# What are the main cafes right now in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799 "2025-03-19T00:05:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/101 "2025-03-19T15:30:18Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > That’s fair. But if I were somewhere unfamiliar and asked for the closest coffee shop, I would be entirely unsurprised if someone directed me to Dunkin’ or Tim Hortons. See, and while I equate “coffeeshop” with “cafe,” I don’t think of Dunkin or Tim Hortons as coffee shops. They’re donut shops that serve coffee, as all donut shops do. So, yeah, there’s a wide range of meanings for these words. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/102 "2025-03-19T15:35:18Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Growing up a Gen Xer in the 1970s and 1980s, coffee was something that our parents and grandparents drank. It was bitter, and nasty, and we couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to drink it. I knew virtually no one in my age cohort who drank coffee even occasionally, much less regularly. Yep, same. I was born in 1967. Never drank coffee in high school. I also didn’t drink it in college, and neither did most of my friends. I first started drinking it in the mid 1990s, and made it at home. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/103 "2025-03-19T15:47:15Z")
They started at donut shops but, it seems to me that most of what they sell today is coffee. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/104 "2025-03-19T16:03:08Z")
Hard for me to disagree there. Maybe it’s cuz I’m middle-aged, I just don’t think of them as “coffee shops,” though they are certainly in competition for business that Starbucks does, so I suppose they should be in the same category. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/105 "2025-03-19T16:06:42Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Is Panera still a thing anywhere? There are 3 Panera’s, 3 Dunkins’, and 3 Starbucks within 5 miles of my house (in Florida). I go to Dunkin’ once in a while, but rarely to the other two. Also have 5 Publix’s within the same distance, but they don’t sell hot coffee. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/106 "2025-03-19T16:13:45Z")
There are still places I pass through with mediocre cell service. And I live in a major urban area. In rural areas it’s easy to find places that still have zero cell service. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/107 "2025-03-19T16:33:19Z")
I’m partial to Peet’s since my girlfriend of 18 years and I had our first date at the one in Harvard Square. There’s a chain in the Boston area called Cafe Nero, but I haven’t been in, since I tend to boycott establishments named after ruthless tyrants whose specialty was martyring Christians. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/108 "2025-03-19T16:41:50Z")
In the days before Starbucks a “coffee shop” meant a restaurant like the one Pumpkin and Honeybunch try to rob in Pulp Fiction. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/109 "2025-03-19T17:15:27Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Dunkin’ only branded itself “America’s Coffee Shop” when it decided to directly compete with Starbucks. And, ultimately leading to dropping the “Donuts” word from their corporate name and logo. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/110 "2025-03-19T17:33:24Z")
I’m in New England. We have seven or eight Dunkin’s (two of which are in convenience stores) in town or just over the line into neighbouring towns, two Starbucks (one of which is in a supermarket),and I think two McD’s selling their McCafe product, which I’ve never sampled. There used to be a Bess Eaton – we went there for coffee and Dunkin’ for doughnuts – but it went away. Then we had a Tim Hortons – same deal as with Bess Eaton – but it went away, too, when the company closed all of its shops in CT, MA and RI. (Can’t remember if Timmy’s opened before or after Bess Eaton closed.) ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/111 "2025-03-19T17:47:49Z")
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I’ve noticed a lot of Dutch Bros. being built in my area and they are 100% drive-through, to the point where the brand new local one has installed shade sails covering the very long drive-through line. A very long drive-through line leading up to a small shack where the coffee is handed out. Doesn’t seem like any definition of a cafe to me. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > > Dunkin’ only branded itself “America’s Coffee Shop” when it decided to directly compete with Starbucks. > > And, ultimately leading to dropping the “Donuts” word from their corporate name and logo. To me Dunkin will always be a donut shop - any time I need to get up extra early I’ll get out of bed and say “It’s time to make the donuts…” ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/112 "2025-03-19T17:57:09Z")
When I moved to New England from The South I was surprised to find that Dunkin Donuts was considered a coffee shop rather than a bakery-confectionery. In the 20+ years since then they’ve taken the coffee-centric repositioning national. But apparently it started in New England a few years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/113 "2025-03-19T19:46:30Z")
The one that surprised me was > **[Sheetz Drinks](https://www.sheetz.com/drink)** > > The Official Sheetz website - Family owned convenience store since 1952. > Made-To-Order® food and beverages 24/7/365. Was my go to for good coffee and I’m a coffee snob Wonderful machines and even single origin choice. I could fill the bike up with fuel and take a break under their umbrellas with great coffee and a snack. ☕ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/114 "2025-03-19T19:59:50Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > They started at donut shops but, it seems to me that most of what they sell today is coffee. The ones I’m most familiar with hardly have any donuts these days; one shares its storefront with a Baskin-Robbins. Grocery stores now have a larger selection of donuts on their donut racks than those Dunkins. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/115 "2025-03-19T20:06:48Z")
Independent donut shops owned and run by Cambodian immigrants drove Dunkin’ from California 30 or more years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/116 "2025-03-19T20:07:00Z")
If Sheetz convenience stores are a common source of coffee, I wonder how common 7-11 coffee is? Has anyone broken down the out-of-house coffee market by café/fast food chain/convenience store/etc? ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/117 "2025-03-19T20:12:29Z")
I must live and work in coffee deserts. No Starbucks or Dunkin are around for miles around. There are other establishments catering to us but they’re all the kind that card the customers. Personally I like making instant coffee with chocolate as improvised mochas but those are always homemade. I also like coffee enough to swallow instant out of a packet sans hot water. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/118 "2025-03-19T20:20:13Z")
Sheetz is a localized market but growing…not comparable to 7-11. They are pretty unique and wonderfully located in riuding areas like Allegheny that ARE coffee deserts. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/119 "2025-03-19T21:57:19Z")
Before this thread, I always associated the word “cafe” with a place serving food rather than a place serving coffee (and I assumed that the word “cafe” was closely related to the word “cafeteria.”) And, yes, when I was younger, I never knew of any places that existed mainly just to serve coffee (as Starbucks does). ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799/120 "2025-03-19T22:21:57Z")
in fairness, their espresso drinks were good, and cheaper than Starbucks [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-main-cafes-right-now-in-the-us/1015799.md?page=7)