End of the ‘Builder’s Brew’

The results reveal the era of the traditional builder’s tea is over with tradesmen and women across the UK favouring coffee over a basic brew for their caffeine hit while on the job.

A cappuccino tops the list of favourite hot drinks ahead of a latte. The humble English breakfast tea ranks third, ahead of hot chocolate, an Americano, and a flat white. Our survey has some suprising highlights:

• Traditional builder’s brew replaced by cappuccino as favourite caffeine hit
• One in five opt for alternative milk such as oat, almond, soy or coconut
• A third of van drivers buy more than one hot drink a day on the job

Van drivers aren’t just becoming more discerning with their choice of tea or coffee, either, with almost one in five opting for an alternative milk, such as oat, almond, soy or coconut. And when they do go with regular milk, health-conscious van drivers prefer semi-skimmed to full fat.

It’s thirsty work out on the job, too, with almost a third buying multiple hot drinks in a day, while only one in 10 don’t buy any at all. The van drivers who spend most on hot drinks during work are in London, with an average seven per week, compared to Welsh van drivers who purchase just three per week.

Claire English, Head of Fleet at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “It’s time to think again when you ask your plumber, electrician, or builder if they want a brew because the chances are it’s not top of the list."