This Brand Has Been Called The Fastest-Growing Coffee Chain For Years. Have You Heard Of It?

There's a lot of competition in the world of coffee, with numerous top-notch coffee roasters in America. But the market is changing, with up-and-coming coffee brands replacing tried-and-true conventional coffee shops, challenging the once-dominant shops' sales and growth. One particular coffee shop brand is leading the way as the fastest-growing new coffee chain.

7 Brew is a growing coffee chain that's stealing Starbucks fans. Located mainly in the southern and midwestern U.S. and based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, 7 Brew is currently the leading coffee chain in both growth and traffic. In the third quarter of 2025, 7 Brew experienced an 80.4% increase in traffic paired with a growth 19.4% rise in visits to its existing drive-thru locations, showing that loyal customers keep coming back. For perspective, at the same time, visits to coffee chain locations grew by a modest 1.4%, while the QSR (quick service restaurant) industry fell by 2.9%. 7 Brew has become the fastest-growing coffee chain for a few years, adding 141 locations and growing sales by 163% in 2024. This all happened at a time when many other restaurants struggled to bring in customers, so what caused the chain's sudden popularity?

Many customers are changing the way they choose which coffee shops to visit, with drive-thru coffee shop brands and those with drive-thru options leading the way. In the third quarter of 2025, San Diego-based Better Buzz Coffee roasters grew by 72.3%, Florida's Foxtail Coffee grew by 46.8%, and Ellianos Coffee, also from Florida, grew by 21.5%. At the same time, once-leading brands such as Starbucks and Dunkin' ranked near the bottom in both sales and store growth, with Starbucks posting a -0.5% decline in sales in 2024. This may reflect a change in what customers are seeking in their coffee-buying experience. Convenience, menu innovation, and customization are top concerns for many, though traditional dine-in coffee visits — like those we see at the shops on our list of the best coffee shop in every state — still hold appeal.

There are other facets of the 7 Brew coffee shop experience that customers enjoy. 7 Brew has an expansive menu, offering numerous customizable options that allow for 20,000 unique drinks, including sugar-free beverages. The menu includes the 7 original coffee drinks, in addition to energy drinks, teas, smoothies, shakes, and fizzy drinks, with a wide variety of flavor syrups. This variety is part of what keeps people coming back. Customers on Reddit also praise the friendly baristas: "The people make the difference. I've never had a bad people experience there. Everyone is engaged and seems like they enjoy being there." Others mention the robust rewards program and note that 7 Brew drinks are often less expensive than comparable Starbucks beverages. The chain's devoted following highlights how 7 Brew has carved out a unique spot in the competitive coffee market.