Some of the biggest coffee chains like Starbucks and Dukin’ have had a mixed year in terms of foot traffic in, but no one can deny the big coffee giants are here to stay, though the landscape of the industry does look different compared to previous years as trends continue to shift.
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Coffee chains foot traffic trends 2025
Year on year, coffee chains have experienced a mixed bag with some pulling ahead, like Caribou Coffee seeing an increase of 6.91% in visits, while many others struggle to perform at levels achieved last year.
Most chains saw a decrease in visits in Q1 2025, perhaps due to seasonal trends as consumers turned to other quick service restaraunts way from coffee, but in Q3 consumers have returned to coffee chains in larger numbers compared to 2024.
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Top ten coffee chains
From the first comforting aroma to the enticing world of flavors, coffee chains around the globe have become much more than just a morning ritual—they’ve evolved into cultural icons and business giants.
The top ten coffee chains in the U.S are:
- Starbucks
- Dunkin’
- Tim Hortons
- Caribou Coffee
- Shipley Donuts
- Krispy
- Peet’s Coffee and Tea
- Scooters Coffee and Yogurt
- The Coffee Bean & the Tea Leaf
- PJs Coffee
1. Starbucks
Starbucks has demonstrated a dynamic performance in terms of foot traffic in 2025. In the first quarter, the company experienced a slight dip of 7.57%. However, Starbucks quickly bounced back in the second quarter with an impressive increase of 6.80%, showcasing resilience and strong brand loyalty among its customers.
The upward trend continued into the third quarter, marking a steady growth with a 3.57% rise in foot traffic.
Notably, the Starbucks location in Duluth, GA, located at 3501 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, stands out with a Market Index increase of 3.13%. This indicates the store’s robust ability to outperform the market, with visits soaring by 7.96% year-on-year. These figures highlight Starbucks’ strategic adaptability and customer appeal, even in competitive environments.
Despite a strong performance in Q2 and Q3, Starbucks is down -0.57% visits year on year, meaning some of its competitors are seeing higher growth. But Starbucks appears to be quite stable and overall comfortable in its top position, even as competitors such as Dunkin’ continue to rise.
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2. Dunkin’
Dunkin’ visits increased by +1.89% year on year.
Breaking down the quarterly performance figures, we see a fascinating trend. Despite a challenging start in Q1 2025 with a decline of -9.63%, Dunkin’ managed to reverse its fortunes remarkably.
Q2 witnessed a robust recovery with an increase of +6.84%, followed by a steady +4.18% rise in Q3. These figures suggest a strategic shift or successful marketing initiative that bolstered customer visits in the latter quarters of the year.
Diving deeper into specific markets, the Dunkin’ store located at 505 W State St, Herkimer, NY, emerges as an exemplary performer. The Market Index reflects a significant growth of +6.87%, indicating that this store particularly excelled beyond market expectations. Moreover, the year-on-year visit spike of +12.35% further underscores its success. Such performance could be attributed to various factors, including local consumer loyalty, effective store management, or region-specific promotions.
This analysis exemplifies Dunkin’s resilience and ability to adapt, ensuring robust year-on-year growth in customer visits despite early-quarter setbacks.
3.Tim Hortons
While Tim Hortons has had some challenges this year, it’s important to dissect the numbers for a clearer picture. With over 660 locations across the U.S., the chain has experienced an overall decline in our Chain Index, dropping by -5.15% compared to competitors. Yearly foot traffic shows divergence, with Q1 2025 seeing a significant decline of -17.41%, suggesting potential shortcomings in marketing or customer retention efforts during this quarter.
By Q2, there was a slight recovery, with a less steep decline of -4.52%, indicating potential improvements or adjustments in strategy. However, the third quarter slightly worsened to -5.25%, hinting at ongoing competitive pressures or seasonal fluctuations.
