What your coffee choice says about you

By Lauren Matheny, Lifestyles Editor

What coffee you choose each morning could say something about your personality, a new study finds.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, recently conducted a study of 1,000 coffee drinkers. The study took into account common personality traits from several methods of psychological schools of thought in order to come up with a personality profile for each coffee drinker studied.

The results showed some surprising personality trends correlated to what beverage you sip.

First up came the plain black coffee drinker. The study found them to be purists who liked to keep things simple, which is unsurprising. However, the black coffee drinkers were also found to be the most efficient and patient of coffee drinkers, but were thought to be very set in their old ways and resistant to changes.

Next came those who like flavor add-ins to their coffee, including cream, milk, and sugar. Durvasula included these drinkers under the broad title of “latte drinkers,” who were found to be the most sensitive of the personality types. They are often people pleasers who like to soften the blows of life for themselves and others, and are usually very generous. However, the latte drinkers often have a problem with saying “no,” and can burn out more quickly then their more measured counterparts.

Those who drank frozen or blended coffee beverages (like the ever popular Frappuccino) were found to be the most adventurous of the group; they loved to try new things and were considered trendsetters. These coffee drinkers tended to be labeled as “childlike” and “spontaneous.”  However, the frozen drink lovers also tended to make unhealthy choices (Frappucinos can pack up to 600 calories, more than recommended in most meals).  Their adventurous tendencies can also make them a little reckless.

The study also covered instant coffee drinkers, a dying breed in the age of Keurig and 12-cup coffee makers. Instant coffee makers were found to be laid back traditionalists who are often unwilling to accept the new trends. This makes them laid back and able to see the big picture, but it also can lead to procrastination on big projects.

Finally, the study left a category for those who have intensely specific coffee orders at cafes and coffee shops (soy, sugar-free, light, skinny, skim, fat-free, dairy-free, almond milk, extra hot, and so on). These drinkers were found to like being in control and have perfectionist traits, which led to high achievement. They were also found to be more health-conscious than their less specific coffee counterparts. These drinkers also tended to be the more sensitive, and were the worriers within the study.

Does your personality fit the profiles? Or are you a coffee rebel?

Sources:
Telegraph UK coffee study
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