Ethnic differences in coffee use and attitudes to coffee

Abstract

Interviews on coffee drinking habits and attitudes to coffee were carried out with 166 adult American coffee drinkers, representing Italian, Jewish, Black and White North‐Central European ethnic groups. These groups were compared on measures of liking for hot or iced coffee, coffee flavor in other vehicles, reasons for drinking coffee, developmental history, physiological and psychological effects of coffee and extent of addiction to caffeine. Ethnic specific patterns of response emerged which were largely independent of age. Jews show a particular concern for the taste of coffee, and like coffee as a flavoring more than other groups. Liking for hot coffee is linked more to the effects of coffee in other groups. Italians become regular drinkers at an earlier age. Hot coffee drinking is a part of their family and social life, and develops naturally in children. Their liking for coffee focuses on hot coffee beverage. Blacks show a lower involvement with coffee developmentally, and as adults.