Wickes poll reveals 60% of Britain’s tradesmen now down tools for a cup of coffee rather than the nation’s favourite, a cup of tea.
The DIY chain believes the switch in caffeinated beverages can be attributed to the younger generation of handyman, as well as the influx of coffee-drinking workers from abroad.

Tradesmen are also twice as likely to add semi-skimmed milk rather than the full fat version, although two sugars is still favoured among the masses of tea or coffee drinkers.

Three in four workmen aged 20-25 were revealed to prefer coffee to tea. With those over 40 keeping the char-drinking tradition going.

Of the coffee drinkers, a simple mug of instant is no longer enough, with seven out of ten tradesmen opting for a latte or cappuccino - whether from a coffee chain or a local greasy spoon.

Matthew Critchley of Wickes said: "The building trade is moving with the times and workmen have embraced the more European style of drinking coffee to keep them refreshed at work."

The question is, will we see a surge in sales of coffee makers this Christmas?