More than one in four Australians have given up buying takeaway coffee in a bid to keep a lid on living costs, new Canstar research has revealed, as the average drink costs $5.90.
The findings, from a survey of more than 2,100 Australians, come as Canstar reveals the 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award winners for coffee – with ALDI sweeping all three categories for beans, pods, and instant coffee.
Opting for home brew
Canstar’s survey respondents reported buying an average of four takeaway coffees a week, at an average cost per cup of $5.90 – putting the total weekly spend at $23.60.
The survey also revealed:
- 29% have stopped buying coffee from cafes and now make it at home instead.
- 19% have bought a coffee machine to avoid buying takeaway coffee.
- 34% of those surveyed drink one cup of coffee a day while 50% drink two to three.
- 39% of pod users prefer options that are environmentally friendly, however only 24% will recycle them as the brand requests.
- 27% prefer their home brewed coffee to coffee from a cafe.
- 45% always buy the same brand – jumping to 50% for instant coffee drinkers.
ALDI’s brews strongest for customer satisfaction
ALDI took out all three categories in the 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Awards for Coffee, with Lazzio winning for beans, Expressi for pods, and Alcafe for instant.
Canstar’s analysis shows taste and value for money were the primary drivers of customer satisfaction for both instant coffee and coffee pods.
However, for coffee bean users, roast accuracy – which is consistency in the coffee’s roast and strength, and matching their preference – was the top driver, followed closely by taste, value, and texture/consistency.
Canstar 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Awards - Coffee | |
Category | Winner |
Coffee Beans | Lazzio (ALDI) |
Coffee Pods/Capsules | Expressi (ALDI) |
Instant Coffee | Alcafe (ALDI) |
Canstar.com.au consumer expert, Eden Radford, says, with the average takeaway coffee creeping close to six dollars, the daily cup has quickly become a notable line item in the household budget.
“However, Aussies aren't giving up their daily caffeine hit, they’re getting smarter about where they get it instead," she said.
“Cost of living pressures are having an impact on household coffee habits, as Canstar’s survey shows that nearly three in ten Australians have completely ditched the cafe run to make their coffee at home instead.
“ALDI’s clean sweep across beans, pods, and instant coffee proves that budget-friendly doesn’t mean compromising on quality. While value for money and taste dominated customer satisfaction for pods and instant coffee, our analysis shows bean drinkers prioritised roast accuracy above all else.
“Whether swapping cafe visits for home brews to save money, or simply adding a home brew option to the daily routine, the takeaway is simple: taking control of your daily brew and shopping around for value can still save you money without giving up your favourite hot drink."
