Best coffee cities in America: See who's number 1

Today, coffee remains a daily ritual for millions of Americans. A recent survey from the National Coffee Association found that 66% of Americans drink coffee every day.

But some cities offer more for coffee drinkers than others.

WalletHub compared the 100 most populated cities in the U.S. across 12 indicators of how friendly each city is to coffee lovers. The analysis considered factors including the number of coffee shops, coffee houses and cafés per capita, the average price of coffee and the share of residents who own coffee-making equipment at home.

Orlando named best coffee city in America

Big picture view:

According to WalletHub’s analysis, Orlando ranked No. 1 as the best coffee city in America, with several factors contributing to its strong showing.

Households in the Central Florida city spent an average of more than $154 per year on coffee. Orlando also had the highest number of coffee and tea shops offering free Wi-Fi per capita among the cities studied, giving remote workers, students and casual coffee drinkers plenty of places to grab a cup while staying connected.

The city also has a large overall supply of coffee shops and ranked among the top cities for affordable coffee shops with ratings of at least 4.5 out of 5 stars. For those who prefer a pastry with their caffeine, Orlando offered another advantage: It had the highest number of donut shops per capita in the study.

Portland, Miami round out top 3

Dig deeper:

Portland, Oregon, came in second, driven in part by its abundance of affordable, highly rated coffee shops.

The city had a particularly high number of affordable coffee shops rated at least 4.5 stars out of 5. Portland also ranked eighth for coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi per capita, making it a notable destination for people who like to work or study over a cup of coffee.

Portland’s coffee culture also extends into residents’ homes as well. Nearly 24% of the population owned an electric coffee grinder, the 11th-highest percentage among the cities studied. About 27% of residents also own a single-cup or pod coffee maker.

See the full report here.

Coffee remains popular, but expensive

The backstory:

Coffee first became popular in the U.S. after the Boston Tea Party, when the switch was seen as patriotic. And since Starbucks debuted in 1971, the drink is now accessible almost anywhere you go. 

RELATED: Five cups of coffee a day okay for most, may benefit heart health: study

But coffee has also become increasingly expensive. The financial services company Toast found that guests across the country paid an average of $3.08 for a cup of regular coffee, $5.14 for cold brew, $5.46 for lattes and $3.74 for tea during the first quarter of 2024.

The study found that Hawaii had the most expensive coffee in the country, with an average price of $4.89 – nearly $5 a cup and approximately 59% higher than the national average. 

What they're saying:

"Coffee has become a staple of American culture, helping people stay energized for the workday and bond with friends or dates. But the costs of having one or more cups of Joe daily can add up, especially as prices inflate," Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said in a statement. "In the cities that are craziest about coffee, the average household may spend as much as $327 per year on the beverage. At the same time, as much as 33% of the population has machines for making coffee at home."

Food and DrinkConsumerU.S.