Square has released its latest Quarterly Restaurant Report, offering fresh insights into the nation’s café and quick-service restaurant (QSR) habits. Drawing from transaction data across hundreds of thousands of Canadian businesses using Square and a nationwide survey, the report spotlights what—and when—Canadians are ordering, and how restaurants can tap into changing consumer tastes.
Canadian Coffee Habits: Later Starts, Regional Picks
“Square’s data shows Canadians are hitting cafés later than you might think. While most major cities report their coffee shop rush before 1:00 p.m., Montrealers are early risers, peaking just after 8:00 a.m., but Calgary’s caffeine surge happens at noon. In Toronto and Calgary, only a minority order before 6:00 a.m.; most café visits occur between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m local time,” it said.
“A global comparison reveals very different habits when it comes to the busiest times at cafés. In Australia, crowds start to fill cafés by sunrise while in Japan, coffee peaks mid-afternoon around 2:00 p.m. local time. Spain’s coffee shops, on the other hand, peak at around 11:00 a.m. then taper off dramatically. Canadians, meanwhile, are most likely to visit their favourite coffee shops around lunch time, at noon.”
Canada Loves its Classic Brew
When it comes to taste, tradition prevails. Brewed coffee remains Canada’s top beverage choice at cafés, with 42% of survey respondents sticking to the classic drip coffee—likely motivated by both taste and price. The cost of a medium drip coffee in Canada edged up just nine cents (3.3%) year-over-year. Iced coffees, cold brew, and espresso-based drinks are runner-ups, each claimed by 23% of respondents. Seventeen percent say they skip coffee shops altogether, said Square.
In terms of the average café transaction sizes, amounts have actually dipped in 2025—falling to $13.04 in April from $14.31 last year, it added.
Antoine Vautherot, Senior Manager, Hospitality at Fitzrovia, manages all three current locations of the coffee shop 10 Dean, situated in the foyers of luxury rental buildings in Toronto, Ontario.
“Two of our locations offer both quick service and full service, while the other one is exclusively take-out, so we see a difference in cheques at our sit-down cafés,” said Vautherot. “This tells me that the format of coffee shops might be shifting and lending themselves more to smaller orders. Given the ups and downs throughout the past few years, a small dip isn’t terribly concerning, and a technology partner like Square can help make it easier to add new revenue streams.”
Matcha On the Rise Despite Shortages
Reports of an impending global matcha shortage last year might spell disappointment for the growing masses of Canadians who enjoy the ubiquitous green drink’s taste and health benefits. In recent years, matcha has become a staple in cafés – Canadian sellers using Square’s platform have seen a 114% increase in the number of Matcha orders from April 2024 to April 2025, said the report.
Members of Gen Z and younger millennials are most likely to buy Matcha-based drinks (14%), while 35-54 year old Canadians make up only 6% of Matcha purchasers. Despite the growth in popularity, only 6% of respondents indicated that Matcha-based drinks are their preferred beverage at cafés, added the report.
Healthy Menus—A Key to QSRs’ Growth?
“While only one in 10 respondents selected menu variety as a factor in choosing a QSR, a majority of Canadians (61%) say they would be more likely to visit a QSR that offers healthier options. The desire for plant-based options is on the wish list for 26% of respondents, but more than two thirds said they disagree that meatless options would impact their dining decisions,” noted Square.
Speed and Affordability on the Menu
The report said Canadians are still frequenting quick-service restaurants, but their spending is relatively flat, with the average meal costing $16.47, up only 1.6% over April of last year according to data from Square.
While Canadians are saving sit-down, full service dining for date nights and special occasions, when it comes to quick-service restaurants, it is often a solo experience, with 30% saying they usually eat alone, according to a new consumer survey conducted by Leger. Tables for two are the norm for 37% of QSR diners, while 17% make QSR meals a family affair. Fast service is the top driver for 35% of QSR visitors; affordability (33%) and taste (28%) closely follow, noted the report.
“Canadian diners are skipping full-service meals more often due to economic pressures, but convenience keeps quick-service restaurants busy,” says Karisa Marra, Head of Sales at Square Canada. “As the sector adapts with healthier menus and smarter tech, Square is committed to helping operators thrive in a changing landscape.”
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