In the world of coffee, a new player it’s giving a lot to talk about in the United States. The name is 7 Brew, a chain that started in 2017 in Arkansas and that has grown surprisingly thanks to its concept of drive-thru coffee shops (self-service). The objective was the same since the beginning “A fun and surprising experience for everyone” with “premium coffee,” according to its founders.
They launched 7 original drinks: Blondie, Brunette, Smooth 7, Cinnamon Roll, White Chocolate Mocha, German Chocolate and Sweet & Salty, which gave the brand a name.
Today, 7 Brew is competing with giants like Starbucks, Dunkin’ and Dutch Bros.
A model that is captivating the nation
What’s started as a local little business in Arkansas have become a success story that give an example to the modern commercial expansion. The chain has opened and celebrated its 500th store and it’s planning to open 160 more this year. Thank to an alliance with Flynn Group, a company with more than 2,900 franchises in different sectors. Its new division, Flynn Growth, leads the growth strategy: ”We are convinced that 7 Brew offers an unprecedented growth trajectory in the beverage sector,” explained Lauren Leahy, director of transformation at Flynn Group.
And the growth is real, according to data from Restaurant Dive, the chain went up 50% their local numbers in the first 10 months in 2025, and it as signed several franchise agreements recently. One of the most outstanding was the acquisition of 7Crew Enterprises—that was operating more than 50 shops in Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas—by Franchise Equity Partners (FEP).
After the purchase, FEP announced that they will open another 200 additional stores under the 7 Brew brand, thus expanding its national presence.
The support of big investors
The quick growth of 7 Brew is not a coincidence, the company have been attracting big investor like Drink House Holdings and Blackstone since the beginning, and in 2020 and 2024 they became indeed majority shareholders. They financial support helped the brand build their drive-thru coffeeshops grid, improve performance and keep their prices to be able to compete with the big bosses of coffee in America.
In social media, coffee fans continue to cheer for the brand: “Cheaper than Dunkin’ [and] better than Starbucks”, an user wrote. Another commented: “I love 7 Brew coffee, they’re amazing! I wanna try more of their stuff.” And a third added: “Exactly why I switched to 7 Brew. Consistency!”
The crazy digital excitement show how good the strategy is working, they promise quick attention, a positive environment and a good taste; and they are delivering it. 7 Brew not only sells coffee, they sell an experience that customers associate with energy, sympathy and wanting to come back.
Time is everything nowadays
The way coffee is getting consuming on the United States might be changing. Big brands like Starbucks and Dunkin’ have been leading the market for decades but the arrival of 7 Brew is fresh, fast and cheaper. And today that something Americans value: time and money!
With recent inflation and Trumps tariffs, coffeeshops are not having it easy: prices have gone up and people rather drink it at home to safe some money. Thus, the success of 7 Brew shouldn’t be taken for granted. They have managed to not only become a big contestant in the coffee competitions but also to keep pushing commercial expansion.
While opening new locations in Florida, New York and Texas, 7 Brew continues to gain ground against competitors such as Dutch Bros. Constancy, energy, good vibes and great prices: that seems to be the secret behind the success of 7 Brew, and if it continues that way, will be the example for new models to come.