Vote now! Readers' Choice Awards Best Drive-Thru Coffee Chains of 2026

What’s your go-to drive-thru coffee order? We want to hear about the places that keep you coming back even if you’re running late. The concoctions are so addicting you won’t dare add up how much you’ve spent this month, let alone this year.

Before we name a winner in this round of the Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked our trusted experts to look at the full national landscape, and they picked 15 drive-thrus worth recognizing.

Now, it’s your turn to cast your vote and tell us exactly why they deserve the #1 spot.

Voting period ends on Nov. 4, 2026. We'll announce the winners on Nov. 12.

Vote for the best drive-thru coffee chains!

Nominee #1. 7 Brew Coffee

Everyone’s been loving 7 Brew Coffee since it popped up for its speed, customization, and drive-thru-only format, as evidenced by its rapid expansion across the country. Our panel is wildly impressed by how the chain has grown to more than 750 locations since its 2017 debut, representing one of the fastest-rising trends in drive-thru coffee.

Founded in Rogers, Arkansas, 7 Brew operates exclusively through modular, dual-lane drive-thru stands and offers an extensive menu with what the company says are more than 20,000 drink combinations spanning coffee, espresso, energy drinks, and flavored beverages.

Nominee #2. Aroma Joe’s

New England has no shortage of coffee options, but Aroma Joe’s carved out its own lane with a menu that balances craft espresso beverages and proprietary AJ’s Rush energy drinks. That combination has helped build a loyal base of morning commuters, no matter which end of the sweet stuff you might prefer.

Founded in New Hampshire in 2000, the chain now spans more than 135 locations across eight states, with a concentration in the Northeast. Aroma Joe’s strong regional identity keeps people coming back—it feels like a New England brand in a way that national competitors can’t replicate.

Nominee #3. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii

Despite the name, this brand reaches well beyond the islands. Born on the Big Island in 1989, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii has expanded to more than 45 locations across the mainland, bringing Hawaiian-grown coffee to a national audience.

The menu leans into the brand’s island roots, offering drinks centered on Hawaiian coffee varieties, including premium Kona blends, as well as standard espresso and blended options. This might be the only way to get a taste of Hawaii with just your car.

Nominee #4. Beans & Brews Coffeehouse

High-altitude roasting is the specialty at Beans & Brews Coffeehouse. Founded in Salt Lake City in 1993, the chain has grown to more than 85 locations across seven states, with more than 100 additional units in development. The brand credits its High-Altitude Roasting process—roasting at the lowest possible temperature for the shortest possible time—for its smooth, intense flavor.

It’s a deep-rooted Mountain West favorite—the kind of regional brand that locals rely on daily and that visitors tend to remember after a road trip through the area. Holding steady for more than three decades in a competitive market, without sacrificing what makes the coffee distinctive, says a lot about the product's consistency.

Nominee #5. BigFoot Java

Pull up, order your coffee, get back on the road. BigFoot Java serves customers at more than 30 drive-thru coffee stands in Western Washington and delivers what amounts to the classic Pacific Northwest coffee stand experience: no parking, no going inside, just a quick handoff through the window.

The menu covers espresso drinks, blended beverages, and drip coffee, and the format is deliberately no-frills. Our panel specifically mentioned that, when you pull up, it has a local feel that the giant companies can’t match.

Nominee #6. Black Rock Coffee Bar

A drinks-first menu in a drive-thru world full of food add-ons. Black Rock Coffee Bar started as a 100-square-foot coffee stand in Beaverton, Oregon, in 2008 and has since expanded to more than 200 locations across seven states, adding some walk-in café spaces along the way.

Alongside craft espresso and drip coffee, the menu features proprietary Fuel energy drinks and teas, while food stays limited to a few sweet bites. Why? So the focus can remain on the drinks. That’s a dedication to quality we can certainly appreciate.

Nominee #7. City Brew Coffee

If you’ve driven through Montana, Wyoming, or the Dakotas, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a City Brew Coffee. Founded in Billings, Montana, in 1998, the brand has grown to more than 30 locations across those four states and carries a distinctly western identity while roasting in only small batches.

The coffee is robust enough to hold its own against much larger competitors moving into the same markets. That sense of place gives every location a character that a national franchise would struggle to manufacture. Several of the experts who nominated City Brew specifically called out how well the coffee pairs with the region's no-nonsense, road-trip-ready vibe.

Nominee #8. Dutch Bros Coffee

The lines can stretch down the block, but they tend to move fast—and the people in them keep coming back regardless. Dutch Bros Coffee has grown from its Oregon roots into one of the most recognized drive-thru coffee brands in the country, with more than 1,200 locations concentrated in the West and Sun Belt.

Dutch Bros is known for a high-energy service style. Its employees, called Broistas, are a central part of the brand and bring that energy to a menu of customizable espresso drinks, cold brews, and proprietary energy beverages.

Nominee #9. Gravity Coffee

Most drive-thru coffee kiosks look more or less the same from the road. Gravity Coffee might spark your interest before you even see what’s on the menu.

