Starbucks vs. Dutch Bros: Who’s on Top?

Coffee QSRs Starbucks and Dutch Bros are both growing at different rates, each pursuing distinct, differing strategies, research firm Placer.ai wrote in a recent report.

“Starbucks, the legacy leader, is focused on revitalizing its established brand. Dutch Bros, the newer, fast-growing entrant, is expanding its footprint and building brand awareness. And AI-powered location analytics suggest that both approaches appear to be working,” the firm wrote.

On one hand, Dutch Bros is driving traffic through a massive expansion plan, a drive-thru–focused model and ongoing menu innovation. Meanwhile, Starbucks’ “Back to Starbucks” plan centers on closing underperforming stores, re-creating Starbucks as a “third place” and simplifying operations. Placer.ai noted that both chains may also be benefiting from the current consumer headwinds driving demand for affordable treats, with year-over-year (YoY) same-store visits up every month of the past six months.

Over the past two full quarters (Q4 2025 and Q1 2026) Starbucks’ overall traffic and average visits per venue increased 4.9% to 5.9% compared to the previous year.

At the same time, Dutch Bros’ rapid expansion is translating into “strong top-line traffic growth,” with overall visits rising at a double-digit pace throughout 2025 and into early 2026. Quarterly gains ranged from 12.3% to 17.9% year over year as the brand entered new markets.

Placer.ai also noted that average visits per location at Dutch Bros have remained relatively stable, suggesting that new store openings are not significantly cannibalizing existing units.

“The key question going forward will be whether these gains can be sustained as macro pressures persist and competition intensifies,” Placer.ai wrote.