By Soo Kim

Copyright newsweek

Portland, Oregon, as well several cities in Florida and California are among the best major cities in the U.S. for coffee lovers, new research has shown.The study by WalletHub, released ahead of National Coffee Day on September 29, compared the 100 most populated American cities across 12 key metrics, including the number of coffee shops, coffee houses and cafés per capita, average coffee prices, and household spending on the beverage. Each city received a weighted score out of 100, with Portland ranking first overall.The findings come as coffee remains as the top beverage choice among U.S. adults. A September report by the National Coffee Association (NCA) found that more American adults (66 percent) drink coffee each day than any other beverage, apart from bottled water. Americans consume an average of nearly three cups per day, according to the report.The WalletHub study found that Portland leads the nation because it has “an extremely high number of affordable coffee shops that are rated at least 4.5 stars out of 5,” along with the eighth-most coffee shops per capita that offer free Wi-Fi. The study noted that Portland households spend an average of $192 per year on coffee, the 20th highest amount nationwide. Nearly 24 percent of its residents own an electric coffee grinder, and 27 percent own single-cup brewing machines.Orlando in Florida came in second. The study said the city’s “coffee-crazy households spend an average of over $154 on the beverage each year” and the city also hosts several coffee events, “making it a true hub for caffeine enthusiasts and specialty brews.” The report highlighted Orlando’s high number of highly rated, affordable shops, noting that the city also “has the most donut shops per capita,” making it a destination for sweet pairings with coffee.Long Beach in California ranked third, thanks to its abundance of quality shops and coffee culture. The study said residents spend about $171 per year on coffee, and the city ranks among the top for searches for “coffee” on Google. “Long Beach has the 14th-highest percentage of residents with an espresso or cappuccino machine, and the 28th-highest percentage with an electric coffee grinder,” according to WalletHub.Miami in Florida and Seattle in Washington state rounded out the top five ranking, and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania was found to have the most coffee shops, coffee houses and cafés per capita, while New York City had the fewest.A stock image of a person holding a cup of cappuccino coffee on a table. Las Vegas and North Las Vegas in Nevada, Honolulu in Hawaii, as well as the Californian cities of San Diego and San Francisco, were tied in first place for having the most affordable highly rated coffee shops, coffee houses and cafes per capita.John Surdyk, the director of the Initiative for Studies in Transformational Entrepreneurship at the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, told WalletHub that coffee’s staying power comes from a combination of quality and culture.“While coffee has evolved from fuel to premium indulgence, I suspect there are several reasons for its continuing popularity,” Surdyk said. “Many drinks can be customized or curated which makes it feel more special to the buyer. The availability of higher quality beans, improved roasting, and so on make some high-end coffees notably better—and worth the extra dollars.”Surdyk added that social media has also amplified the culture around coffee. “Some upscale coffee drinks and cafes play well on social,” he said. He also suggested that the pandemic influenced habits: “I think restaurant and coffee shop closures during the pandemic may have spurred people to brew coffee at home, possibly reinforcing existing consumer habits as well as exposing more people to the drink.”Erick P.C. Chang, an associate professor at the College of Business at Arkansas State University, told WalletHub that coffee’s popularity also ties to health and lifestyle changes. “The younger population are also seeing coffee, and even tea, as good drink alternatives that can substitute the high sugar content found in soft drinks,” Chang said. He added that lower alcohol consumption rates may be partly offset by higher coffee and tea consumption.Chang pointed to industry changes that support demand. He said that the growth of chains like Starbucks, the rise of ready-to-drink coffee, and the popularity of single-cup brewing systems such as Keurig and Nespresso “replicate at home the type of quality coffee that you can get at coffee shops.”Top 10 Best Major U.S. Cities for CoffeePortland, OregonOrlando, FloridaLong Beach, CaliforniaMiami, FloridaSeattle, WashingtonTampa, FloridaSan Francisco, CaliforniaAustin, TexasOakland, CaliforniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaSource: Based on a WalletHub study of the 100 most popu…