The report highlights the wants and needs of students when purchasing coffee on campus, exploring topics such as wider drinking habits, quality & price, innovation, sustainability and the role of brands.
Nestlé Professional says the key findings underline the ‘delicate balance’ campus caterers must achieve between affordability and quality – and the report is packed with tips to drive and sustain demand from students.
The research revealed 94% of students say they regularly buy coffee on campus with almost three quarters of students (72%) saying they’ve changed their coffee-buying habits due to increasing coffee prices.
Key insights show that a varied menu is important to 96% of students, while sustainability is important to nine in ten students when deciding where to buy coffee on campus. Over half (56%) of students place quality among their top three influences when choosing a venue.
Courtney Jones, marketing activation manager for coffee solutions at Nestlé Professional, said: “Our ‘Behind the Beans: Coffee on Campus’ report offers valuable insight into what drives student purchasing and consumption habits on campus.
“We know that students today are more discerning than ever, they care about where their coffee comes from, how it’s made, and how much it costs. By understanding their preferences, campus caterers can tailor their offerings to create more engaging, responsible, and profitable coffee experiences.”
The full Coffee on Campus report is available to download: https://www.nestleprofessional.co.uk/coffee-consumption-on-campus-report-2025.