Here’s why most people prefer to get their coffee at home

A decade ago, grabbing a cup from a café felt normal. It was a habit so common that very few of us questioned it. Today the picture has changed. Most people now start their day with coffee they brew at home.

The National Coffee Association reports that 83% of American coffee drinkers prepare their coffee at home. Only 35% pick up a coffee from a café on a typical day.

That’s not a temporary swing. It is part of a broader home brewing trend that has been building since 2020. And because it was cafés that once defined what modern coffee looked like, the scale of the shift is worth paying attention to.

How coffee drinking used to look

Before the pandemic, people relied far more on cafés and offices for their daily coffee. In 2017, home consumption sat at 79%, according to the NCA. The rest came from cafés, convenience stores, and workplace machines.

Even then, cafés played an important cultural role. They taught people how to taste coffee and introduced new brewing methods. They were trend setters.

Then lockdowns pushed nearly everyone back into their kitchens. What looked like a temporary adjustment became a long-term change. By 2021, home brewing rose to 85% and remained close to that level in 2022 and 2023. People had already bought grinders, brewers, and filters. They had built new routines. And because those routines worked, they stuck.

How inflation sealed the change

Economic pressure made the home brewing trend even stronger. As inflation pushed café prices higher, many drinkers reassessed their daily habits. Bloomberg reported that latte prices in major cities climbed at the fastest rate in more than ten years:

A café drink became a small luxury. It was still enjoyable. It just cost more than it used to. Much more. And when a home brewed cup tasted good enough, the decision became easy. People protected their routines by shifting them home.

Better home equipment changed expectations

Home equipment has become more reliable, more affordable, and easier to use. Capsule machines improved. Automatic brewers became smarter. Milk frothers became more consistent.

People who once felt intimidated by brewing at home now feel confident.

As equipment improved, people built rituals that felt personal. Coffee became something they controlled. And that sense of control is powerful.

Cafés lost the role of being the centre of the conversation

For a long time, cafés shaped the story of modern coffee. They taught people how to taste, introduced new origins and they held the knowledge that made the category feel alive.

But that influence depends on where people drink their coffee. And most coffee is now brewed away from cafés. Most coffee conversations happen in kitchens and private spaces. People make decisions based on cost, convenience, and comfort. They buy beans that work for them, recreate drinks they enjoy and learn online.

Cafés haven’t changed. The landscape around them has changed.

How cafés can stay relevant in a home-first world

A home brewing trend does not have to be a threat. It is simply a shift in behaviour. Cafés that recognise the shift early can position themselves as guides, teachers, and anchors of local coffee culture.

Help people brew better at home

Offer short classes. Share simple techniques. Teach people how to use the equipment they already own. People appreciate guidance that feels honest.

Make beans easier to understand

Use flavour notes that feel clear. Offer reasonable bag sizes. Suggest brew methods that match the beans. Help people feel confident about their choices.

Create drinks that spark curiosity

Signature drinks can introduce new flavours. When people enjoy them, they often try to recreate them at home. That cycle builds connection rather than competition.

Make the café feel worth visiting

A visit needs to feel warm, calm, and enjoyable. People return to cafés that feel good. They remember the experience.

Respect the home drinker

Many people brew at home because life feels busy. They are not rejecting cafés. They are choosing what fits their days. When cafés recognise this, trust grows.

Where this leaves the future of coffee

The shift toward home brewing does not end the role of cafés. It simply changes the balance of influence. When most people brew coffee at home, the centre of the category lives there. That centre will shape habits, expectations, and conversations in the years ahead.

The opportunity for cafés and roasters is to understand the new landscape, meet people where they are, and build relationships that respect how consumers actually drink their coffee today.

FAQ

Why are more people making their coffee at home

People have settled into home routines that feel comfortable, reliable, and easy to manage. Better equipment, clearer guidance, and rising living costs all pushed daily coffee habits toward the kitchen rather than the café.

Does this shift mean cafés are becoming less important

Cafés still matter, but in a different way. They work best when they offer experiences people cannot recreate at home, such as signature drinks, warm service, and a sense of community that lives outside the daily routine.

What does the home brewing trend mean for coffee businesses

It means the starting point for most coffee drinkers has moved. Businesses now need to support home brewers with clearer communication, accessible beans, and simple education while still making the café visit feel worthwhile.

Can cafés and home brewing coexist

Yes. They grow stronger together when cafés guide, teach, and inspire. Home brewers often look to cafés for new ideas, flavour discoveries, and occasional treats that complement their home routine.

Will people ever return to cafés the way they used to

Habits rarely reverse once they settle. People will continue to visit cafés, but not for the same reasons as before. The café experience needs to stand on its own rather than rely on being the default place to get coffee.