Coffee lovers' crown slips away from Aucklanders

Illustration / Rod Emmerson

The myth that Aucklanders are the nation's top coffee drinkers has been debunked, according to a survey.

The Colmar Brunton survey shows Auckland's coffee consumption is conservative and the popularity of the latte is on the decline.

Wellingtonians and Cantabrians have overthrown Aucklanders as the country's top caffeine addicts. Coffee drinkers there down an average of 2.7 cups a day, compared to 2.4 quaffed by Aucklanders.

The humble flat white is the most popular pick around the country, followed by espresso and then latte.

Cerebos Greggs country manager Andre Gargiulo said coffee tastes differed from region to region.

"It's critical to understand customer preferences so we can develop offerings that resonate and cater to their specific tastes."

Colmar Brunton chief executive Jacqueline Farman said findings also show coffee consumption increases with age, with 60 per cent of those aged 40 or over drinking at least two cups a day, compared to 42 per cent of 18- to 39-year-olds.

Women consume less coffee than men, with almost a third of women completely abstaining.