Despite these hurdles, there’s a silver lining. The Tim Hortons location at 3535 Olentangy River Rd in Columbus, OH has bucked the trend. Here, visits have risen by +3.28%, and the market index has increased by +1.75%. This suggests that while the overall brand may be lagging, specific outlets are outperforming their peers. Such data underscores the need for Tim Hortons to analyze these successful stores closely, potentially drawing insights and strategies to replicate their success across more locations.
4.Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee is up +6.91% in visits year on year.
Caribou Coffee’s foot traffic in 2025 has shown varied yet promising dynamics. Despite a slight decline of 2.17% in foot traffic in the first quarter, indicating a potentially slower start, things took a positive turn moving into Q2. Here, Caribou Coffee experienced a significant surge of 11.68%. This substantial increase not only offset the earlier dip but also positioned the brand for continued growth as it moved into the later part of the year.
By Q3, Caribou Coffee maintained its momentum with a 6.85% increase, solidifying its standing within a competitive market. This steady upward trend in the latter quarters showcases Caribou Coffee’s resilience and effective strategies in boosting customer engagement. Whether through innovative offerings or targeted marketing efforts, it’s clear that the brand is capturing the attention of coffee enthusiasts across the nation.
As these year-on-year numbers demonstrate, Caribou Coffee is not just surviving but actively thriving amidst an ever-evolving coffee landscape, drawing in more patrons with each passing quarter. Such performance is indicative of a brand that’s set its sights on exceeding consumer expectations and carving out an influential presence within the industry.
5.Shipley Donuts
Shipley Donuts is down -0.34% in visits year on year.
Like many coffe chains, Shipley saw a drop in traffic year-on-year in Q1, with visits down by -4.64%. This downturn may have been influenced by various factors such as seasonal fluctuations or competitive pressures in the market.
However, Shipley Donuts bounced back in Q2 with a significant increase of +7.93%, a testament to their resilience and possibly effective promotional strategies or product offerings that resonated well with customers. This positive momentum continued into Q3, where the chain saw a further +3.33% boost in foot traffic. This sustained growth suggests an improvement in brand strength and consumer interest after the initial dip.
Despite the mixed results throughout the year, Shipley Donuts’ ability to recover in later quarters highlights the chain’s adaptability in responding to market challenges and customer demands. With these insights, stakeholders can strategize for long-term growth and stability in an ever-competitive coffee and donut segment.
6.Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is down -7.48% in visits year on year.
Krispy Kreme’s year-to-date performance reveals a rollercoaster trend in customer foot traffic during 2025. Starting off the year in Q1 with a significant decline of 19.99%, one can’t help but wonder how this iconic chain aims to turn this challenge into opportunity. Moving into Q2, the chain’s numbers improved slightly yet continued facing headwinds, with visits down 9.85%. This persistent downturn indicates potential hurdles, perhaps due to increased competition or changing consumer preferences towards specialty coffees or alternative breakfast options beyond donuts.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. By Q3, Krispy Kreme demonstrated a notable recovery with an 11.98% increase in foot traffic. This upswing is promising and suggests that the chain might be effectively implementing new strategies to draw customers back, such as menu innovations or promotions. It’s essential to keep an eye on how Krispy Kreme harnesses this positive momentum and adapts its strategies moving forward. Understanding these consumer behavior trends will help you gauge how Krispy Kreme might continue to evolve in the landscape of top coffee chains.
7.Peet’s Coffee and Tea
Peet’s Coffee and Tea is down -2.74% in visits year on year.
With a significant dip of -12.88% in Q1, it’s clear that the year started off with some hurdles, possibly due to consumer spending habits post-holidays or increased competition. However, the second quarter reflects a glimmer of recovery with a modest rise of +0.86%. This small yet positive change indicates a potential shift in customer preferences that Peet’s might want to explore further. Nonetheless, the slight decline of -2.94% in Q3 points to persisting issues in maintaining consistent foot traffic.