Gravity Coffee serves roughly 26 locations with futuristic, eye-catching stand designs that double as brand statements. And the menu offers specialty cold brews, espresso blends, custom energy drink infusions, and smoothies.

It's a smaller operation, but the identity is sharp. Gravity leans hard into design and drink creativity in a market increasingly dominated by larger franchises.

Nominee #10. Moka Coffee

Artisan café quality in a Midwest drive-thru is the gap Moka Coffee fills. Operating 19 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and sourcing coffee from a small, family-run roaster, Moka Coffee aims to bring a level of intentionality you’d normally associate with a sit-down or specialty shop.

The Midwest has historically had fewer specialty drive-thru options than the Pacific Northwest or the Sun Belt, and Moka is changing that. The craft approach translates surprisingly well to a quick-service format, and the fact that the chain is doing it in an underserved region makes the impact that much more noticeable.

Nominee #11. Red Owl Coffee Company

Drive-thru coffee culture is still developing in the Southeast compared to the Pacific Northwest, and Red Owl Coffee Company is helping build it. Since 2016, the chain has grown to 22 locations across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. With a model built around premium specialty drinks, smoothie bowls, and a hospitality-forward service approach, customers can get far more than a simple hot coffee at the window. Blended and health-oriented options are also available.

The Southeast’s growing appetite for drive-thru specialty drinks gives the chain real room to expand, and we’re excited to see its growth.

Nominee #12. Scooter’s Coffee

Founded in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1998, Scooter’s Coffee has grown to more than 900 locations across 32 states and become one of the largest drive-thru coffee operations in the country. The format is built around ultra-compact kiosks designed for fast turnaround.

Its menu centers on espresso drinks, smoothies, and its signature Caramelicious latte.

Nebraska roots and a Midwest-first growth strategy give Scooter’s a distinct identity in a field where most major competitors originated in the Pacific Northwest. The trajectory from heartland startup to a 900-plus-unit national chain is a story in itself, and the compact kiosk model has proven remarkably scalable—even as the company has expanded into regions already saturated with drive-thru competition.

Nominee #13. The Human Bean

The Human Bean has grown to roughly 185 locations, with double-sided drive-thru efficiency, meaning lanes on both sides of each stand. Long lines here move twice as fast (at least in theory). Founded in Ashland, Oregon, in 1998, The Human Bean is known for friendly service and a small signature touch: a chocolate-covered espresso bean placed on top of drinks.

Its coffee-first menu of espresso drinks, cold brews, and blended beverages has built a quiet, loyal following instead of generating hype. We want to recognize the small, meaningful details they’re putting in.

Nominee #14. Tim Hortons

A Canadian institution with a growing U.S. presence, Tim Hortons offers a straightforward menu of coffee, tea, baked goods, and breakfast items at accessible price points. Best known for consistently brewed drip coffee and quick service, Tim Hortons wins fans by getting them a dependable cup at a reasonable price without a lengthy wait.

While the brand is most closely associated with Canada, its U.S. footprint has grown to more than 600 locations, concentrated in border states and select metro areas.

Nominee #15. Ziggi’s Coffee

Family-friendly in a category that often skews toward energy drinks and early-morning crowds, Ziggi’s Coffee has carved out a niche since opening in Longmont, Colorado, in 2004. Now at more than 100 locations, the chain designs drink sizes and flavors to accommodate the whole household (or car). Options include handcrafted specialty coffees, blender drinks, and kid-friendly beverages.

Even when everyone in the car orders a drink, Ziggi’s keeps the wait short. It’s a place you can treat the family to on road trips or weekend mornings, unlike places that only have adult-friendly options.

Vote for the best drive-thru coffee chains!

Our Experts

Susan Lanier-Graham

Lanier-Graham is an award-winning food, wine, and travel writer with more than three decades of experience exploring destinations around the world. She has visited luxury resorts, boutique properties, and hidden gems across six continents, bringing a discerning eye to every stay. As publisher of Wander With Wonder, she leads an award-winning digital publication that inspires readers to discover exceptional travel experiences. Her work blends firsthand insight with a passion for storytelling, offering trusted recommendations on where to stay, dine, and explore. Susan’s expertise helps travelers confidently choose destinations that transform trips into unforgettable, experience-rich journeys.

Joelle Machia

Joelle Machia is a travel writer, podcaster, photographer, and co-founder of Wanderers Compass, a multi-platform travel brand dedicated to immersive, culturally respectful storytelling. As a United Nations ECOSOC Representative and award-winning content creator, she focuses on sharing deeper travel experiences that go beyond the surface. Through Wanderers Compass, Joelle produces destination guides, long-form articles, a digital magazine, and a podcast that explores history, culture, food, and local communities.

Reviewed Editors & Experts

Reviewed editors and experts have hard-earned insight from a broad range of backgrounds, and our nomination panel includes independent researchers, subject matter experts, and editorial team members. We provide unbiased, experiential editorial coverage on products, brands, and companies across the U.S.