Which One Are You: Morning Coffee or Morning Soda? by Lauren Davis

Coffee has long been treated as the official beverage of adulthood. It greets us in kitchens, offices, and fellowship halls. “Want some coffee?” is shorthand for hospitality. Long before I was allowed to drink it, I remember being fascinated by its aroma, warned as a child that it would stunt my growth. So, when someone answers that familiar question by reaching instead for a Diet Coke, it can feel—at first—slightly disorienting.

I noticed it years ago when my brother and sister-in-law stayed overnight at our house. As soon as they arrived, she put a six-pack of Diet Coke in our refrigerator, as if planning ahead for something essential. The next morning, coffee was offered. She went straight for the soda. My brother smiled and said, “She has to have it.”

That small moment said more than any nutrition label. This wasn’t about novelty or convenience. It was ritual.

Morning soda drinkers, whether Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper, are real, and while they remain a minority compared with coffee drinkers, they are far from rare. Surveys consistently show that coffee dominates morning caffeine consumption in the United States — with more than half of adults saying they reach for coffee first thing in the morning, and many describing it as a “non-negotiable” ritual. For these drinkers, soda isn’t a substitute — it’s the point.

Even power doesn’t interrupt the habit. President Donald Trump was widely reported to have a button on his desk that summoned a Diet Coke on demand. The detail became a cultural shorthand, not just for personal taste, but for how normalized soda-based caffeine rituals have become. Coffee may carry cultural prestige, but convenience, familiarity, and brand loyalty often win the morning.

So who are these people?

Research suggests they cut across age groups, though younger adults tend to be more open to nontraditional caffeine sources—sodas, energy drinks, bottled teas—rather than hot coffee. Taste plays a major role. Many soda drinkers simply dislike coffee’s bitterness or the way it makes them feel. A can of Diet Coke contains less caffeine than a typical cup of coffee, offering a gentler lift without the jitters some experience from stronger brews.

Habit may matter more than health. Behavioral research shows caffeine routines form quickly and hold fast. The brain doesn’t just crave caffeine; it craves predictability. The sound of a can opening, the carbonation, the cold sweetness—these sensory cues become part of waking up. Over time, the drink becomes less about energy and more about identity.

That’s why people say things like, “I can’t start my day without it,” regardless of whether it is coffee, soda, or something else entirely.

From a health standpoint, the differences matter — but not always in the ways people assume. Coffee is low-calorie and contains antioxidants that have been associated with certain long-term health benefits when consumed in moderation, including reduced risk for some chronic diseases.  Soft drinks, especially sugar-sweetened ones, are linked to higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental problems. Diet sodas eliminate most sugar, but remain acidic and are sweetened with artificial sweeteners that continue to be studied for their long-term effects. (For example, the use of aspartame and other artificial sweeteners is under ongoing review in nutrition science.)

People rarely choose their morning drink based on epidemiological charts however, they choose it based on how it fits into their lives.

The deeper story isn’t really about soda versus coffee. It’s about how we attach meaning to our routines—and how quickly those routines become necessities. The coffee drinker and the Diet Coke drinker are not opposites. They are mirrors. Both have found a liquid anchor for the start of the day, something familiar and reliable in a world that often isn’t.

“She has to have it,” my brother said—and in that sentence was recognition, not judgment.

In the end, the cup or the can matters less than the ritual itself. Our morning drinks reveal who we are not because of what’s inside them, but because of how fiercely we hold on to them. So, what about you? What’s the first drink you reach for in the morning—and why?

I’m Lauren—a writer, educator, and novelty quilter with over 30 years of experience in service and sales. I’ve taught high school English, worked as a journalist, and now run Artisan Shop USA, a marketplace supporting handmade artistry and the sharing of faith, family, and country. I’m also a wife, mom, and lifelong lover of storytelling.