We’re a nation famed for our love of the classic cup of tea, however the eyebrow-raising results of a new poll[i] by Macmillan Cancer Support to mark the return of Coffee Morning suggest that London is divided when it comes to crafting our perfect cuppa.
The UK’s leading cancer charity has also enlisted the help of Gennaro Pelliccia, Costa Coffee’s Master of Coffee, whose tongue is insured for a whopping £10million pounds, to help settle the debate once and for all.
Espresso yourself: The beloved cup of coffee overtakes tea as our number one hot drink, with almost two thirds of people in London (62%) drinking coffee on a regular basis, compared to just 53% opting for standard black tea
A quick dip…: 6% of Londoners say their perfect cup of tea is brewed for less than 30 seconds
…Vs. a long stew: A surprising 2%[ii] let their coffee stew for a whopping 10 minutes or more
Milk up your mind: Around one in seven in London (15% of tea drinkers and 13% of coffee drinkers) opt for adding milk to their cuppa FIRST in order to make the perfect brew.
The figures from Macmillan’s latest polling may not be to everyone’s taste, however the analysis shows that despite our traditional love of the classic cuppa, coffee takes the number one spot as the nation’s go-to hot drink in all but two parts of the UK, including London. Remarkably, coffee winds up in top position even in regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber (66% vs 53%), in what may be a bitter pill to swallow for those so well-known for their love and heritage of tea.
Going for a pint takes on a new meaning it seems, as the research unearthed a new trend. Several respondents across the UK confessed to enjoying tea by the ‘pintful’, stating that their cuppa comes best served in a pint-sized mug, while one tea-lover stated that the perfect time of day for a cuppa was “every moment of every single day”.
Similarly, the numbers also show that the nations’ devot-teas and coffee fanatics are split when it comes to perfecting the ultimate cuppa. 6% of tea-drinkers in London take a somewhat ‘splash-dash’ approach, confessing to brewing their tea for less than thirty seconds, while one in 5 (20%) take three minutes or more. Meanwhile, 2% of all coffee drinkers in London[iii] let their coffee stew for a whopping 10 minutes or more – a beverage crime that some may even consider (coffee) grounds for dismissal!
Milk first? Milk last? The seemingly perfect formula for when to add the milk to your cup of tea or coffee is highly disputed, garnering as much debate as the humble scone’s infamous ‘jam first’ versus ‘cream first’ dispute. Surprisingly, 15% of tea and 13% of coffee drinkers in London stand by the fact that milk should be added first, whereas a huge 73% of tea drinkers state that milk should be put in last.
When it comes to creating the perfect cuppa, tea drinkers in London believe that the brand of tea used (chosen by 48% of local tea drinkers) + the length of time you brew your tea (agreed by 45% of tea drinkers) + the temperature of the water (listed as important by 43% of those surveyed in London) = the recipe for success when it comes to aceing your tea-making.
Meanwhile, coffee drinkers in London consider the type of coffee used, for example instant, ground or capsules (57%) most important when it comes to making the perfect cup of coffee, followed by the brand of coffee (44%) and the temperature of the water (31%).
Putting an end to the debate once and for all, Gennaro Pelliccia, Costa Coffee’s Master of Coffee, spills the beans on the recipe for success when it comes to making great-tasting coffee.
Gennaro says: “Costa Coffee has perfected the art of making great coffee for more than fifty years, with our founders Sergio and Bruno Costa taking 112 attempts to create our Mocha Italia Signature Blend that is still served today. The secret to a great cup of coffee lies within three key elements – temperature, using high quality milk and choosing the right type of coffee for the occasion.”
“When you use a hotter water temperature, different flavours are released such as increased bitterness whereas slightly cooler water can enhance sweeter notes. If you are making a Cappuccino or Latte, make sure you use fresh milk that has been correctly stored inside the fridge at the optimum temperature between 0°C and 4°C. which will also help in giving the creamiest froth. Always aim to ensure frothing occurs at the correct temperature (55°C is ideal) to avoid spoiling and breaking the milk down. When selecting the right type of coffee, espresso makes the perfect cappuccino whilst the combination of the roast and the right milk temperature will result in the perfect cortado.”
Claire Rowney, Executive Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Innovation at Macmillan Cancer Support says:
“Whether you’re a tea or coffee drinker, add your milk first or last, or like to accompany your brew with something savoury or sweet, everyone can get involved with a Macmillan Coffee Morning – no matter your personal taste.
“Whether it’s with your friends in the park, on a driveway, or a gathering at work, every Coffee Morning has the power to raise vital pennies and pounds so that Macmillan can continue helping the 3 million people living with cancer across the UK to live life as fully as they can. There’s no better reason to get together for Macmillan and settle the debate at your local Coffee Morning!”
September marks the return of Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual Coffee Morning fundraiser, which officially takes place on Friday 30th September this year, with local events taking place up and down the UK to help raise vital funds for people living with cancer.
For the first time ever, Costa Coffee is joining M&S Food as Headline Partner of Coffee Morning 2022, and Betty Crocker is back as Official Sponsor to help make this year’s fundraising the best yet.
