Coffee remains one of Canada’s most deeply rooted daily rituals, but where, when and how Canadians drink it is evolving, says Jeff Doucette, General Manager, Field Agent Canada.
Between September 16 to 27, he said Field Agent Canada surveyed 1,410 Canadians to better understand today’s coffee occasion, from the kitchen counter to the drive-thru.
The report, The Canadian Coffee Cup: How Canadians Are Drinking Coffee, At Home and Away in 2026, explored the habits shaping both the retail and foodservice coffee markets.
With National Coffee Day today September 29, Doucette highlighted some fun facts:
- 91% of Canadians consume coffee on a regular basis.
- 40% of Canadians coffee drinkers say that they are drinking more coffee today compared to one year ago.
- Drip Coffee is still the most popular type (71%) but Iced Coffee is very popular as well with Canadian coffee drinkers (68%).
- 45% of Canadian coffee drinkers consume Decaf Coffee at least some of the time, but only 1% drink Decaf exclusively.
- 48% of Canadian coffee drinkers have a Keurig / K-Cup system in their home – the most popular type of coffee machine.
- The top brands at-home are the same as out-of-home: Tim Hortons, Starbucks and McCafe.
- The average Canadian coffee drinker consumes 1.3 coffee servings out-of-home (at a cafe / restaurant / on-the-go) per day.
- 17% of Canadian coffee drinkers report that they regularly visit Independent / Local coffee shops.
- Dunkin Donuts is coming back to Canada and Canadian coffee drinkers rated their likelihood of regularly visiting Dunkin’ at a 3.6, on a scale of 1 to 5.
The report said coffee remains deeply embedded in Canadian routines—and consumption is strengthening.
“Consumption is highest in the morning and gradually declines through the day,” explained the report.
“At-home consumption skews more strongly toward older consumers, while away-from-home participation rises from 84% among Boomers to 96% among Gen Z. The at-home market combines traditional coffee habits with considerable equipment and format diversity.
“Tim Hortons leads at-home brands at 25%, while Costco is the leading retail destination, used by 50% of respondents shopping for coffee to prepare at home. Away from home is a more varied, mobile and afternoon-oriented coffee occasion.”
The report said that drive-thru ordering is used by 64%, versus 51% ordering at a staffed counter, and 84% consume their purchased coffee in the car/on the go.
“Away-from-home coffee also extends further into the afternoon than at-home consumption. Convenience is central, but coffee also creates a meaningful incremental food occasion. Tim Hortons dominates away-fromhome purchasing at 82%, ahead of Starbucks at 62% and McCafé at 58%. Importantly for foodservice operators, a food item accompanies 28% of away-from-home coffee orders,” it said.
“Taken together, the study depicts Canadian coffee as an ecosystem spanning the kitchen, grocery shelf, drive-thru and café—with consumers moving fluidly between at-home convenience and away-from-home variety, portability and foodservice occasions.”
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