That’s a drinks bill! Millennials spend $957 a year ... just on takeaway coffees

When it comes to lavish drinking habits, many of us might prefer to indulge in a glass of champagne or even a gin and tonic.

Not so for millennials – who are splurging instead on a humble cup of coffee.

For adults aged 28 to 43 spend $957 a year getting their caffeine fix, a survey has found.

That’s £52 more than the younger Generation Z – aged 12 to 27 – who spend $889 a year on takeaway coffee.

Meanwhile, thrifty Boomers, defined as those between the ages of 60 and 69, spend just $342 a year buying their drinks on the go. The research found that the average coffee drinker will spend more than $38,000 on takeaway drinks in their lifetime – the equivalent of 515 gallons or 4,123 pints.

Despite the figures, just 27 per cent of those surveyed said they think they spend a lot on takeaway coffee.

Indeed, of the 35 per cent whose workplaces offer free instant coffee, more than a third said they would rather spend money on a ‘nice’ one.

An ideal cup would cost $2.45 – nearly half the $4.47 average.

But, costs aside, more than half of those surveyed by One-Poll said coffee is a luxury they wouldn’t want to live without.

The research, commissioned by McDonald’s, also asked people how they liked their coffee. Lattes were found to be the most popular order (23 per cent) followed by cappuccinos (21 per cent) and stronger flat whites (11 per cent).

Far fewer like their coffees without milk – with black filter coffees and double espressos coming bottom of the list.

The study also found that 49 per cent of people don’t feel ‘human’ until they’ve had a coffee in the morning.

Nearly two-fifths describe themselves as true coffee lovers but 9 per cent reckon they’re a ‘full-on caffeine addict’.

Almost a third are so particular about how they like their coffee that they don’t trust friends, family or colleagues to make it.

Promoting the study by holding a blind coffee tasting, presenter Jordan North said: “I absolutely need my coffee, especially on the go. Whether it’s an americano or a latte, you don’t want it to cost a lot.”

The research came just a day after Pret A Manger axed its free coffee scheme. Customers could previously get five free hot drinks a day from the cafe chain if they paid $39 a month.

However subscribers will now get 50 per cent off when they pay up to $13 a month.