8 Lesser-Known Coffee Chains That Are Way Better Than Starbucks

If you can’t start your day without your morning cup of coffee, you’re in good company. According to the National Coffee Association, 67% of Americans drink coffee every day. For many of us coffee drinkers, Starbucks is our go-to coffee shop. It’s convenient and familiar with a wide array of options no matter what type of coffee you prefer.

However, when you start to visit some other coffee chains, you’ll probably realize there are a lot of coffee shops that are preferable to Starbucks. If you’re looking for something new to try, check out these lesser-known coffee chains that are better than Starbucks.

Peet’s Coffee

Even if you’ve never been to one of their coffee shops, you’ve likely seen Peet’s Coffee beans in your local grocery store. Peet’s Coffee has actually been around longer than Starbucks, which didn’t open its first store until 1971.

Craft coffee since 1966

Peet’s Coffee has been around since 1966 and even though they’re most known for their coffee beans, they also have coffee shops across the world. There are currently over 300 Peet’s Coffee locations in the United States. They also have locations in China and Dubai.

Dutch Bros

Dutch Bros Coffee has been around since 1992 and even though it started as a small pushcart in Grants Pass, Oregon, the business has grown significantly since then. There are now over 950 Dutch Bros locations in the United States.

Known for their lattes

There’s a reason Dutch Bros Coffee is known for its lattes — the two founders of Dutch Bros left the dairy business to open a coffee business. If there’s one thing you can count on when visiting a Dutch Bros location, it’s an incredible latte.

Scooter’s Coffee

What started as a small drive-through coffee shop in Nebraska has now grown into 800 stores nationwide. This coffee shop has a wide range of beverages and is known for their delicious Caramelicious espresso drink.

Known for their quick service

Scooter’s Coffee was started in Nebraska but now has stores in 29 different states across the US. All of the Scooter’s locations are drive-through only and they’re known for their quick service and a customer’s ability to “scoot in and out.”

Caribou Coffee

Caribou Coffee has been around since 1992 but has now grown to hundreds of locations in the US. This coffee shop prioritizes using high-quality and ethically sourced coffee beans. Their beans are Rainforest Alliance-certified and are always made fresh, in small batches.

A growing coffee chain

Caribou Coffee locations can now be found all over the country. Not only do they have an extensive menu of coffee drinks and other beverages, they also have a wide array of pastries and other treats in their bakery section.

La Columbe

If you’re familiar with La Columbe, it might be because of their delicious, frothy ready-to-drink coffee beverages. However, La Columbe also has brick-and-mortar stores in numerous states with over 30 locations nationwide.

More than ready-to-drink coffee

La Columbe’s ready-to-drink coffee beverages are delicious, but they can’t compare to the fresh drinks at their cafes. La Columbe cafes have a true coffee shop aesthetic and a menu filled with espresso drinks made with top-quality coffee beans.

Stumptown Coffee

If you don’t have a Stumptown Coffee near you, you can probably still find their high-quality coffee beans in a local grocery store. At Stumptown Coffee, their beans are roasted daily and their cafes feature a full espresso bar. You can also order their coffee online and have it shipped to you.

Offers top-quality beans

One of the best things about Stumptown Coffee is the quality of their coffee beans. They have an incredibly thorough process for sourcing their coffee beans and according to their website, their roasting team has a collective 121 years of experience. They currently only have locations in Los Angeles, Portland, and NYC. However, you can find their coffee in retail stores all over the country.

Intelligentsia

If you’re browsing online forums about the best coffee shops, you’ll almost always see Intelligentsia mentioned there. This coffee shop has some of the best coffee out of any cafe in the country.

Freshly roasted coffee

On the back of every bag of Intelligentsia coffee beans, it says, “Great coffee is not the result of chance.” Intelligentsia is another coffee shop that prioritizes having the highest quality coffee beans. In their coffee bars, you’ll find a relatively simple menu with a selection of drip coffees, espresso drinks, and tea.

Kaldi’s Coffee

Kaldi’s Coffee is a speciality coffee based out of St. Louis. The first Kaldi’s location opened in 1994 and there are now 18 locations across Missouri and Atlanta. The coffee chain is still growing and will continue to expand in the future.

Rated #1 Coffee Chain in the US

Even though Kaldi’s Coffee has only been around for 30 years, it has quickly become a favorite among coffee-lovers in the US. Kaldi’s Coffee may be a lesser-known coffee shop compared to big chains like Starbucks, but this past year, USA Today rated Kaldi’s Coffee as the #1 coffee chain in the US. Their menu includes a wide range of espresso-based drinks and according to USA Today, it’s the perfect place to grab an Americano.

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