Latte named Northern Ireland’s favourite coffee

Latte has been named Northern Ireland’s favourite type of coffee, according to new research.

Some 28% of respondents picked the frothy option, while cappuccino and Americano were tied in second place on 17% each.

The research, commissioned by Musgrave, Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company, also found that on average, drinkers are consuming three coffees a day.

Meanwhile an emerging trend across coffee consumption is personalisation. The research found a third of people added flavours and 54% of those satisfied their sweet tooth with a pump of caramel syrup.

The trend for alternatives to dairy, including oat, soya and coconut, is continuing for one in four, rising to 30% among those aged 18-34.

The results also showed that even though Northern Ireland gets on average 180 days of rain per year, a third of the population drink an iced coffee every week, with one in seven opting for one no matter the weather.

Sales of iced coffee are being driven by the Gen Z and younger millennial market, with 18–34-year-olds buying it, but more than half of those aged 45 and over have never and do not intend to drink iced coffee.

The research was conducted by Empathy based on a nationally representative sample of about 600 adults in Northern Ireland who drink coffee.

Desi Derby, director of marketing at Musgrave, parent of the Frank and Honest coffee brand, which came out as Northern Ireland’s favourite convenience store coffee, described coffee trends as ever-changing and evolving.

He said: “We have noticed corresponding trends across our stores, with syrups being chosen daily, and there has been a clear uptake in iced coffee preferences year-round in many of our stores. We look forward to rolling out the cool alternatives in even more stores soon.

“We’re delighted that Frank and Honest has been crowned Northern Ireland’s favourite convenience store coffee.”