Home
Blog
Coffee
Gen Z And Coffee - How Brew Habits Amongst America’s Youth Are Shaping Coffee Culture

Coffee

Gen Z And Coffee - How Brew Habits Amongst America’s Youth Are Shaping Coffee Culture

12 min read MAY 15, 2025

They’re characterized as self-driven, collaborative, and diversity minded.

They’re tech-savvy, independent, and financially conscious.

They’re entrepreneurial, flexible, and frankly, they’ve got a work-life balance mindset that’s really going to take them far, excelling in their career(s) while protecting their physical, mental, and emotional health.

They’re today’s and tomorrow’s movers and shakers.

They’re Gen Z!

Gen Z is generally classified as those born between 1997 and 2012, spanning the ages of 13-28 today.

And, not only is this age group currently (and soon to be) taking the world by storm, but they’re also transforming traditional coffee drinking habits.

Don’t believe me?

Take a look:

“Gen Z isn’t interested in the quiet reverence of coffee purists; they want drinks that are fun, delicious, and uniquely theirs.”

“While older generations may lament the departure from tradition…it’s clear that young coffee drinkers are rewriting the rules.”

“This generation’s coffee choices reflect a desire for novelty and variety, rather than a quest for purity or a commitment to a single flavor profile.”

“Gen Z is unburdened by the elitism that defined earlier coffee movements. For them, enjoying a cinnamon-flavored latte doesn’t betray a lack of sophistication - it’s an act of unapologetic joy.”

I don’t know about you, but my mind feels lighter just reading this!

It seems to me that Gen Z has ‘care-free’ down to an art…at least when it comes to coffee.

So then, how about we delve a little further into the coffee choices of America’s youth as we answer the question - how does Gen Z take their coffee?

The Gen Z Coffee Experience

Across America, various time periods have been marked by coffee movements or waves, noting significant transitions or shifts in consumer preferences and coffee culture as a whole.

And, while I’m not for certain as of yet if Gen Z preferences will prompt another wave, one thing’s for certain - this generation is bucking tradition.

How?

Let’s take a look…

1- From The First Sip…

A three-panel cartoon illustration comparing coffee shop experiences across generations. The left panel labeled "Gen X/Boomers" shows a man in an orange shirt holding a plain mug of coffee and looking unsure. The middle panel labeled "Millennials" shows a woman sipping from a to-go cup while looking at her smartphone, with earbuds and an MP3 player on the table. The right panel labeled "Gen Z" shows a cheerful young woman and man enjoying iced coffee drinks with whipped cream while smiling and chatting, surrounded by plants and a sign that says "BREW YOUR WAY."

I’m a borderline Gen X/Millennial, born in 1980. And, when I was a teen, drinking coffee was taboo.

Of course, this is likely because my parents subscribed to the myth that coffee stunted growth.

But even they described a similar abstinence from java until they were ‘of age,’ as did my grandparents.

For us, it was just a commonly held position or belief that you couldn’t or shouldn’t drink coffee until you were in your late teens or early twenties.

And, this is one huge way Gen Z’ers are setting new trends in coffee culture.

Today, coffee is a way of life even for teens as early as 13 years of age.

One mom I spoke with detailed that her girls wished to try coffee at around age 13, and she fully obliged. Since then, they both include java as a regular part of their day.

One of my daughter’s friends (age 19) is a full-blown coffee connoisseur at this point, having first sipped at age 15.

And, my circle isn’t unique.

“According to Mintel, the average age Gen Z consumers began drinking coffee was 15, compared with millennials at age 17, and Gen X and baby boomers at age 19.”

2- Some Don’t Like It Hot

Illustration of four young adults sitting in a cozy café lounge, enjoying iced coffee drinks and smiling while wearing wireless earbuds. The group includes two women and two men, casually dressed and surrounded by potted plants and a large window showing a bright sky with clouds. A small dog wearing sunglasses sits happily beside them, adding a playful touch to the relaxed and friendly scene.

Being a cold brew lover myself, I have to say, perhaps one reason Gen Z is sipping coffee at an earlier age is due to the availability of iced coffees and cold brews, their java temp of choice.

