Coffee has long been a staple of British culture, but in 2025, it’s evolved into something much more. It’s not just a beverage, it’s a lifestyle, and for many, a non-negotiable morning essential. From the early morning rush to the late afternoon recharge, coffee fuels the UK like never before.
The team here at Alliance Online have analysed data across ten of the country’s major cities to uncover the nation’s go-to brews.
The outcome?
Traditional hot coffees still dominate. Despite the growing popularity of cold brews and iced drinks, most UK cities are sticking to the classics.
Coffee Trends Across UK Cities:
There is no denying it, Brits love their coffee. With the UK consuming approximately 98 million cups of coffee daily, it’s clear that the nation has fully embraced café culture, whether it’s sipping a latte at brunch, grabbing a flat white to-go or firing up an espresso machine at home. Coffee has become more than a drink, it’s a daily ritual that connects communities, fuels productivity and sparks conversation.
As the café scene continues to boom and home barista setups grow in popularity, we wanted to know: What are the most popular coffee types across the country? And are tastes changing from city to city?
The results are in, and they show a clear preference for the classics. While iced coffees and cold brews are popular choices, especially among younger coffee drinkers, traditional hot coffees still lead the way across the UK.
From the rich and bold Macchiato, to the frothy familiarity of the Cappuccino, to the strong and stylish Flat White, it’s the timeless favourites that continue to steal the spotlight in Britain’s biggest cities.
So, how does your city’s coffee habit compare to the rest of the country? Let’s find out…
| #1 Coffee | #2 Coffee | #3 Coffee | #4 Coffee | #5 Coffee | |
| Birmingham | Macchiato & Cappuccino (1000 monthly searches each) | Espresso (880) | Flat White & Mocha (720) | Latte (590) | Americano (480) |
| Bradford | Cappuccino & Espresso (90) | Latte & Mocha (50) | Macchiato & Flat White (40) | Americano (30) | Iced Latte (10) |
| Bristol | Macchiato (480) | Cappuccino & Espresso (390) | Flat White & Mocha (320) | Latte (210) | Americano (170) |
| Edinburgh | Cappuccino (1000) | Macchiato (880) | Flat White (720) | Espresso (480) | Mocha (390) |
| Glasgow | Macchiato (720) | Cappuccino & Espresso (590) | Flat White (480) | Mocha & Latte (320) | Americano (260) |
| Leeds | Macchiato & Cappuccino (480) | Espresso & Flat White (390) | Mocha (320) | Latte (260) | Americano (210) |
| Liverpool | Macchiato (480) | Cappuccino & Espresso (390) | Flat White (320) | Latte & Mocha (210) | Americano (170) |
| London | Macchiato (12,100) | Cappuccino & Flat White (9,900) | Espresso (8,100) | Mocha (5,400) | Latte & Americano (4,400) |
| Manchester | Macchiato (880) | Cappuccino (720) | Flat White & Espresso (590) | Mocha (480) | Latte (390) |
| Sheffield | Macchiato (260) | Cappuccino & Espresso (210) | Flat White (170) | Latte & Mocha (140) | Americano (90) |
The Macchiato claims the title of the UK’s favourite coffee, with a staggering score of 12,100 in London alone, far ahead of any other city. The rich, bold espresso shot topped with a dash of frothy milk seems to be hitting the right note with coffee drinkers nationwide.
Cappuccino ranks second, showing widespread popularity from Birmingham to Bristol. Meanwhile, Expresso ranks third.
Whether you’re opening a café, upgrading your restaurant’s coffee setup, or just want to make café-quality drinks at home, Alliance Online has everything you need to brew like a pro. From luxury coffee machines and coffee supplies to a full range of barista tools, our curated equipment helps you deliver exceptional coffee every single time.
For more information, head to our Cafe and Coffee Shop Buying Guide.
Methodology
Researchers at Alliance Online used Google Keyword Planner to analyse search volumes for different coffee types for the UK’s ten most populous cities. They were latte, cappuccino, flat white, espresso, americano, iced latte, macchiato and mocha. The team then ranked the most-searched (favourite) coffee in each city from highest to lowest.
