We spend more than 8000 minutes a year drinking coffee

Hungarians spend 161 minutes a week – nearly five and a half days a year – drinking coffee. For many, it is a morning ritual to start the day, for others a moment of relaxation, but coffee is undoubtedly a key part of everyday life: seven out of ten people consume it daily. These insights come from research commissioned by Caffè Vergnano, presented on International Coffee Day at the Renaissance Hall of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.

At the event, host and moderator Nóra Winkler, clinical psychologist Dr. Kitti Almási, Anita Partali, Coffee Brand Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Hungary, and museum educator Judit Cser emphasized the importance of the coffee experience and mindful use of time, while also exploring how “me time” and coffee are intertwined in daily routines. Guests could also take part in a unique journey through time and taste, enriched by an exclusive recipe from a coffee expert.

The representative survey of Hungarians aged 16–75 revealed that 86% of the population drink coffee, and seven out of ten do so daily. A coffee break typically lasts 11–12 minutes, and the majority of the 8–9 cups consumed weekly are prepared at home. This underlines that, despite the growing coffeehouse culture, coffee drinking is still primarily a home-based experience.

The motivations, however, differ daily coffee drinkers see it as a routine and a way to kickstart the day, weekly consumers value its stimulating effect, while occasional drinkers associate coffee more with “me time,” tranquillity, and relaxation.

Coffee: Valuable Time

The findings also highlight that coffee drinking represents a special moment amid hectic everyday life – a short pause to focus on us and others. These minutes mean something different for every generation, yet they all create valuable time. This is exactly what Caffè Vergnano’s Make Time Count philosophy embodies: for the premium Italian brand with more than 140 years of history, respect for time and uncompromising quality have been core values since 1882. Their slow roasting process ensures that every coffee bean fully develops its aroma.

Age Also Shapes Coffee Habits

Generational differences are also visible: one in three respondents under 30 do not drink coffee at all, while daily consumption is more common among those over 60. For older people, the habit provides security and stability, whereas younger generations prefer occasional consumption and variety.

The research was conducted by NRC Marketing Research and Consulting Ltd. The data are representative of the Hungarian internet-using population aged 16–75.