What is the #1 selling coffee in America?

Quick Answer: To identify the #1 selling coffee in America, you must draw a distinct line between where the coffee is bought. If you are looking at retail volume (what Americans actually brew and drink inside their homes), the #1 selling coffee brand is Folgers. If you are looking at total revenue and coffee shop dominance (what Americans pay for on the go), the #1 brand is Starbucks.

While Starbucks has the highest cultural visibility and dollar sales, the “Red Can” of Folgers (owned by The J.M. Smucker Company) remains the volume leader in U.S. grocery aisles, largely due to its affordability and massive distribution network.

For The Daily Shopper: Navigating the Grocery Aisle

Goal: Finding a reliable daily driver without overpaying or compromising on the “standard” taste.

The “Red Can” Reality:

If you are standing in a supermarket aisle trying to figure out what the majority of Americans are putting in their carts, the answer is Folgers Classic Roast. While it might seem counter-intuitive given the explosion of “Third Wave” craft coffee shops on every corner, the data shows that price and habit trump trendiness for home consumption.

Why this happens (The Logic):

Most Americans drink coffee as a caffeine delivery system, not a luxury experience. Folgers has mastered the supply chain to keep prices low. They utilize a blend of Robusta and Arabica beans. Robusta is cheaper and higher in caffeine but more bitter; Arabica is smoother but pricier. By blending them, Folgers maintains the specific, consistent flavor profile that older generations of Americans identify as “what coffee tastes like.”

Actionable Advice for Shoppers:

• If you want the “Standard”: Buy Folgers Classic Roast. It is the baseline for American coffee.
• If you want the “Upgrade”: Look for Dunkin’ (bagged coffee). In consumer taste tests and sales figures, Dunkin’ often holds the #2 spot in retail. It is generally 100% Arabica, meaning it is less bitter than Folgers but still has that classic diner-style profile that isn’t too acidic or fruity.
• The “Pod” Factor: If you use a Keurig, the rules change slightly. While Keurig Dr Pepper owns the system, the most popular pods are often Starbucks or Dunkin’ branded. However, buying the “store brand” (like Kirkland at Costco) is often the hidden bestseller in specific regions due to bulk pricing.

For Industry Insiders: Analyzing Market Dominance

Goal: Understanding the actual flow of money and beans versus perceived popularity.

The Volume vs. Value Paradox:

As a market researcher or entrepreneur, you must distinguish between “Share of Throat” (Volume) and “Share of Wallet” (Revenue).

• Volume Leader: Folgers. They move the most physical weight of coffee.
• Revenue Leader: Starbucks. Because a pound of Starbucks coffee costs significantly more than a pound of Folgers, and a prepared latte costs exponentially more, Starbucks wins on financial sheets.

Critical Thinking – The “At-Home” Shift:

The most critical metric to watch isn’t just the brand name, but the format. The fastest-growing segment isn’t traditional ground coffee—it is Ready-to-Drink (RTD) coffee and Single-Serve Pods.

The Strategic Insight:

Starbucks and PepsiCo formed the “North American Coffee Partnership” to dominate the RTD market (bottled Frappuccinos). Meanwhile, J.M. Smucker (which owns Folgers and licenses Dunkin’ for grocery retail) dominates the dry grocery aisle.

Methodology for Analysis:

1. Ignore the Café Lines: Do not judge market share by looking at the line at your local Starbucks. That is the “Out-of-Home” market.
2. Look at “CPG” (Consumer Packaged Goods) Data: This tracks what scans at the register in Walmart, Kroger, and Target.
3. Track the Parent Companies: Don’t just track “Folgers”; track The J.M. Smucker Company. Don’t just track “Peet’s”; track JDE Peet’s. This reveals the true consolidation of the market.

For Hosts & Gift Givers: The “Safe Bet” Strategy

Goal: Buying coffee for an office, a party, or a gift where you don’t know the recipients’ specific tastes.

The Psychology of the “Crowd Pleaser”:

When buying for a group, buying the “statistically best selling” coffee (Folgers) is actually a risk. Because Folgers is associated with low cost, it can be perceived as “cheap” in a hosting environment. Conversely, buying a niche, high-acid, light-roast single-origin bean (the kind coffee snobs love) will taste “sour” to the average American palate.

The Solution:

The safest, most universally accepted brand in America is Dunkin’ Original Blend (Grocery Bag).

