Workplaces: the next big opportunity for UK coffee businesses

World Coffee Portal’s The Coffee At Work Report UK 2026 shows that almost half of UK workers are dissatisfied with the coffee available at work – and most would pay for a better-quality, barista-made option

Every working day, UK employees leave offices, hospitals, warehouses and campuses to buy a coffee they could otherwise have been served on site.

World Coffee Portal’s research puts the average price of that sales opportunity at £3.60, with most workers motivated by quality over the cheapest option. For roasters, equipment manufacturers, vending operators, contract caterers and workplace café providers, there is a huge opportunity to capture this repeat spend.

• 96% of industry leaders surveyed believe coffee improves productivity for employees
• 83% of leaders feel self-serve machines are best for the workplace
• Costa Coffee is the brand employees would most prefer to have in their workplace
• Nearly half (45%) of UK workers who drink coffee typically consume at least three cups during their working hours
• Only 26% of employees associate workplace coffee with good value

Workplaces are a relatively untapped coffee channel

Workplace coffee is an ingrained part of the average day for most employees, making it a potentially lucrative yet relatively untapped channel for roasters and suppliers.

World Coffee Portal’s The Coffee At Work Report UK 2026 shows that 45% of UK employees surveyed consume at least three cups during working hours, with 11% drinking five or more. However, not all of that coffee is being made, purchased or consumed on site.

Data shows that nearly one in five UK employees surveyed typically purchase their first coffee of the day from a coffee shop, rather than make at home or work. Additionally, almost half of all employees surveyed have left their workplace to buy coffee from a coffee shop within the last 12 months.

Crucially, this trade can be recaptured within the workplace. Only 30% of those surveyed would still seek coffee outside of the workplace even if it was provided for free at work, and nearly two-thirds would pay for barista-made coffee from an on-site workplace café.

Related content: The hidden £3.60 opportunity: UK workplace coffee is worth more than many suppliers imagine

Provision lags demand, and employees know it

The kettle and instant coffee remain the most widely available coffee facilities in UK workplaces (89%), with standalone higher-quality formats, including barista provision, bean-to-cup and premium vending, currently only reaching a minority of employees.

This discrepancy is reflected in consumer attitudes towards workplace coffee provision, with the majority of those surveyed believing their coffee options are better at home than at work.

However, employees are keen to utilise more premium formats where installed, with use highest for barista service and bean-to-cup offerings.

Costa Coffee voted the UK’s preferred workplace retail coffee brand

Nearly half (49%) of UK workers surveyed cited Costa Coffee as their preferred retail coffee brand to have in their workplace*.

Alongside being named the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop and Nation’s Favourite Premium Vending Brand, Costa Coffee was also named the UK’s preferred workplace retail coffee brand in World Coffee Portal research.

“Being named the UK’s preferred workplace retail coffee brand is a strong endorsement of the Costa Coffee offer and the trust consumers place in our brand. Our ambition is to make great coffee accessible wherever people choose to enjoy it, and the workplace is an important part of that,” said Nick Orrin, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Costa Coffee. “Through our range of coffee solutions, we can bring the quality and familiarity consumers know from Costa into workplaces across the UK, while providing businesses with an offer that responds to the changing expectations of their employees.”

Quality coffee can be boost for staff, employers and suppliers alike

Nearly all of industry leaders surveyed by World Coffee Portal believe coffee at work improves productivity, and 70% of employees surveyed agree better quality coffee lifts their performance.

A significant minority, weighted towards younger workers, say a quality coffee offer actively motivates them to attend the workplace, which should resonate with those employers managing hybrid work patterns.

Industry opinion also indicates where the addressable market sits. Leaders are near-unanimous in favouring bean-to-cup over capsule systems at workplaces. The report also highlights strong demand for scalable self-serve coffee solutions based on perceived cost and maintenance efficiencies. Beverage range is a second, largely unmet opportunity, spanning iced formats, alternative milks, matcha and ready-to-drink lines. Latte is the most favoured coffee beverage at work (57%), ahead of instant coffee (49%) and cappuccino (41%).

*The question “Which of the following retail coffee brands would you prefer to have in your workplace?” was asked of an independent panel of 2,034 consumers, with 49.3% citing Costa Coffee as their preferred workplace retail coffee brand.