Coffee shops and cafes in the U.S. - statistics & facts
America has its own unique coffee culture. Often associated more with speed and quantity, it has become the perfect environment for quick service coffee shop and cafe chains to thrive. Considering a majority of Americans drink coffee every day, it comes as no surprise that coffee shops and cafes are a major driver of the U.S. economy. In 2024, the market size of the coffee and snack shop sector in the U.S. exceeded 68 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the industry boasted around 77,500 businesses and 900,000 employees that same year.
While the United States may be a relative newcomer to the coffee world compared to other coffee-loving nations like Turkey, Italy, and Ethiopia, it has certainly made an impact on the global stage. With its passionate coffee drinkers and big-name brands, the coffee shop market in the U.S. looks to remain piping hot.
What is the biggest U.S. coffee shop chain?
The U.S. coffee shop market is extremely competitive, with a wide variety of brands vying for consumer attention. However, one brand surpasses the rest by a large margin, not only in the U.S. but also globally. Starbucks’ net revenue reached nearly 30 billion of U.S. dollars in 2023, and the company ranked as the second-most valuable quick service restaurant brand globally in 2024. This made Starbucks the biggest coffee shop chain not only in U.S., but also in the world. In terms of the actual number of Starbucks stores in the U.S., the company had over 16,000 establishments across the country in 2023. However, the Seattle-based chain is far from the only coffee shop in the U.S., competitors include brands like Dunkin’ and Tim Hortons, not to mention the many independent stores.How popular is coffee in the U.S.?
Coffee shops and cafes often fall under the quick service category. But how does coffee compare to other varieties of fast food? A 2023 survey found that coffee and snacks were the fourth most frequently ordered fast food type in the United States. Pizza, in contrast, took the top spot. While most consumers drink coffee every day, either at home or in a coffee shop, the share of Americans that ordered from coffee and snack shops more than once a week amounted to almost 40 percent in 2023.While the United States may be a relative newcomer to the coffee world compared to other coffee-loving nations like Turkey, Italy, and Ethiopia, it has certainly made an impact on the global stage. With its passionate coffee drinkers and big-name brands, the coffee shop market in the U.S. looks to remain piping hot.
