Journalists and Coffee Consumption
While many professions run on caffeine, journalists have edged out healthcare workers as the world’s heaviest coffee drinkers, downing an average of 3.62 cups daily, according to a recent survey. Healthcare workers trailed closely at 3.60 cups per day, while police officers, drivers, and company executives followed with 2.52, 2.5, and 2.4 cups, respectively. The data comes from Pressat’s alternate annual workplace survey, which polled 20,000 workers globally between January and March 2025.
Journalists held the top spot in both the 2024 and 2025 surveys, but healthcare workers climbed from fifth place in 2024 to alternate this year.
Journalists topped coffee consumption in 2024 and 2025 surveys; healthcare workers jumped from fifth to second place this year.
The reasons for journalists’ high consumption aren’t fully known. Observers suggest stress, tight deadlines, and irregular hours common in newsrooms might play a role. However, the survey didn’t measure how coffee affects productivity or health in the field. Notably, coffee culture has transformed into an essential aspect of social interaction, influencing how professionals engage and connect in their work environments.
Healthcare workers operate in similar high-pressure environments but average slightly less coffee intake. Police officers and drivers—roles needing alertness—rank mid-table, while electricians, marketers, plumbers, and telesales staff reported the lowest consumption at 1.3 cups or less. Despite their low intake, marketing professionals led in weekly coffee spending at €13.27, suggesting premium preferences despite minimal consumption. The gaps hint that job cultures or demands shape drinking habits, though professions like teaching or engineering weren’t included.
Globally, coffee habits vary by age and gender, but profession-specific breakdowns weren’t published. In the UK, older generations drink more coffee—Baby Boomers average 2.2 cups daily, while Gen Z has 0.5. Finland maintains the highest per capita consumption, with residents drinking four cups daily on average, according to global trend data. New Zealand leads in frequent coffee use, with 70% of residents drinking at least one cup daily. Australians aged 25-34 are the biggest consumers, with women slightly outpacing men. But gender splits flip in New Zealand, where 30% of men drink three or more cups daily versus 19% of women.
Researchers stress the survey focused on quantity, not motivations. While journalists out-drank even frontline healthcare staff, it’s unclear why—or whether their coffee habits help or harm their work.
Future studies could investigate how job demands, schedules, and workplace norms shape caffeine reliance across fields. For now, the numbers spotlight how deeply coffee fuels certain careers, with journalists leading the pack by a bean.
