Coffee Habits: Men vs. Women

For generations, coffee has fueled morning routines, office chatter, road trips, and late-night conversations, but men and women often approach the ritual a little differently. A survey of nearly 1,200 coffee drinkers published by Food and Nutrition Sciences revealed some surprisingly distinct habits between the sexes. More than half of men reported drinking coffee regularly, compared to about one-third of women. Among non-coffee drinkers, women were more likely to say they simply disliked the taste, while men tended to blame the cost. The study also found that women leaned toward specialty drinks like lattes, while men were more likely to drink whatever coffee was available—diner coffee, office coffee, gas station coffee, or the kind poured endlessly from a battered stainless-steel pot. In other words, many men seem to treat coffee as fuel, while women are more likely to view it as an experience.

Taste preferences tell another story. Women were far more likely to sweeten their coffee with syrups, flavored creamers, or sugar, while men more often drank it black or with minimal additions. Yet regardless of preference, coffee remains one of the few daily rituals that cuts across every demographic and every generation. From the carefully crafted latte to the humble paper cup grabbed on a city sidewalk, coffee carries its own culture and personality. Few symbols capture that spirit better than the iconic Anthora paper coffee cup—the blue-and-white New York cup that became a familiar companion to construction workers, taxi drivers, office clerks, artists, and dreamers alike. Fancy espresso drink or plain diner brew, coffee continues to reflect not only how we drink, but who we are.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the iconic Anthora coffee cup – a true symbol of New York City’s street culture, corner delis, and daily rituals – NY Coffee Cup celebrates its enduring design, cultural significance, and place in coffee history, both in NYC and beyond.