7 Brew on pace to reach 1K units this year in challenge to Dutch Bros
7 Brew accelerates growth with plans to reach 1,000 units, competing head-to-head with Dutch Bros.
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7 Brew has opened its 777th drive-thru location in San Antonio, Texas, part of a rapid expansion that has seen 177 units launched this year. With a target to surpass 1,000 locations by the end of 2026, 7 Brew is attracting attention from private equity and multi-unit franchisees, indicating its significant market presence.
Why It Matters
This rapid expansion suggests growing demand in the drive-thru coffee market, which may compress available territories for new franchisees and affect competitive positioning within the sector.
7 Brew, the rapidly expanding coffee brand, has recently opened its 777th drive-thru unit in San Antonio, Texas. The company has experienced significant growth this year, adding approximately 177 new locations and increasing its total unit count from over 600 at the end of 2025 to its current position. Since the beginning of 2022, 7 Brew has launched 562 coffeehouses, showcasing an aggressive expansion strategy.
Looking ahead, 7 Brew plans to open an additional 437 franchised outlets by the end of 2026, which will position the brand to surpass 1,000 units. This ambitious growth trajectory aims to put 7 Brew in direct competition with Dutch Bros, another rapidly growing player in the U.S. coffee market, which reported 1,177 units at the end of Q1 2026 and anticipates opening at least 185 new locations this year.
In addition to expanding its unit count, 7 Brew is achieving impressive average unit volumes, with over $2.6 million projected for 2025, surpassing Dutch Bros’ nearly $2.2 million systemwide average for the same period. The brand has garnered attention from private equity and large multi-unit operators; for example, Flynn Group has committed to a 160-unit deal, and Franchise Equity Partners has acquired a majority stake in 7 Brew's second-largest franchisee.
