Finland leads the per capita statistics with around 10–12 kg of roasted coffee per year. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark follow closely behind.

Which Country Drinks the Most Coffee Worldwide?

Finland leads the per capita statistics with around 10–12 kg of roasted coffee per year. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark follow closely behind.

Why that matters

The Scandinavian countries have dominated coffee consumption statistics for decades. In Finland, adults drink an average of 4–5 cups per day — significantly more than in Italy, which you’d intuitively expect at the top. Italians do drink espresso frequently, but each serving is only 25–30 ml. In Scandinavia, the norm is filter coffee in large cups.

The reasons are historical and cultural: long, dark winters with little daylight create a need for warm, stimulating beverages. Add a pronounced “fika” culture in Sweden and similar coffee-break traditions in Finland and Norway. Drinking coffee there isn’t a side activity — it’s a social anchor in the daily routine.

Germany ranks in the upper midfield internationally, at around 5–6 kg per capita per year. Austria and Switzerland sit slightly higher, Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal) slightly lower. The United States consumes the largest total volume, but less per capita than Northern Europe.

What’s also interesting is what gets drunk where: espresso dominates in Italy, light filter coffee in Scandinavia, finely ground mokka in Turkey, and classic drip coffee from a machine in Germany. Every coffee culture has its own brewing method — and with it, its own flavour profile.

At Green Wall Coffee

When guests at our café in Berlin-Lichtenberg ask why Scandinavians drink so much coffee, I sometimes pour them a Scandinavian-style light filter coffee — lightly roasted, fruity, with pronounced acidity. On Sophienstraße 27, we usually have two filter coffees on the menu, often including one inspired by Nordic roast profiles. The difference from a typical German roast surprises many.

Related Questions

• How much coffee do Germans drink per year?
• Why is coffee so popular?
• Where is coffee grown worldwide?

More depth on this topic in the article How to Make Perfect Espresso. Or stop by at Sophienstraße 27 — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.