is pretty good! not something you would expect from a fast food chain
April 16th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I drink 10 ccups of coff ee eevery dAy annd the cafafiene doennst' bohterr mE at a all.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I LOVE coffee, but I try to limit myself to one travel mug per day (cream, no sugar). I brew my own in my awesome coffee pot with built-in grinder using Kirkland free trade beans from Costco. I absolutely love a latte, but only on special occasions. Like you said, a cup here and a cup there really add up to loads of dough. It's what financial adviser David Bach calls the "Latte Factor"!
April 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I must have coffee and used to be totally anti-chain, the coffee was too strong and expensive. I realized how spoiled we were in the US when I temporarily moved to Japan. In a land where you pay $5 for a tiny china cup (no refils) of bad, watery coffee, I'd rather go without, and that's saying something. A $3.50 big paper cup from Starbucks is a bargain and the coffee is not strong or bitter here, it's perfect. I admit I'm greatful for this particular coffee chain in the land of the rising sun.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Started drinking coffee in college. I usually drink the office coffee Mon. - Fri. (I think its the BEST coffee I tasted so far!) I'll go to Starbucks about twice a month to study and I usually get a tall coffee, no frappucino or latte or macchiato etc. It upsets me to see overweight individuals or young keeds ordering a venti java chip frappucino with whip cream and chocolate drizzle, while holding a McDonald's or Panda Express package.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Mocha espresso shake at Mocha Java RULES!!!!!
April 16th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
No coffee, no soda, no juice. Water each day everyday.
Comment!!!!
Scott N. , where are you?
April 16th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
No, I don't drink coffee. It has caffiene.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Cat -
I drink drip coffee - it has more caffeine than an expresso drink and costs WAY less. I don't drink coffee every morning anymore - just OJ and cereal is enough to get the day going and with enough sleep, you really don't need the caffeine boost. In any case, one has to wonder - if drip coffee has more caffeine than espresso drinks - why not just drink drip? "Because it tastes better" would probably be the majority of the answers. Sadly, they're not thinking about the double-whammy they're doing...
- Cha-Ching -
Like you said, if you think about the math of it, that's a huge chunk of your budget you're blowing. Apparently, Americans now days must have more discretionary income than before.
- I'm how heavy now? -
Take a look at the Starbucks nutritional site (not that I'm picking on them - but they make it easy to find). That ubber-yummy java-chip blended drink with whip is 460 calories... that's more calories than a McD's double cheeseburger. Yeah - and Americans wonder why Disney needed to close It's a Small World for repairs.
As for the kids - they should really stay away from caffeine in general. All they're doing is stunting their growth & blowing money they could spend on better things. They just wanna “look cool” and hang out where adults go - but have fun being a kid.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Coffee Vacuum Coffee Maker Commercial Coffee Makers
I didn't agree with you first, but last paragraph makes sense for me