Do Nigerians Really Drink Coffee?

The culture of drinking coffee is one that I had hitherto considered alien to Nigerians. I mean, I know one or two coffee drinkers, but nothing as intense as the early morning coffee runs, midday coffee breaks, and all the other times Americans drink coffee as portrayed by Hollywood.
Nigerians tend to believe in a lot of things, many of them rooted in age-old customs and traditions that were handed down, including the ‘tea-drinking’ culture.
But with the emergence of trendy cafes and coffee shops popping up everywhere and offering a large variety of beverages and desserts, the adventurous taste buds of many Nigerians are wandering away from the known to the unknown, which in this case is coffee.
One can argue that these shops were opened to cater to well-traveled Nigerians with exotic palettes and Nigerians in the diaspora when they visit. However, it is becoming clear that they cater to a lot more people.
Medically, coffee is known to improve physical performance and help with focus and alertness. This is why many Nigerian students and working-class rely on coffee from time to time to get through specific tasks.

Be that as it may, the beverage hasn’t stolen the hearts of Nigerians just yet. According to reuters.com, tea and cocoa remain Nigeria’s drink of choice, accounting for over 40% of their spending on non-alcoholic drinks while coffee sits at only 2.5%.

So I guess the answer is a ‘not so much’… But don’t count us out yet.