Nothing is certain except death and taxes...and our need for coffee.

A new Zagat survey of 1,700 coffee drinkers has found that people who gulp down some joe each day tend to enjoy 2.2 cups daily.

But that’s merely the beginning on what this study uncovered:

IF IT’S A DAY OF THE WEEK, WE NEED COFFEE

Eighty-three percent of respondents drink coffee each day, while 12% admit to downing it a few times a week. Only 2% say they drink it a few times a month and 1% say a few times a year gets the job done for them.

A FEW BILLS FOR SOME JOE

At what point does a regular coffee start affecting our bottom line and cost too much? The average price was $3.52. That number shoots up to $4.86 when it’s made by a barista. And while the economy has gone south in recent years, one area we don’t seem willing to cut back is on coffee. That’s because 65% of people said their coffee drinking habits did not change due to the economy.

NOT ADDICTED

You know how some people say they need their morning coffee? Well, they might be in the minority. A total of 58% said they can stop drinking coffee, while 42% said they can’t. And when in life do people start savoring this drink? The most popular time was during the teenage years, with 44% saying they began experiencing the joy of brewed beans between the ages of 15 and 19.

HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?

Fifty-five percent prefer hot coffee over iced and 31% say their hot coffee beverage of choice is just plain ol’ coffee, ahead of the 18% who chose latte. And we like to keep it simple – 53% said they don’t add any sweetener to their java.

WHERE SHOULD I GET A CUP?

There is obviously no shortage of places to get coffee, but the most popular place to buy it is in a neighborhood shop, with 38% claiming they like getting it at one of these establishments. How long should you stay before it starts looking weird that you’re hanging out too long? Fifteen minutes topped all answers, with 37% saying that’s fine, although it’s bad news for anyone who holes up in a Starbucks with dreams of writing the perfect screenplay.

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