Few places can compete with the United States when it comes to coffee consumption. After the European Union, Americans are the world's greatest coffee lovers, with the average person drinking 23 gallons of it in 2013. However, research conducted by YouGov suggests coffee is starting to lose its traditional dominance.
Tea consumption has grown 20 percent since the turn of the millenium and it's becoming the beverage of choice for a whole generation of young Americans. When people under 30 were asked if they preferred coffee or tea, both proved equally popular, garnering 42 percent of the vote each. The most likely explanation for tea's rise is its perceived health benefits, with green tea in particular proving a hit.
Coffee still finds favor among older Americans, especially those aged 65 and over. 70 percent of people aged 65+ said they preferred coffee compared to just 21 percent who preferred tea. However, with tea's momentum and popularity among young millenials showing little signs of waning, coffee's dominance is set to erode over time.
*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)