Yes, most of Gen Z actually doesn’t like it hot…when it comes to coffee that is, yoga is another story.

According to reports from multiple news outlets, Gen Z indeed prefers their coffee cold.

The president of Nestle’s beverage division in the US explains that they’ve “done a lot of things in cold coffee the last two years to really meet this need of Gen Z and young millennials.”

Other reports affirm this, finding iced coffee and cold brew to be the most popular beverages among Gen Z.

In fact, one report showed iced coffee to be the most frequently purchased drink of Gen Z’ers out of any beverage.

3- Customization Station

When I think of customizing coffee beverages, I can’t help but think of the movie You’ve Got Mail. (showing my age again, right?)

This film was popular in my early college years, at least for my roommate who played it on a loop, so this line is forever etched into my memory:

“Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, nonfat. So, people who don’t know what the heck they’re doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: tall, decaf, cappuccino.”

So clearly, customizing your coffee order, whether at-home or on the go, is nothing new.

However, somehow, Gen Z is even making this aspect of enjoying coffee a bigger deal.

In other words, coffee customization used to fit into a neat little box - size, whole or skim milk, caffeinated or decaffeinated, and maybe a specified espresso-based name like a macchiato or cappuccino.

But today, the world (at least in regard to coffee customization) is Gen Z’s oyster!

Where other generations may add a touch of cream and sugar, Gen Z opts for a mixture of syrup flavors, additions of plant milks, a cold foam topping, a dusting of cocoa or spice, and more…all in one drink.

Think about it, without Gen Z, would we have ever known the exciting flavor combinations of lavender or rose and coffee?

Or, what about those fruit-inspired syrups that deliciously enhance a cold brew? Can this be attributed to Gen Z flavor palates as well?

No matter the root of these ‘outside the box’ now-common coffee customizations, Gen Z is here for it all!

4- Smooth And Creamy

Colorful illustration of three young adults at a coffee counter laughing while enthusiastically pouring flavored creamers into their coffee. The creamers have playful labels like “Birthday Cake,” “Pumpkin Cheesecake,” and “Unicorn Cookie.” Behind them is a shelf filled with various vibrant creamer bottles. In the background, an older man looks on disapprovingly while holding a plain mug and adding a traditional “Vanilla” creamer. The contrast between generations’ coffee preferences adds a humorous and lighthearted tone to the scene.

There’s no doubt about it, adding a touch of creamer or milk to coffee enhances just about any brew.

Even science backs this, as the addition of milk or cream to coffee serves to reduce bitterness and acidity, modifying the texture of java while also adding a bit of sweetness.

But, Gen Z coffee habits prove to laugh in the face of descriptions such as ‘a splash of milk,’ ‘a spot of cream,’ or ‘a hint of half and half.”

Instead, this generation…well…they love their creamer!

And, not only is Gen Z adding more creamer to their brews than older generations, but this component is also generally a must-have coffee addition.

Reports show that roughly 85% of Gen Z coffee drinkers must have creamer in their brew, compared to 70% of ‘all coffee drinkers’ regarding these smooth and creamy additions.

5- Syrups And Sweetness

Alas, creaminess isn’t the only sought after java addition amongst America’s youth.

No, Gen Z doesn’t just like their brew creamy, they also demand it to be sweet.

Spoiler alert - a survey of several individuals from this generation proved this to be entirely true!

But, as for the official reports, Gen Z is all about indulgence when it comes to coffee.

Where older generations have often viewed fraps, sugar-laden lattes, and saccharin-drizzled coffee toppers as desserts, Gen Z enjoys these brews regularly.

And sure, for those who some would call coffee purists, this seems extravagant, but younger generations view these coffee sipping moments enthusiastically, as a source of pure happiness…which leads us to our last point in our look into Gen Z coffee habits.

6- Insta-Worthy Aesthetics & Joyful Experiences

Illustration of three cheerful young adults posing for a selfie in a cozy coffee shop. The woman on the left holds up a smartphone with one hand and a fancy iced coffee topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle in the other. The other two friends hold similar elaborate coffee drinks with whipped cream, caramel, and colorful toppings. They are smiling and standing in front of a window with a sunny sky, surrounded by potted plants and coffee-themed decor. The scene emphasizes vibrant, fun, and social coffee culture.

