The total retail sales value of coffee in the Chinese market is still growing at a double digit rate, even though the proportion of instant coffee is becoming less and less significant. The consumption frequency of any types of coffee is increasing without too much difference. When it comes to consumption occasion, the usage of coffee becomes quite diverse, and there is clear preference among the same age and gender group, or consumers from the same region.

This Report covers all instant coffee, fresh coffee and RTD (Ready-to-Drink) coffee. Market size is based on the retail sales of the below mentioned three types of coffee only. Freshly-made coffee sold and served via on-trade channels (such as hotels, restaurants, and cafés) is excluded from the market size.

There are three sub-categories of coffee included in this Report:

Fresh coffee – this includes ground/roasted coffee and beans, coffee capsules, and coffee pods. It is made into coffee by using equipment such as regular coffee machines, pod coffee machines, bean grinders, and coffee pots. In this Report, coffee made from fresh coffee products (eg ground coffee, beans, and coffee capsules) is also referred to as self-made coffee.

Instant coffee – this includes granules, pulverised, and powders, and products which require only the addition of water to be made into coffee that are either plain (pure with nothing added) or flavoured (with added ingredients such as milk power, sugar, sweeteners; for example, latte, cappuccino, 2-in-1s, 3-in-1s).

RTD coffee – this includes ready-to-drink coffee drinks, such as Starbucks Frappuccino and Illy Iced Coffee, sold at retail channels such as supermarkets. It is prepared to be consumed directly and does not require the addition of water or flavourings before consumption.

Mintel divides consumers into three groups based on their monthly household income.

In this Report, Mintel divides consumers into three groups based on their consumption frequency of each type of coffee.