Britons’ favour Barack over the Beckhams

In the aftermath of Obama fever Brits are embracing current affairs and it seems politicians are now forming an integral part of popular culture, according to new research commissioned by coffee machine manufacturer De’Longhi.

With over a quarter (26%) of Great Britain’s’ coffee drinkers nominating a politician as the person they’d most like to have coffee with and over a third (39%) preferring to sip their espresso with Barack rather than the Beckhams (11%), it looks like we’re becoming a nation of sophista-Brits!

The poll of more than 2,000 Brits revealed that it’s men in politics who we’d most like to chat with over a cup of coffee, with Barack Obama (39%), Boris Johnson (22%) and David Cameron (16%) featuring in our top five - beating ‘A list-ers’ such as Sir Paul McCartney (17%), David and Victoria Beckham (11%) and Simon Cowell (15%). However, when it comes to the ladies, home grown talent featured prominently in the list with Cheryl Cole (17%), Lily Allen and Victoria Beckham (both 11%), and Emma Watson (9%) leading the way.

And when it comes to who we are talking about over coffee, it’s the King of Pop, Michael Jackson and Barack Obama who get the nation's tongues wagging, equally topping the poll with 26% of votes.

Tabloid favourite Katie Price provided the most contradictions, as while almost 16% of women admitted to gossiping about her with their friends over a coffee, only 6% would actually want to have a coffee with her.

Britain’s Top Coffee Companions:

Top 5 men
1. Barack Obama
2. Boris Johnson
=3. Prince Harry & Paul McCartney
4. David Cameron

Top 5 women
1. Cheryl Cole
2. Angelina Jolie
=3. Lily Allen & Victoria Beckham
4. Emma Watson

Mark Swift, Marketing Manager, De’Longhi says: “Coffee is an integral part of life and culture. Coffee culture stemmed from the discussion of politics and the events of the day, and it looks like we are seeing a resurgence of this as Brits are taking more of an interest in politics. To illustrate the study findings, De’Longhi has commissioned world renowned coffee artist Søren Stiller Markussen to create latte etchings of those people we most talk about over a cup of coffee, with leading photographer Richard Foster capturing the artwork in a series of exclusive photographs.”

Photographs of the latte artworks will be displayed at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, West Sussex (which houses one of the most important collections of modern British art outside London) until 28th August in an exclusive Latte exhibition. De’Longhi will be auctioning off one of the L’Arte photographs in the annual Macmillan De’Longhi Art Auction taking place at The Avenue, London on September 29th, with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1TJ / pallant.org.uk - open Tuesday to Saturday 10am- 5pm; Thursdays 10am-8pm; Sundays and Bank Holidays 12.30-5pm.

For further information on De’Longhi coffee machines log on to seriousaboutcoffee.com.