For Gen Z, coffee isn’t just a beverage, it’s an experience, a joyful one!

And, most attribute their creamy, sweet additions and preferences to this penchant.

Gen Z has made at-home coffee customization nooks a ‘thing.’

Gen Z has flipped the typical notion of ‘meeting up for coffee’ on its head, finding java as not only a common ground for occasional catching up, but a happy backdrop for regularly socializing with friends.

Gen Z has turned the sheer enjoyment of coffee into a true form of self-expression, an art expressing nothing less than pure joy!

And, for Gen Z, this joy and these experiences are commonly something to shout about…or share…with others.

While older generations enjoy their daily brew through quiet, even solitary, morning sips on their back porch, only randomly sharing contemplative sentiments or shots of black brews with nature scenes - if they share at all - today’s youth turns to social media to regularly showcase the personality, creativity, and flare of their favorite coffee concoctions.

Some have even attributed the common Gen Z practice of TikTok and Instagram brew posts to the surging popularity of coffee amongst this demographic.
And frankly, I get it.

I mean, it doesn’t take long, scrolling through such tantalizing brew pics to make my taste buds yearn for a little Gen Z coffee joy!

So now, speaking of Gen Z coffee joy, I’ve got a little treat for you…

Gen Z Live

Most of the information I’ve included thus far has come from sources across the web.
And, while the internet is a phenomenal resource, compiling researched information across multiple sources, areas, and ages, personally I like to hear things firsthand.
Yes, I’m the person who will ask for recipe suggestions and tips on social media, from an audience of people I know and love, before looking up a random recipe online.

That being said, while I’ve found the information regarding Gen Z coffee habits across the web to be helpful, interesting, and well…tasty…I thought it’d be really neat to hear about Gen Z coffee habits from actual Gen Z’ers.

Of course, I have a little bit of a leg up regarding the pool for such an inquiry as my children and their friends are a part of this generation.

So, I did a little investigative work and sent out an info request to their friends as well as some folks in my neighborhood and personal circle, and here’s what they enthusiastically shared with me:

My coffee order when I’m out is cold brew with caramel syrup, vanilla cold foam, and caramel sauce on top. - Ava, age 19

My daughter (teenager) loves iced or frozen coffees, and she’s really into a lavender oat milk addition. An iced caramel latte is always at the top of the list too. - Talia

I like plain black cold brew with vanilla sweetener. - Taylor, grad student

I love coffee!!! I’m very basic in my go-to coffee order; it’s usually a vanilla iced latte, but I also really enjoy caramel as well! At home, I’m trying to use more natural sweeteners, so I usually drink hot coffee with some milk and maple syrup or sweet cream creamer. - Jordyce, age 19

At home I make a black coffee and add half and half and cold foam cream, but if I’m out, it’s a latte or cold brew with milk and cold foam. - Sarah, age 26

I love Irish cream and brown sugar cookie creamer flavors, so I use those in lattes and cold brews both out and at home. I even make my own cold foam and sweeten my coffee with brown sugar when I’m at home to get the full experience. - Olivia, age 20

I didn’t always like coffee, until I tried a caramel iced latte from Dunkin, then I was hooked. Caramel is my flavor of choice when out, but I don’t like hot coffee, so it’s cold coffee or nothing. At home, I drink an iced coffee or cold brew every morning with milk, sweetened with maple syrup and a splash of vanilla. - Shelby, age 17

I usually drink iced coffee to-go, and I drink it really sweet - never just a straight coffee either, usually a latte with flavor. - Lexi, age 24

I love iced turtle lattes! - Wheeler, age 13

I usually drink an iced honey latte made at home with my nespresso! - Rilynn, age 27

I like an iced vanilla latte, or a brown sugar espresso…shaken. - Morgan, age 27

My go-to is a lavender mocha. If I’m out, I get it from Third St. Coffee in Lexington. They call it dirt coffee though - with added cinnamon - very good. At home, I make it with an espresso machine with 2 shots of espresso and add lavender and mocha syrup with cinnamon powder. I sometimes make it hot or iced, depends on the weather. - Emmerson, age 21

Gen Z Coffee In The Kitchen

Now that we know how Gen Z takes their coffee, let’s get into the kitchen and learn how to make some of these tasty drinks.

