The latest Food and Nutrients report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) offers new insights into the coffee consumption habits of Australians.
The data, which was acquired as part of the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) from January 2023 to March 2024, shows a dramatic rise in the number of Australians who drink coffee, compared to a previous reporting period in 2012.
The results of the 2023 survey were released in September 2025. This new survey indicates 61.5 per cent of Australians over the age of 18 consume coffee or coffee substitutes, with males (62.7 per cent) slightly more likely to drink coffee than females (60.3 per cent).
The average reported consumption of coffee and coffee substitute beverages is 191 grams per person.
In 2012, just 46 per cent of the Australian population reported consuming coffee, including just one in three people aged 19 to 30. The 2012 data states around two thirds of Australian coffee drinkers consumed instant coffee and one third consumed ground coffee, however, there is no comparable data point in the 2023 results.
Despite the rise of the RTD market and signature drinks, fewer Australians are drinking sweetened beverages than a decade ago, with the largest drop seen in children’s consumption habits.
Sweetened beverages are defined as non-alcoholic beverages that are high in sugar and low in essential nutrients, like soft drinks, fruit drinks, cordials, and energy drinks.
In 2012, 42.2 per cent of Australians reported drinking sweetened beverages, including 49.5 per cent of children. In 2023, this figure fell to 29.9 per cent of adults and 25 per cent of children.
ABS Head of Health Statistics James Eynstone-Hinkins says the new data offers insights into the changing dietary habits of Australians.
“Today’s data gives us a comprehensive snapshot of Australia’s nutrition, with new insights into what we’re eating, our energy intakes, and the types of diets we follow,” he says.
Adults (88.8 per cent) also consume less water than children (97.1 per cent), with the presence of water in beverages like coffee, coffee substitutes, and tea cited as a potential reason by the ABS.
Just three per cent of children aged between two and 17 were reported to drink coffee or coffee substitutes.
To view the full report, click here.
