How Black Rock Coffee Bar plans to stand out in crowded beverage category

In case you haven't heard, drive-thru coffee chains are on an absolute tear.

Dutch Bros crossed 1,000 locations in 2025 and is now a top-50 restaurant chain in the U.S. Scooter's Coffee opened more than 50 shops last year. And then there's 7 Brew, which, according to Technomic Ignite data, grew its sales in 2025 by triple-digit percentages.

Triple digits.

Clearly, American consumers are picking up what coffee chains are putting down. But is there enough demand to go around for every emerging coffee concept?

According to Mark Davis, the answer is yes. Davis is CEO of Black Rock Coffee Bar, which has grown to around 200 locations in seven states in its 18 years. Leaders at the chain - which went public last September - believe its model is differentiated enough to help it compete nationally against the likes of Dutch Bros, 7 Brew, and Scooter's. Black Rock isn't drive-thru only - it has a lobby in more than half of its locations - but also its investment in engaging and hospitable baristas has generated incredible loyalty to the brand while also keeping turnover extremely low.

Davis joined the latest episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches to talk about what it takes to win in the beverage category today, which menu platforms and dayparts are likely to drive incremental growth in the future, and why going public last year was the right move for Black Rock.

In this conversation, you'll learn more about why:

• Build a performance culture if you want to win with hospitality

• Treat your teams like their parents would want you to

• Service could be what separates the good from the great in beverage

• If you plan to go public, make sure your whole team is aligned on the goals

Listen on Apple Podcasts linked here and Spotify linked here.

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