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8.Scooter’s Coffee and Yogurt
Scooters is down -0.25% in visits year on year.
Analyzing Scooters’ foot traffic trends, you can observe some fluctuations throughout 2025. In the first quarter, Scooters faced a significant decline with a -12.89% drop, suggesting possibly lower customer visits or external factors impacting performance. However, it turned things around in the second quarter by achieving a positive growth of +3.30%, which indicates a recovery and perhaps effective marketing strategies or promotions being implemented.
Moving into the third quarter, Scooters continued its upward trajectory with a modest gain of +0.73%. This consistent positive growth in the latter quarters signals that Scooters has been able to address challenges and adapt to market demands, albeit with a slower pace than some competitors. Overall, while the year started with setbacks, Scooters showed resilience and a potential return to stability towards the year’s end.
9.The Coffee Bean & the Tea Leaf
The Coffee Bean & the Tea Leaf is down -3.09% year-on-year.
The Coffee Bean & the Tea Leaf’s performance in 2025 reveals a challenging year, with a notable decrease in foot traffic and sales. Despite its historical presence in the coffee industry, the chain is experiencing a series of quarterly declines. In the first quarter, The Coffee Bean & the Tea Leaf faced a substantial dip of -16.03%, indicating a crucial period of reduced customer visits and likely lower sales volume.
By the second quarter, the decline was less severe but still notable at -5.46%. This suggests some adjustments may have been attempted to regain customer interest, though the complete turnaround had not been achieved. Moving into the third quarter, the brand continued to experience pressures, with a -9.42% drop, indicating ongoing competitive challenges. These numbers underscore a persistent struggle to differentiate itself and attract more customers compared to stronger-performing rivals.
For a business perspective, these declines call for strategic enhancements, perhaps a rebranding or innovation in the product offerings, such as seasonal or limited-edition drinks, to capture more market share. Additionally, the implementation of customer loyalty programs or unique promotions could provide an engagement boost and potentially stabilize their performance in upcoming quarters.
10.PJs Coffee
Pjs Coffee is down in -1.39% in visits year in year. When looking at PJ’s Coffee’s foot traffic in 2025, it’s clear there have been some fluctuations throughout the year.
After a significant drop of -13.62% in the first quarter, they bounced back with a slight increase of +1.47% in the second quarter. However, the third quarter saw another slight decline of -0.64%. Overall, this resulted in a year-over-year decrease of -1.39% in visits. The mixed results indicate fluctuations in consumer behavior, suggesting that external factors could be influencing these trends.
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Top coffee chains FAQS
What’s the largest coffee chain in America?
Starbucks takes the crown as the largest coffee chain in America, with over 15,000 locations spread across 52 states. Its expansive network ensures that whether you’re in bustling cities or quiet towns, a Starbucks is never too far away, making it a staple in the daily routine of countless Americans.
What’s the biggest coffee chain in the world?
Starbucks holds the title of the biggest coffee chain in the world. With over 40,000 locations worldwide and more than 15,000 in the U.S alone, an annual revenue of $32.3 billion (2022), Starbucks is at the forefropnt of the global coffee industry.
Which coffee chain is the cheapest?
For cheap coffee, Americans turn to fast food chains such as Burger King, Dunkiun’ Donuts, and McDonalds for an affordable drink. Some of the largest chains offer coffee that is under $3, including Burger King which offers a small iced coffee for $1.99, but this may vary depending on location.
Who sells the most coffee in the US?
Starbucks sells the most coffee in the U.S with an annual revenue of $36.2 billion in 2024. It’s closest competitor is Dunkin’ Donuts.
Which coffee brand is the oldest?
One of the oldest coffee brands in the world is Dutch company Douwe Egberts, which got its start in 1752 in the Netherlands.
The first coffee house in the world was established in Kiva Han in Istanbul around the 14th or 15th century.
The first official American coffeehouse was established in October 1676 in Boston, MA by John Sparry.