We’ll keep things simple, only showcasing three coffee concoctions.

And remember, if Gen Z trends are new to you, feel free to think outside of the Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial boxes where you might find the addition of plant milks, syrups, and an extra dose of cream indeed yields a tasty treat you just can’t beat!

1- Lavender Mocha

Illustration of a refreshing iced lavender mocha drink in a tall glass filled with ice and decorated with lavender sprigs. Surrounding the glass are ingredients including a small pitcher of milk, a cup of espresso, a bowl of cocoa powder, ice cubes, and two bottles labeled "Lavender Syrup" and "Mocha Syrup." The scene is set on a wooden countertop with a cozy, plant-decorated kitchen in the background, evoking a calm and inviting atmosphere.

Floral and mocha syrups, plant milk, and espresso…we’re in Gen Z heaven over here, and life is good!

Ingredients

2 shots Lifeboost Espresso Coffee
6 ounces oat milk (or milk of choice)
2 teaspoons lavender syrup
2 teaspoons mocha syrup
Dusting of cinnamon, optional for topping
Ice

Instructions

Add ice to a tall glass, then top with milk.
Pull two shots of espresso and pour over milk.
Add lavender and mocha syrups, stirring to combine.
Add a dusting of cinnamon on top of the prepared drink and enjoy!

2- S’mores Iced Latte

Illustration of a s’mores iced latte in a tall glass, featuring distinct layers of chocolate, cream, and espresso, topped with ice cubes. Surrounding the drink are its ingredients: a bottle of chocolate syrup, a small shot of espresso, a bowl of brown sugar or graham crumbs, a carton labeled "Vanilla Almond Milk," a bottle labeled "Marshmallow Syrup," and a small bowl of ice cubes. The setting is a warm, cozy kitchen with soft lighting and plant decor in the background.

Taste is only half of the Gen Z equation when it comes to coffee.
In other words, an aesthetically pleasing brew is where it’s at! And, this s’mores coffee creation is certainly an Instagram worthy wonder!

Ingredients

4 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
6 ounces unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons toasted marshmallow syrup
Ice
Crushed graham crackers, for garnish
Chocolate syrup, for garnish
Marshmallow creme, for garnish

Instructions

To make a chocolate and graham cracker rim on your glass, first dip the rim of a tall glass into chocolate syrup, then roll the coated rim in crushed graham crackers.
Add ice to the glass, then add cold brew, vanilla almond milk, chocolate syrup, and toasted marshmallow syrup, stirring well to combine.
Top with a generous dollop of marshmallow creme, and if you’d really like to take this one to the next level, you can toast the marshmallow creme with a kitchen torch for a true s’mores look, taking your insta-worthy iced latte to the next level! Enjoy!

3- Caramel Vanilla Iced Latte

This one’s simple…or is it.

As we’ve seen through our Gen Z coffee loving exploration today, this crowd likes things creamy, cold, and sweet, so we’re going to end our time with an iced latte that checks each of these boxes - a drink that’s iced, sweet, creamy, and topped with a deliciously smooth cold foam.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

1-2 shots Lifeboost Espresso Coffee (you could also use 6 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee)
6 ounces whole milk (or your milk of choice)
2 tablespoons vanilla coffee syrup
1 ounce 2 % milk
2 ounces heavy cream
1 tablespoon caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzle
ice

Instructions

Add ice to a tall glass, then top with milk, espresso (or cold brew), and vanilla syrup, stirring to combine.
Add 2% milk, heavy cream, and caramel sauce to a separate glass and froth using a handheld frother.
Top iced latte with frothed caramel cold foam, then drizzle with extra caramel sauce, if desired, and enjoy!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.