8 Growing Coffee Chains That Will Take Over in 2026

We’ll let you in on a little secret here: Americans? They really like coffee. Okay, so you may be hearing sarcasm from here, but you might be surprised how much people in the United States enjoy this drink. According to data collected by Dig Insights on behalf of the National Coffee Association (or NCA), two out of three American adults drink coffee each day, making it a more popular choice than bottled water. What’s more, the NCA has also observed that specialty coffee is on the rise, with more people mixing up their caffeine fix and opting for more interesting, unique options filled with unconventional ingredients and flavors.

Clearly, people can’t get enough coffee, and they want more from their drink—so it’s no surprise that most chains have stepped up to offer java fans plenty of options. The coffee industry has never been busier, it seems, and the days are numbered for influential chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’, with rising stars like 7 Brew, Dutch Bros, and Black Rock Coffee Bar taking center stage. Elsewhere, smaller names like Bad Ass Coffee and Aroma Joe’s are set to make their mark. These chains and more will be everywhere in 2026, and we’ve got them all here.

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7 Brew’s growth is remarkable to say the least. In 2021, this coffee chain had only 14 locations across the United States, and within a few years, that number grew more than 30 times, now boasting more than 500 units and stealing the spotlight from Starbucks in the process. Throughout 2025, its momentum seems unstoppable, and it especially strengthened its business with a series of canny deals towards the end of the year. In September, it announced that a majority stake had been acquired by Franchise Equity Partners, which CEO Kendra Burris said would accelerate expansion, according to Global Coffee Report. Then, a month later, the coffee chain said it had reached a 160-store deal with Flynn Group, the world’s largest franchise group, to supercharge the brand.

Heading into 2026, 7 Brew looks poised to take over. The coffee concept has hundreds of new stores planned over the next few years, and many scheduled for 2026 have already broken ground. 7 Brew is expected to open new locations in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with the latter unit located in Milwaukee, marking the chain’s first branch in the city. If we had to bet, we’d put money on more announcements throughout 2026.

You don’t call your chain Bad Ass Coffee unless you’re sure customers feel the same way — and based on how 2026 is shaping up for the brand, we think they do. The Hawaiian coffee chain has been around since 1989, but it’s really only been in the last few years that it’s finally found its focus. In 2020, it underwent a significant relaunch, with the intention of transforming it into a true industry disruptor. This rework seems to have paid off, big-time: Throughout 2025, it opened several new stores and signed several new franchise agreements, targeting key markets on the mainland in the process.

Heading into 2026, these deals and its expansion ambitions look set to pay off, as Bad Ass Coffee lays some serious groundwork for the next few years. The chain is opening new locations in Kentucky, Colorado, South Carolina and Las Vegas. These new stores are far from the only ones planned, with others in its new franchise agreements either set to open after 2026 or still unannounced. Going forward, it looks like Bad Ass Coffee will have a growing presence in the continental US

Aroma Joe may not be the biggest coffee chain out there, but give it a few years, and that could all change. The chain is currently focused exclusively on the East Coast, with more than 120 locations in eight different states, including a significant foothold in its home state of Maine. 2025 was a big year for the brand, during which it reported significant momentum and a host of store openings, with eight new units in operation as of mid-August.

2026 could be its biggest year yet. The franchise model that Aroma Joe uses focuses on rapid building and helping franchisees get their businesses up and running, allowing the brand to both push into existing markets and set its sights on new ones. It appears poised to continue opening new stores in Maine, along with a growing presence in places like New Hampshire. Longer-term, Aroma Joe has its sights set on the Southeast, and development is planned in states like Georgia and the Carolinas. Dave Tucci, president and COO of Aroma Joe’s, told Franchising Magazine USA that his company currently projects 500 stores on the East Coast, which speaks to its ambitions as a brand — and if the momentum keeps up, it could be even bigger than that.

The name on everyone’s lips is set to be Dutch Bros – if it isn’t already. The coffee chain has come a long way from its humble pushcart origins and has grown in rank over the past few years, going from 500 stores in 2021 to over 1,000 by the end of 2025. This now makes it one of the biggest players in the country, and it could emerge as a star in the next few years. Dutch Brothers achieved this wild growth through a combination of an agile business model, focusing on drive-thru and walk-up sales rather than creating a cafe experience, and cultivating a distinct company culture that made the prospect attractive to customers.

