Since the first coffee shop appeared on our shores in 1652, British coffee culture has been meticulously honed to deliver the kind of experience we expect today.
Café Casa dives into the past and present to tell the fascinating story of British coffee culture. We’ll explain the significance of the American sitcom Friends in the 1990’s and examine some of the modern trends that keep British coffee culture progressive.
How British coffee culture is shaped.
The first coffeehouse in England was opened in Oxford, 1650. It would soon become known as a penny university, owing to the fact you could grab a coffee for just a penny.
These penny universities would pop up all around the UK and would serve as clubhouses for the intellectual elites of the day. It wasn’t so much about the coffee itself, but more the atmosphere which was fuelled by cultural dissidence.
Coffee was seen as a rational beverage back then, so those who visited these penny universities would engage in serious discussions and business meetings. In many ways, then, past British coffee culture shares some resemblance to British coffee culture today.
Sure, coffee and coffee shops are far less exclusive than they were centuries ago, but it’s still the overall experience amongst other things that draws consumers in today. Likewise, modern coffee shops still represent enticing environments for professional activities.
It may surprise you to hear that penny universities were somewhat of a novelty. With the dominance of tea consumption and the resurgence of pub culture, British coffeehouses would vanish for almost two centuries.
Modern British coffee culture.
The 20th century saw coffee grow in popularity once again here in the UK. Tea still towered over the beverage for overall consumption, but coffee was back and this time it was here to stay.
It largely has North America to thank for its revival. Certainly, our coffee culture closely resembles theirs and the marketplace is the same. Popular sitcoms of the 1990’s such as Friends and Seinfeld, depicted the problems of day-to-day life and displayed coffee shops as attractive environments for escape, relaxation and social gatherings.
Global chain coffee shops such as Starbucks led the charge and drove a new era for coffee consumption here in Britain. To date, there are over 32,000 Starbucks stores across the world.
Our love for the coffee shop has only continued to develop, through the large chains including Costa Coffee and Pret A Manger as well as the small artisanal shops that you can practically find on every street corner now.
So, why are they so popular? They firstly represent a desired outlet for self-care and social gatherings. Whilst British coffee culture soars, the same cannot be said for British pub culture. This is due to higher taxes leading to higher prices and greater consumer awareness towards responsible alcohol consumption.
Lots of coffee shops engage with their customers like never before. Consumer knowledge is on the rise and coffee shops represent an experience driven by values that are parallel to those of the consumer. We’re proud to support artisanal coffee shops in particular that showcase a community feel.
Trends such as better-quality beans, dietary requirements and a huge push towards sustainability is why we love our coffee shops. 81% of people who visit coffee shops in the UK do so at least once a week.
Then there’s the professionals of Great Britain, who latch on to British coffee culture with similar vigour. The digital age means we can now work from anywhere and the coffee shop represents a productive environment.
That’s not to say coffee consumption is in high demand in the traditional workplace, though. 75% of office workers say a coffee break is an important part of the day.
Such passion for better quality coffee has accelerated the popularity of office coffee machines. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic also led the charge for home coffee machines, owing to lockdown halting our usual coffee shop visits.
Cultural contributions and etiquette.
The best ideas aren’t always your own. Britain has always been proud to absorb and articulate a range of cultural influences to maximise our own British coffee culture.
Whilst we’re showing capacity to lead our own trends, most notably through education, much of British coffee culture has been “borrowed” from friends on our own continent and indeed those further afield.
The origin of certain beverages is obvious: Cappuccino and Café Latte derive from Italy for example, whilst others are still open for argument. Flat White, one of the more popular choices here, could be from either Australia or even New Zealand!
What is for sure is that British coffee culture is a very flexible and welcoming experience for the consumer. You can pretty much order whatever you like during any time of the day.
Much like in North America, the modern-day Barista will have received all sorts of requests that relate to personal preference, dietary requirements or even lifestyle choices ranging from decaffeinated coffee to veganism.
Did you know that, as of 2019, 50% of coffee drinkers within hospitality (coffee shops and cafes) order their beverage with dairy-free milk?
What is also a key aspect of modern British coffee culture is sustainability. It is thought this is driven by the popularity of “on-the-go” coffee in towns and cities, sparking concerns around waste and litter.
Reusable coffee cups today make up a large proportion of takeaway coffee, but unfortunately not enough. In the UK we still use 7 million coffee cups a day, but just 0.25% are recycled. The rest largely end up in landfill.
Responses to the problem and varied and promising. Single-serve coffee is a common site in a range of environments from homes to workplaces, whilst coffee cup recycling is getting a lot more attention. Our branch vending machine Coinadrink Limited has partnered with DS Smith to offer an attractive solution to vending machine customers, for example.
Elsewhere, coffee shops are focusing on the overall coffee shop experience to encourage consumers to sit in with their beverage. Educational programming and demonstrations are leading the way.
This portrays British coffee culture in another light and adds another string to its bow. The journey of coffee is a fascinating one and consumers are more intrigued than ever before. Even the brewing method piques our interest. Coffee shops are taking advantage of this interest.
British coffee culture. A takeaway.
British coffee culture may not be quite as intense as other nations, but through global connections and solitary innovation we are driving an experience that captures the hearts of so many British people.
The industry is rapidly evolving, and consumers are happy to join the journey. British coffee shops and cafes are dripping with charm, though it is perhaps our coffee culture across other environments such as the workplace that place us ahead of the rest of the world.
Take a look around and you’ll see that British coffee culture is evident everywhere.
Visit our website to upgrade the coffee culture in your environment!
