Gregorys Coffee

38 locations

Another third-wave coffee shop, Gregorys Coffee is known for its logo: hair and a pair of glasses. Modeled after founder Gregory Zamfotis’s own looks, the chain has become known for its artisanal coffee. The company started in New York City in 2006 and now has stores in New Jersey and Washington D.C. Several years ago, the chain started roasting beans in its own facility in Long Island City so there was full control over the whole process from bean to brew.

Blue Bottle Coffee

72 locations

What started out as a cart in Oakland, Calif., has now become a major player in the third-wave coffee movement. Blue Bottle initially began by roasting small batches of beans and selling them within 24 hours. Founded by James Freeman in 2002, the coffee chain was purchased by Nestlé in 2017, valuing Blue Bottle Coffee at around $700 million. The chain now boasts 72 locations.

Caffé Nero

34 locations

This London-based company has stores across Europe, but it’s just begun to take over the States. Founded in 1997 by Gerry Ford, Caffé Nero was meant to mimic the coffee shops in Italy. Rather than focus on the popular “third wave” of coffee — meaning more high-quality and sustainable — Caffé Nero is doing traditional coffee well. The chain built its own roastery and even has an espresso school in Europe, and today it has 800-plus locations worldwide and over 30 in the U.S.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

9 locations

In 1999, Stumptown Coffee Roasters opened its doors in Portland, Ore., and never looked back. The 9-unit chain specializes in third-wave coffee, and founder Duane Sorenson once held the record for the most expensive bag of coffee beans ever purchased. He and his employees would go to coffee farms and search for the best beans, and they were often known to pay top dollar. In 2015, Stumptown was purchased by Peet’s Coffee, now owned by JAB Holdings. The company was an early adopter of cold brew coffee in nitro cans, especially mixed with milk, and has seen a huge retail boom because of this. Stumptown sells its canned coffee drinks all across the country despite its size. Earlier this year, Stumptown signed a deal to serve an exclusive brew on Alaska Airlines flights.

Black Rock Coffee Bar

127 locations

Another Oregon brand, Black Rock Coffee Bar was founded in 2008 in the town of Beaverton, Ore., by Jeff Hernandez and Daniel Brand. The coffee enthusiasts started Black Rock in the third-wave capital of the country and set out to bring customers the best product. While it has a lot of competition, Black Rock’s 127 corporate-owned locations are certainly a sign that the chain has the love of customers. In August, it named foodservice veteran Mark Davis CEO, tasking him with expanding the brand further. The chain has over 100 locations in the pipeline that are slated to open by 2026.

Foxtail Coffee Co.

56 locations

Foxtail Coffee Co. was founded in 2016 in Winter Park, Fla., by serial entrepreneur Alex Tchekmeian. Craft coffee wasn’t easily accessible in Florida, so Foxtail quickly grew, and today it has locations in Florida and neighboring Georgia. Nevada will be the third state in which Foxtail operates, while expansion is also planned for Indiana, Texas, and the Carolinas.

Maman

28 locations

This French-inspired chain based in New York City started out as an individual coffee shop that was just trying to survive in the tough SoHo neighborhood. Cofounder Benjamin Sormonte leaned into his French heritage when he and Elisa Marshall opened their first café in 2014. Soon, Maman started selling its cookies online, which eventually landed the brand on “Oprah’s Favorite Things.” Maman, meaning “mother” in French, now has almost 30 corporate-owned locations. Private equity firm TriSpan came on board in 2020 and now owns 50% of the company. Through that funding, the brand has been able to grow past Manhattan.

La Colombe

32 locations

Better known for its retail products, La Colombe is expanding its cafes across the U.S. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the chain first started out as a café in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square in 1994. Founders Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti were part of the third wave of coffee and prioritized specialty roasts. With over 30 locations, the chain is growing thanks in part to Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of yogurt chain Chobani, who invested in the company in 2015. Through his efforts, La Colombe was able to raise $28.5 million to expand further. In 2016, it sold its first canned version of its Draft Latte, which is sold in stores across the U.S. and has become very popular.

Go Get Em Tiger Coffee

8 locations

Los Angeles’ own Go Get Em Tiger was founded by Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski as a place to make coffee more fun. The colorful brand is known for its funky and bright furniture and welcoming attitude. The two founders set out to make approachable coffee instead of what can sometimes be thought of as stuffy coffee shops. Instead of forming a formal line, customers walk up to any barista and ask for their order.