Americans drink more than 24 gallons of coffee per man, woman and child annually, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whites and older people drink more than their share.
"Age and race are factors associated with consumption of coffee," said Sharon J. Mickle of the Human Nutrition Service at the Agriculture Department.A USDA study was based on interviews in 2,800 homes around the country from April 1987 to August 1988.
Mickle said more than 60 percent of adults reported drinking coffee every day, which made it the second most popular beverage after water. Milk came in third, with carbonated soft drinks fourth.
Coffee was most popular with older Americans. And 61 percent of whites and 35 percent of blacks interviewed said they drank coffee during the three-day survey period.
"I really was surprised by the difference," Mickle said.
Mickle spoke recently at the Fourth Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of Food and Society at Drexel University. The convention featured nutritionists and sociologists from the United States, Europe, Mexico and India.
Mickle said that in 1988 the amount of coffee consumed in the nation equaled 24.3 gallons per person.
Paul Rozin, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said people who prefer black coffee may do so for its stimulating effects. He said his research indicates those who like black coffee often do not favor other coffee products such as coffee ice cream.