Convenience stores are uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand for premium coffee experiences as consumer preferences evolve, according to The Coffee Convenience Revolution: Insights for the Next Wave, a new report from Costa Coffee that highlights national trends and proprietary Costa Coffee insights.
There is a clear opportunity: Younger consumers are driving the rise of espresso-based beverages and seeking fast, fresh and clean coffee solutions, Costa Coffee, which is owned by Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, said in the report.
“With the right setup, convenience retailers can tap into this momentum and deliver quality coffee that keeps consumers coming back,” the report said.
Calling espresso a “national trend,” Costa Coffee said 43% of people surveyed drank an espresso-based beverage (latte, cappuccino, espresso, etc.) in the last week, which was up 6 percentage points since 2020. This stat is from the National Coffee Data Trends Report 2025 + Fall Update.
The biggest espresso fans are those ages 25 to 39, 55% of whom tried an espresso-based beverage in the last week, according to the same report.
Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said they have tried specialty coffee at gas stations/convenience stores, and more than 50% of all urban and suburban dwellers integrate convenience-store coffee into their daily routines, according to the Costa Coffee Suzy Speaks Convenience Retail National Study from August.
The top two drivers are:
- Speed and convenience: 75% of those surveyed cite this as the No. 1 reason
- Perceived good value, especially in the 18–45 demographic
Consumers are seeking out perceived value, with 65% saying promotions and deals motivate purchase, according to the report, which adds that this figure rises in the South to 80%.
The most appealing bundles are coffee and pastry, 46%, coffee and breakfast sandwich, 42%, and coffee and fuel promotion, 39%.
Using live data from its cellular connected equipment, Costa Coffee said it knows exactly what consumers are drinking—and when. Most drinks peak between 6 and 10 a.m. However, both lattes and espresso have an additional peak between 2 and 4 p.m., “perfectly timed for a snack bundle,” Costa Coffee said.
The Costa Coffee drink mix across all convenience-store locations is:
- Latte: 19.8%
- Cappuccino: 18.6%
- Hot chocolate: 13.1%
- Coffee: 11.9%
- Mocha: 11%
- Espresso: 8.3%
- Coffee with milk: 5.8%
- Cortado: 4.6%
- Espresso macchiato: 3.8%
- Flat white: 3%
Finally, cleanliness and safety are “non-negotiable for all shoppers,” Costa Coffee said. The perfect coffee station has clean, spotless counters; is fast and customizable; has a friendly staff presence; has fresh snacks nearby; and is on the customer’s app.
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