14 Best Coffee Chains in America in 2024
For many caffeine aficionados, getting juiced up in the morning means stopping by one of the best coffee chains in America. It’s a source of comfort to know there’s a wealth of cozy coffee shops offering counter service and drive-through windows to provide a great start to the day.
Even better, remote workers who get a jolt from settling into a table at their favorite coffee chain have a host of makeshift workstations around town, filled with the aroma of coffee throughout the day. These popular coffee chains also act as the ideal gathering place to warm up and catch up with friends.
However, with so many options across the U.S., you may find it difficult to decide where to head for your caffeine fix. There could even be great coffee chains you haven’t tried yet that might make your sipping experience even more enjoyable.
To help give you an idea of what’s brewing out there, we've scoped out the 14 best coffee chains in America. From the biggest names to the newest discoveries, these coffee chains are percolating with fresh possibilities!
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The 14 Biggest Coffee Chains in America
1. Starbucks
Starbucks is the coffee chain that broke big and took simple brew into the realm of gourmet excellence. Starting out in Seattle, Starbucks quickly spread across the U.S. and branched out overseas to become the biggest coffee chain in the world. While iconic orders like frappuccinos and pumpkin spice lattes are house specialties, the hush-hush concoctions on the Starbucks secret menu give experienced coffee aficionados fresh flavors to sample.
2. Dutch Bros.
The super-friendly vibe that Dutch Bros. brought to the world of coffee chains energizes the West Coast as well as many southwestern and southern states. Not only does this drive-through-only coffee company provide the much-rumored Dutch Bros secret menu but it also offers high-protein coffee creations, blended frozen coffee beverages and a seasonal menu that never fails to delight and amaze customers with its imaginative concoctions.
3. 7 Brew
Getting your hopped-up beverages to go is something coffee chain 7 Brew understands. That’s why this expansive enterprise has drive-through locations in states from the Central U.S. to the East Coast and throughout the South. In addition to great coffee, kindness and connection are driving forces behind every customer experience.
Tried a lot of this spot's on-menu creations? Then tap into the 7 Brew secret menu for specialty blended treats like a chocolate-covered strawberry-flavored drink and a cold brew that tastes just like angel food cake!
4. Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee is one of the larger coffee chains on the caffeine scene, offering franchises in 19 states to help coffee cravers get their fill. Unlike many other major coffee shop chains, Caribou locations keep a stocked bakery case, providing sweet and savory treats to pair with your cuppa. The brand even branched out into coffee-flavored granola bars in the early 2000s, giving java lovers a chewy confection brimming with authentic Caribou flavor.
5. Peet’s Coffee
First opened in 1966 and owned briefly in the 1980s by the original founders of Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee bills itself as one of the original craft coffee chains. The brand got a boost in 2006 when none other than Oprah Winfrey announced, “Peets is for serious coffee drinkers.” That’s some endorsement! Operating in 11 states as well as globally in some regions of China, Peet’s also supplies home brewers with beans, grounds and pods, all of which are available in grocery stores around the country.
6. Tim Hortons
Situated in several southern and East Coast states, Tim Hortons is a coffee chain that originated in Ontario, Canada before finding an audience in the U.S. Though hot and cold coffee drinks with a splash of sweet creativity are the orders of the house, bite-sized donuts knowns as Timbits have caused something of a sensation that gives added dimension to this cheerful java house while providing a neat treat that’s perfect for dunking.
7. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf started in Southern California in 1963, expanding through the years until it reached a whopping 1,100 locations by 2019. The company’s social conscience and support of charitable causes have made it a star among the coffee chain scene. However, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s greatest claim to fame may be the invention of the iced blended beverage, whipped up by a Westwood, California barista in 1987. How cool is that?
8. Dunkin’ Donuts
Not all major coffee shop chains started out as donut dealers, but Dunkin’ did! After setting the standard for donuts in the U.S., Dunkin’ came full circle by offering drips and lattes to become one of the country’s biggest coffee chains.
With a staggering 9,600 locations and counting, Dunkin’ coffee is popular enough to inspire a food line that includes candy, cereal and creamer, as well as beans and pods for homemade coffee with phenomenal coffee chain personality. The vast number of food items on the Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast menu helps to cement this much-loved brand as the place to go for your early-morning coffee and snacks.
9. Stumptown
With coffee roasted on a daily basis, Stumptown is a boutique coffee chain that gives coffee drinkers in LA, NYC and Portland a reason to wake up early. Unlike larger coffee chains, each location in the Stumptown portfolio has its own unique personality that reflects its community. Anyone who isn’t lucky enough to live near a Stumptown coffee shop can order beans and grounds from the company’s online shop to experience a blissful awakening.
10. Black Rock Coffee Bar
Stationed in states around the West Coast, Black Rock Coffee Bar is the funky younger sibling of the better-known coffee chains in America. It’s also one of the best spots for customizing your drink without having to know the language of coffee!
Familiar favorites are always in the rotation, while creative seasonal flavors come and go with the weather. A standout on the menu: I.V., a supercharged chug boasting 384 milligrams of caffeine — the equivalent of six espressos, with a little vanilla and Irish cream syrup tossed in for flavor.
11. Philz Coffee
You have to love coffee chains like Philz Coffee that are willing to deliver beans to home brewers who can’t find time to step into a brick-and-mortar location. Of course, if you live in California or Chicago, you could always schedule a stop at a physical Philz locale for a caffeine fill-up in real life. To keep your home brewing supplies plentiful, Philz provides subscriptions of beans and grounds that let you stock up without a second thought. If you're happy to veer away from the classics, this coffee chain also serves some unique brews, such as an iced coffee with rose and an oatmeal cookie cold brew.
12. Dunn Brothers Coffee
Texas and the Midwest are home to Dunn Brothers Coffee, a modest coffee chain that serves big-time brew. Small-batch roasting, ethical sourcing and community spirit are key tenets of the Dunn Brothers philosophy.
Since its origin in Minnesota in 1987, this thoughtful coffee chain has been sharing its warmth with a growing clientele that can’t get enough. You’ll even find a breakfast and lunch menu offering small bites to provide a more complete coffee experience.
13. The Human Bean
With 174 locations in 23 states, nearly half the U.S. can pull up a chair for a warming mug at The Human Bean. One of Oregan’s grunge-era coffee chains, The Human Bean launched in 1998 as a tiny drive-through, gradually growing into a charming collection of full-sized coffee shops. Classic coffee and tea creations share the menu with sprightly seasonal sips and a special coffee-free menu dedicated to the littlest sippers in your crew.
14. Biggby Coffee
The mid-1990s saw the introduction of Biggby Coffee onto the Michigan coffee chain landscape. Nearly three decades later, almost 400 locations pepper the U.S., around several Midwestern and Southern states. Colorful brews to get you revved up are available throughout the day, as well as bagel sandwiches and pastries to satisfy your taste for dining on sweet and savory noshes with your thinking juice.
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It's easy to get attached to your favorite coffee spot, no matter what chain name might be stamped on the sign above the door. If you’re feeling adventurous, branching out to a new coffee chain can refresh your options for both food and beverages. Shaking things up can also clue you in on new atmospheres and coffee communities that may be as alluring as a menu filled with all-new magical brews to try.
Of course, if you’re loyal to your long-time go-to coffee chain, you can always check out a different location to start your exploration more slowly. And if you happen to be somewhere other than your own neighborhood and are in dire need of a coffee fix, this handy guide can get you started on your search for your favorite coffee shop home away from home.
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