They grew up so fast: The youngest millennials, now 20 or so, started drinking coffee before they were 15, according to National Coffee Association data. Millennial consumption is helping drive up the price of coffee, which is in the top
They grew up so fast: The youngest millennials, now 20 or so, started drinking coffee before they were 15, according to National Coffee Association data. Millennial consumption is helping drive up the price of coffee, which is in the top five raw materials on the Bloomberg Commodity Index.
Coffee has more caffeine than soda, and only as much sugar as the consumer wants. It also lacks soda’s stigma, says consultant Gabrielle Bosche. “Soda is unhealthy, and coffee offers the same jolt without the socially unacceptable soda addiction,” she said. “Coffee has everything millennials love: status, experience and personalization.”
That experience and personalization also contribute to the price. You can get 30.5 ounces of Folgers grounds at the local supermarket for about $7 and make 240 cups. You can spend that and then some on two cups at Starbucks.
If today’s 20-year-olds started their coffee habits at 14, by now 13-year-olds, maybe even 12-year-olds, might be drinking the stuff. They probably don’t even care about research showing the caffeine in java might help prevent Alzheimer’s. This motivates one to pick up a mug, drink deeply and ponder.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