With the kind of growth the brand is experiencing, you’d be foolish to think its 2026 will be anything less than extraordinary. QSR reports that Dutch Bros. plans to open a whopping 175 stores by the end of the year, increasing its unit stock by nearly 20%. By 2029, it is expected to exceed 2,000. It is revolutionizing its offering for customers in 2026, taking its breakfast menu nationwide, which will undoubtedly increase the number of people coming through its doors. With a healthy checkbook and wind in its sails, Dutch Bros looks set to stay in everyone’s good graces.

Paris Baguette has had a great 10 years, and it’s not over yet. The global chain first began franchising in the U.S. in 2015, and since then, it has grown to boast nearly 260 locations across the country, with nearly 70 opening their doors in 2025 alone. It is also on a near-historic run of comparable sales growth, seeing its 19th consecutive quarter of higher sales in November 2025.

Going into 2026, it looks like this concept is going to grow even more. The French-themed bakery chain currently has more than 100 stores in development, and hundreds of new franchise deals after 2025. It aims to open about 150 stores by 2026, as reported by Restaurant Dive, and it hopes to grow its presence in Canada to 1,000 units in the States by 2030. The target is to reach 100 stores in the country in the same year. Paris Baguette’s domestic growth is set to be supercharged by the construction of a brand-new manufacturing facility in Texas, which will help streamline its supply chain and thus make expansion easier and more cost-effective. The facility is expected to be up and running by 2027.

Black Rock Coffee Bar has had a busy 2025. The Oregon-based chain has continued to add to its unit stock, reaching 158 by mid-year, increasing its number since 2024 and culminating a strong period of growth in the 17 years it has been in operation. However, it had bigger things planned. In September 2025, Black Rock Coffee Bar went public, becoming the first restaurant brand since 2023 to declare itself on the stock market and raise significant funds in the process.

With all that firepower, it’s no surprise that the chain has some big ideas about its moves going forward — and 2026 looks set to be a big year for it. Black Rock Coffee Bar aims to grow at a 20% annual rate through 2027, according to QSR, which sees it reach 215 by the end of 2026 and 258 next December. Apart from this, the brand is confident of reaching 1,000 units by 2035. This doesn’t sound like false optimism, and BlackRock looks like a company worth investing in for increasingly savvy operators. Don’t expect this chain to disappear anytime soon.

The human bean is a series on the move. The Oregon-born outfit began operations in 1998 and began franchising a few years later, but it’s fair to say it’s been on a growth spurt lately, with a dozen stores opening by 2025 and a strong commitment to developing its brand and new technology. Its rapid growth is partly due to its agile drive-through model, which helps keep costs down and service fast (as long as you know what you want). As 2026 approaches, it looks like it’s only going to get bigger. Human Bean currently has a presence and growth plans in nearly two dozen states, and has already announced several new openings for the past year.

Among those new stores are units in Lake Elsinore, California, and Laramie, Wyoming, both of which are set to open in early 2026. The Laramie location will be the second one in the city, and will cover the western part of the region. Beyond that, The Human Bean has invested heavily in its new app, which it hopes will drive more business and growth, especially when paired with its new rewards program.

People in the know will be watching Lockin Coffee very carefully in 2026. Launched in China in 2017, the chain has grown at an extraordinary pace and boasts nearly 30,000 locations worldwide by mid-November 2025. However, its presence in the US market was minimal until 2025, partly due to a financial scandal in 2020, which led to the brand being delisted from the stock exchange.

That all looks set to change soon, and 2026 could be the year Lucky Coffee finally cracks the US. In July 2025, it opened its first two stores in New York City, followed by several more. It is now considering a return to the Nasdaq, and industry observers expect more US locations to follow in 2026. Its share prices are also through the roof, but Lakin Coffee has seen a 271% increase in the last half decade. If all goes according to plan, the chain could emerge as a real challenger to Starbucks and make the famous coffee house everyone’s new go-to for their iced matcha lattes.

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