The return to office is benefiting the to-go coffee industry

More than a third of consumers who drank coffee on a “past-day basis” did so outside of their residences, the NCA said in its National Coffee Data Trends report. That marks the highest level since January 2020.

Out-of-home coffee drinking — which includes java consumed at work places, shops and in transit — has struggled since the pandemic in part due to a shift to remote work. US daily coffee consumption, which remains near the highest in more than 20 years, has largely been driven by at-home use. More than 80% of past-day coffee drinkers had a beverage at home, the NCA said.

The recovery of coffee drinking outside homes comes even as a cup of joe is set to get pricier. Futures for arabica beans, the premium variety favored by Starbucks Corp. and most specialty shops, hit a 13-year high this week.

Some coffee chains are doubling down on efforts to bring consumers back. Starbucks, which is struggling through a sales slump, is focusing on making the chain’s cafes “inviting places to linger” again, according to new Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol.

(Updates with Starbucks’ efforts in last paragraph.)