Square’s Spring Restaurant Report: How Canadians Are Fueling Their Days

New insights reveal consumption habits and opportunities for cafés and quick-service restaurants to attract and retain customers this year

• Montrealers grab coffee earliest, peaking after 8 a.m.; noon is rush hour in Calgary
• 61% say they’re more likely to visit QSRs with healthier options
• 30% of QSR customers eat their meals solo; 37% dine in pairs

As Canadians head into warmer months, Square has released its latest Quarterly Restaurant Report, offering fresh insights into the nation’s café and quick-service restaurant (QSR) habits. Drawing from transaction data across hundreds of thousands of Canadian businesses using Square and a nationwide survey, the report spotlights what—and when—Canadians are ordering, and how restaurants can tap into changing consumer tastes.

Canadian Coffee Habits: Later Starts, Regional Picks

Square’s data shows Canadians are hitting cafés later than you might think. While most major cities report their coffee shop rush before 1:00 p.m., Montrealers are early risers, peaking just after 8:00 a.m., but Calgary’s caffeine surge happens at noon. In Toronto and Calgary, only a minority order before 6:00 a.m.; most café visits occur between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m local time.

A global comparison reveals very different habits when it comes to the busiest times at cafés. In Australia, crowds start to fill cafés by sunrise while in Japan, coffee peaks mid-afternoon around 2:00 p.m. local time. Spain’s coffee shops, on the other hand, peak at around 11:00 a.m. then taper off dramatically. Canadians, meanwhile, are most likely to visit their favourite coffee shops around lunch time, at noon.

Canada Loves its Classic Brew

When it comes to taste, tradition prevails. Brewed coffee remains Canada’s top beverage choice at cafés, with 42% of survey respondents sticking to the classic drip coffee—likely motivated by both taste and price. The cost of a medium drip coffee in Canada edged up just nine cents (3.3%) year-over-year. Iced coffees, cold brew, and espresso-based drinks are runner-ups, each claimed by 23% of respondents. Seventeen percent say they skip coffee shops altogether.

In terms of the average café transaction sizes, amounts have actually dipped in 2025—falling to $13.04 in April from $14.31 last year.

Matcha On the Rise Despite Shortages

Reports of an impending global matcha shortage last year might spell disappointment for the growing masses of Canadians who enjoy the ubiquitous green drink’s taste and health benefits. In recent years, matcha has become a staple in cafés – Canadian sellers using Square’s platform have seen a 114% increase in the number of Matcha orders from April 2024 to April 2025.

Members of Gen Z and younger millennials are most likely to buy Matcha-based drinks (14%), while 35-54 year old Canadians make up only 6% of Matcha purchasers. Despite the growth in popularity, only 6% of respondents indicated that Matcha-based drinks are their preferred beverage at cafés.

Healthy Menus—A Key to QSRs’ Growth?

While only one in ten respondents selected menu variety as a factor in choosing a QSR, a majority of Canadians (61%) say they would be more likely to visit a QSR that offers healthier options. The desire for plant-based options is on the wish list for 26% of respondents, but more than two thirds said they disagree that meatless options would impact their dining decisions.

Speed and Affordability on the Menu

Canadians are still frequenting quick-service restaurants, but their spending is relatively flat, with the average meal costing $16.47, up only 1.6% over April of last year according to data from Square.

While Canadians are saving sit-down, full service dining for date nights and special occasions, when it comes to quick-service restaurants, it is often a solo experience, with 30% saying they usually eat alone, according to a new consumer survey conducted by Leger. Tables for two are the norm for 37% of QSR diners, while 17% make QSR meals a family affair. Fast service is the top driver for 35% of QSR visitors; affordability (33%) and taste (28%) closely follow.

“Canadian diners are skipping full-service meals more often due to economic pressures, but convenience keeps quick-service restaurants busy,” says Karisa Marra, Head of Sales at Square Canada. “As the sector adapts with healthier menus and smarter tech, Square is committed to helping operators thrive in a changing landscape.”

Survey Methodology:

Canadian online survey via Leger’s LEO panel, with n=1,626 Canadian residents aged 18+. Survey was In field from May 2nd to May 5th , 2025, inclusive. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of n=1,626 yields a margin of error no greater than ±2.4%, (19 times out of 20).