How Are Drive-Thru Coffee Chains Performing?

Drive-thru coffee chains, such as 7 Brew and Scooter’s, have seen booms in 2026: Between January and August 2026, visits to 7 Brew jumped 41.6% year over year (YoY) compared with a still-healthy 6.1% increase for Scooter's, according to recent research from Placer.ai.

7 Brew has more than 800 locations across 38 states, and Scooter’s has more than 920 locations across 32 states. Their footprints overlap in roughly 30 states.

“Average visits per location increased YoY at both chains, climbing 1.7% at 7 Brew and 3.7% at Scooter’s. In other words, existing stores are also attracting more customers. And although Scooter’s aggregate visit growth is far more modest than 7 Brew’s, its stronger increase in visits per location points to robust momentum within its existing store base,” the foot traffic research firm wrote.

The chains also have similar customer bases. Median household income in both chains’ markets hovered near $75,000, below the nationwide benchmark of $87,3,000.

Notably, hourly visit data reveals a difference between the two brands. “Scooter’s is more firmly rooted in the breakfast occasion, drawing a substantially larger share of its visits in the morning. Its pastries, breakfast foods, espresso and cold-brew lineup make it a natural first stop of the day.”

In the afternoon, the pattern flips: 7 Brew sees a larger share of its traffic between noon and 4 p.m. and again between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Alongside coffee, 7 Brew's menu prominently features its proprietary 7 Energy drinks, flavored sodas, teas, lemonades, smoothies and shakes.

How can c-stores compete with coffee QSRs? At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, October 6-9, the education session “How Convenience Stores Can Win Against QSRs” will discuss how retailers can elevate food offerings through menu innovation, kitchen design and digital integration to meet evolving consumer demands.

Attitudes and behaviors