Who Was the Birdman? Exploring the Viral Coffee-Fueled Commuter Moment and the UK’s Coffee Culture
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
Ashish Prabhu has a wide range of experience when it comes to promoting equality in society.
You may or may not have heard of the Birdman, but just who was he, and what is his purpose? Well, many people may have been out during rush hour traffic and not even noticed that he was there. This is because he is a character in a social media video of a man wearing a giant blue bird head, sitting on a train carriage, pouring himself a cup of coffee, and drinking it from a bright yellow cup and saucer.
11 key UK coffee statistics
The UK drinks 98 million cups of coffee a day.
1 in 3 Brits have switched to (or enjoy) non-dairy milk.
80% of the UK population visits coffee shops weekly.
25% of the UK’s coffee consumption takes place at work or while studying.
81% of people drink more than one coffee every day during work hours.
41% of professionals drink at least three cups of coffee a day.
Employees spend 16 minutes per visit to cafés during work hours.
46% of people said free beverages would encourage them to work from the office.
67% of UK employees feel more productive after a coffee break.
75% of people reported better mental health after taking regular coffee breaks.
81% of employees say they form stronger bonds with colleagues over coffee breaks.
One viewer commented, "The bird is even sipping tea." Another joked, "Only in London would you see a bird casually grabbing a coffee before work." A third added, "Lol, just chilling like it's nothing!" While someone else wrote, "Seeing that would definitely brighten up my morning commute." Another added, "Hilarious! You definitely wouldn't catch me wearing that on the train."
Brits drink an estimated 98 million cups of coffee a day, which helps to fuel repetitive zombie routines. Just over three-quarters of households still rely on instant coffee, meaning they are choosing convenience over quality. Statistics from the latest research show that we all visit the same coffee spots and make repetitive choices daily. The latest findings come from a survey conducted by a new coffee brand, which is shaking up the UK coffee market.
Blue Turaco coffee is the first-ever farmer-owned coffee brand and helps raise revenue for the poorer industrial communities that actually produce the main crop and do all the hard work. It is the latest in a long line of fair-trade brands that help maintain the working standards of farmers to ensure they earn a fair living.
How it began
Founder Wycliffe grew up picking Robusta coffee beans as a boy to pay for his school fees. So, he's been around coffee all his life. Years later, when he moved to the UK, he was amazed, no Robusta coffee on the shelves? And no Ugandan? Robusta makes up nearly half of the world's coffee, but it's always hidden away in blends. And we've been missing out.
The aim of having a business like a small coffee plantation is to help ensure that the people working there earn a fair and decent living to support their families. Because they are owned by a smallholder coffee farmer, Blue Turaco helps to ensure that the farming community is paid at least 30% more than they would usually be. This helps increase the chances of them being able to afford a comfortable standard of living.
They offer a wide variety of coffee blends that suit all tastes and ensure you get that caffeine fix to stay ready and alert for the day. These can be bought online and help provide a fair service to consumers, as all their products come with free shipping.
Psychological studies demonstrate that people can fail to notice unusual events when focused on routine tasks, a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness.[1] The UK coffee market continues to grow, with increasing interest in higher-quality coffee alongside continued demand for traditional formats.[2]
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Ashish Prabhu, Company Director and Freelance Journalist
I'm a multi-award-winning freelance journalist who covers news, current affairs, and sports stories, specialising in disability, equality, and diversity issues.
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