Why it works:

1. Brand Recognition: It has high national awareness but lacks the polarization of Starbucks (which some find “burnt” or “over-roasted”).
2. Flavor Profile: It is a medium roast engineered to be inoffensive. It takes milk and sugar well, which is how 65%+ of Americans drink their coffee.
3. Availability: It is available in almost every supermarket, making it an easy “premium but accessible” choice.

For International Tourists & Expats: The Cultural Experience

Goal: Tasting the quintessential “American” coffee.

The “Diner Coffee” Phenomenon:

If you come from Europe or Australia, you might expect the #1 coffee to be espresso-based. It is not. The true American coffee experience is “Bottomless Drip Coffee.”

The Counter-Intuitive Truth:

To understand American coffee culture, you should not go to a high-end roastery. You should drink Folgers prepared in a batch brewer (drip machine).

The Cultural Context:

Historically, American coffee was about quantity and warmth, not just caffeine or flavor notes. It was designed to be drunk in large mugs (12oz to 20oz) throughout the morning. This is why Folgers remains #1 in volume. It is designed to be watery enough to drink three cups of it without getting the “jitters” that three double-espressos would give you.

Your Tasting Itinerary:

1. The Baseline: Buy a small canister of Folgers Classic Roast. Brew it in a standard drip machine. Drink it black first, then add “Half and Half” (a very American dairy product) and sugar. This is the taste of the American mid-20th century.
2. The Modern Standard: Go to a Starbucks and order a “Pike Place Roast.” This represents the shift that happened in the 1990s toward darker, stronger roasts.
3. The Comparison: You will notice Folgers is nutty, slightly metallic, and thin. Starbucks Pike Place is smoky, heavy, and bitter. The tension between these two flavors defines the current American coffee landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the number one selling coffee brand in America?
A: The answer depends on the metric used. Folgers is the leader in retail volume (the actual weight of coffee Americans buy to brew at home), while Starbucks is the leader in total revenue (total dollars spent, driven by higher prices and coffee shop dominance).

Q: Why is Folgers generally cheaper than other coffee brands?
A: Folgers maintains low prices by utilizing a blend of beans. They mix smoother Arabica beans with Robusta beans; Robusta beans are cheaper and higher in caffeine but more bitter, allowing Folgers to keep costs down while maintaining a consistent flavor profile.

Q: What is the safest coffee brand to buy for a crowd or as a gift?
A: Dunkin’ Original Blend (sold in grocery stores) is recommended as the safest “crowd pleaser.” It is a medium roast 100% Arabica coffee that avoids the “burnt” taste some associate with Starbucks and the “cheap” perception associated with Folgers.

Q: What are the fastest-growing segments in the coffee market?
A: While traditional ground coffee remains a staple, the fastest-growing segments in the industry are Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages (such as bottled Frappuccinos) and Single-Serve Pods.

Q: How does the taste of traditional American coffee differ from modern coffee shop roasts?
A: Traditional American coffee (like Folgers) is designed to be drunk in large quantities; it is characterized as nutty, slightly metallic, and thin. Conversely, the modern standard (represented by Starbucks Pike Place) is darker, heavier, smokier, and more bitter.

References

1. Entity: Statista / U.S. Census Data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS).
   • Subject: Brands of ground coffee used most often in the United States from 2011 to 2024.
   • Date: 2024.
   • Result: Folgers was the leading brand of regular ground coffee in the United States, used by nearly 38 million Americans. Starbucks ranked second but with significantly lower household penetration for ground coffee specifically.
2. Entity: The J.M. Smucker Company.
   • Subject: Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report.
   • Date: June 2023.
   • Result: The report confirms that their U.S. Retail Coffee segment (driven by Folgers, Dunkin’, and Café Bustelo) generated over $2.7 billion in net sales, maintaining the #1 share in the at-home coffee category.
3. Entity: Bloomberg Second Measure.
   • Subject: Consumer spending analysis at major coffee chains.
   • Date: 2022-2023.
   • Result: Starbucks accounts for the vast majority of sales among major coffee chains in the U.S. (outperforming Dunkin’ and Dutch Bros in pure revenue), reinforcing the distinction that Starbucks wins “Out-of-Home” sales while Folgers wins “At-Home” volume.
4. Entity: National Coffee Association (NCA).
   • Subject: National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) Report.
   • Date: Spring 2023.
   • Result: Data indicates that while past-day coffee consumption remains high (63-65% of adults), the method of preparation is split, with traditional drip coffee brewers (used for Folgers) and single-cup brewers (Keurig) being the two dominant preparation methods in American households.