Once upon a time the Brits were well-known for their love of tea.

Afternoon tea, in fact, is a good old fashioned English tradition that is recognised the world over.

Times, however, it seems are a-changing.

Now, it seems, the coffee bean has found a very special place in the British heart.

Ocado has recently carried out some research into this new-found love.

How much do you think that the average Brit is spending on coffee?

According to the findings, Brits are shelling out over  3,000 annually for their cup of joe.

This is rather significant when you consider the harsh economic times and tightening of financial belts that has been going on of late.

In addition, we are told that 10% of Brits consume up to five cups of coffee each day, often preferring this caffeine elixir to the hitherto national preference for a cup of tea.

And it doesn’t end there.

The Brits also seek sophistication in their coffee choices, looking for variations in the form their coffee takes   from cappuccinos to lattes to espressos   and also quality.

No longer is the instant coffee likely to satisfy us   we want freshly ground stuff and premium beverages.

Apparently for 60% of Brits, it’s the taste of the coffee that is what they want.