The Rise of Coffee Shop Drive-Throughs

For years, coffee shops were built around the idea of being a “third place”. Somewhere between home and work where people could slow down, stay awhile, and connect.

That’s still a huge part of coffee culture but we are seeing a major shift.

More customers are choosing speed over seating, convenience over lingering, and routine over ambiance. As a result, drive-through coffee is becoming one of the fastest-growing trends in the industry.

Drive-through Coffee Is Growing Fast

The data is hard to ignore.

According to the National Coffee Association, an all-time high 59% of coffee drinkers who purchased coffee from a store bought it at a drive-through in 2025. That is up from 50% from 2024.

And this is not just happening at the store level.

Google Trends data for the term “coffee drive-through” in the United States shows search interest has steadily surged in recent years.

• Up 32% from 2024 to 2025
• Up another 11% so far in 2026

Looking at the bigger picture, search interest in 2026 is approximately 55% higher than 2021 levels, even though 2021 was still heavily influenced by pandemic-era behavior.

Taken together, the picture is clear: consumers are not simply tolerating drive-through coffee, they are actively seeking it out.

The Big Movers

Some brands are clearly benefiting from this trend more than others.

Two of the biggest standouts are Dutch Bros and 7 Brew, both of which have built their businesses around speed, convenience, and high-volume operations.

Dutch Bros‍

This primarily West Coast brand has spent years building around a convenience-first model: quick service, highly customizable drinks, energetic customer interactions, and a format that fits car-dependent markets especially well.

In 2025, Dutch Bros saw incredible growth

• Opening over 150 locations
• Increasing same store sales by 6%
• Growing total revenue 28%

7 Brew‍

The strongest brand in areas of the Midwest and South, 7 Brew is a coffee stand company that is all about coffee on the go.

In 2025, 7 Brew was able to  

• Increase search interest by 94% from 2024-2025
• Opened up an incredible 280 stands

Does Drive-Through Coffee Work Better in Certain Areas?

Drive-through coffee appears to perform best in suburban and lower-density markets, where car-based commuting, errand traffic, and drive-through friendly real estate make convenience a stronger part of the coffee occasion.

Dense urban markets like New York City and San Francisco are more likely to favor walk-in cafés, mobile pickup, and transit-oriented routines.

Rural areas can also support drive-through coffee in order to appeal to a larger audience from a wider region. However, offering a welcoming dine-in experience can still matter in rural markets, where customers may want a place to rest, work, or socialize before making the trip back home.

Should Independent Coffee Shops Add a Drive-through?

Not every shop needs one. We firmly believe that every independent coffee shop has its own flavor and if it doesn't fit with who you are, then it is better to keep to your identity. That is what makes independent coffee special.

However, coffee owners should ask how they can play into this larger trend of customers wanting better convenience and faster service.

Adding new technology such as online ordering, dedicated pickup shelves, or even just a faster POS workflow can make a big difference in this evolving world of coffee.

Let's wrap this up

The rise of drive-through coffee reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior.

Today’s customers increasingly value speed, convenience, and routine just as much as quality and atmosphere.

For independent coffee shops, the answer may not be to build a drive-through lane.

But the lesson is clear: convenience matters.

‍Sources

• National Coffee Association. National Coffee Data Trends Report, 2025.
• Google Trends. Search interest data for “coffee drive through” in the United States, accessed April 2026.
• Dutch Bros Investor Relations / Annual Reports, 2025 financial and store growth data.
• 7 Brew company growth reports and public announcements, 2025.
• U.S. Census / regional commuting and population density trends used for market-type analysis.