Grounds for concern? UK workers spend up to 5% of their weekly salary on coffee

• The city where coffee drains the most out of workers’ pay – and it’s NOT London. 
• Nation drinks an estimated 95 million cups a day 

As the UK gears up for International Coffee Day (1st October), new research from Furniture at Work reveals a surprising twist in the nation’s caffeine habits. While London has the priciest lattes, it’s Plymouth and Derby where workers spend the biggest slice of their wages on coffee.

With Brits drinking an estimated 95 million cups every single day, coffee is firmly embedded as an essential daily ritual. Workers now spend an average of 4.3% of their weekly pay on coffee, putting a serious dent in pay packets across the UK. In some cities, that figure soars beyond 5%.

With one in four Brits (25%) drinking coffee at work, caffeine is as much about fuelling productivity and sharpening focus as it is about pleasure.

The study analysed prices from Starbucks, Costa, Caffè Nero, and local independent cafes and ranks the top 10 UK cities by the average cost of a medium latte and % of weekly wage spent.

1. Plymouth – £4.56 (5.3%)

2. Derby – £4.50 (5.1%)

3. Southampton – £4.55 (4.9%)

4. Cardiff – £4.47 (4.9%)

5. Leeds – £4.52 (4.7%)

6. Manchester – £4.51 (4.6%)

7. Edinburgh – £4.54 (4.5%)

8. Brighton – £4.47 (4.4%)

9. Bristol – £4.47 (4.3%)

10.London – £4.61 (4.2%)

London tops the price charts, but Plymouth and Derby feel the pinch hardest

London, unsurprisingly, ranks as the most expensive city for coffee, with the average latte costing £4.61. Yet it’s Plymouth and Derby where the nation’s coffee habit hits hardest, with workers committing more than 5% of their weekly wages.

While London lattes cost more, Londoners spend the smallest percentage of their weekly wages for a daily caffeine fix. Brighton and Bristol are only marginally higher by percentage, but are home to the cheapest lattes in the top 10, at £4.47 each.

The findings show that coffee is no longer just a lifestyle choice but a significant weekly expense draining pay packets nationwide. And with remote and hybrid working now the norm, the humble coffee break remains central to productivity, whether enjoyed at home, in the office or on the go.

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About Furniture At Work    

Furniture At Work Ltd has been operating since 2001. We have over 20 years of experience in providing high-quality office furniture at the lowest prices to clients nationwide. Selling to customers buying on behalf of a business, public sector, or for your home office, Furniture At Work specialise in everything from desks, chairs and storage solutions for any office environment.           

Website: https://www.furniture-work.co.uk/