According to the study, 40% now prefer a chat with friends over a cup of coffee rather than visiting a pub and having a glass of wine or a pint.
The ‘Developing an Understanding of Coffee Culture in the UK’ report found that like in the way a wine buff will discuss the merits of a Merlot over a Pinor Noir, coffee buffs are doing the same.
Dr Julie Tinson of the University of Stirling, said: “More of us than ever seem to know our Arabica from our Robusta, and our study to examine the influence of coffee culture on modern Britain found that we’ve become a nation obsessed not just with drinking coffee, but discussing it.
“And like our European cousins, who are known to spend hours in cafes and coffee shops watching the world go by, it seems catching up with our mates and colleagues over a coffee is becoming almost as popular as heading to the pub or a bar for a glass of wine or a pint.”
The study also found that the city of Brighton & Hove has the highest spend a year at £177 per person. This is more than London, Norwich and Nottingham who all spend £151 per head a year. Coffee drinkers in Manchester are fifth in the list spending £146 per head a year.