Top 12 Largest Coffee Chains in the World

‘May your coffee be strong and your Monday be short.’

Coffee is something that helps us deal with our weekdays. What is mentioned above is a very apt statement for almost all of us these days. And we’re highly mistaken if we think that this coffee tradition is aged. Yes, it has almost become a tradition for all of us due to its heavy consumption.

Working, tensed, thirsty or absolutely bored, coffee is something that goes with all of those activities. And of course, as for most of us, it’s the first thing we think of. So we rush to our nearest coffee shops and pick up our favorite coffee.

Let us shift our focus (not too much, though) from coffee to coffee chains. As much as we love coffee, we also love the chains that make it taste so brilliant.

So here are the 12 largest coffee chains in the world:

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12. Largest Coffee Chains: Gloria Jean’s Coffees

largest coffee chainsOwning nothing less than 400 coffee chains only in Australia, Gloria Jean’s is world famous. It was founded in Australia about fifteen years back by two coffee lovers and business partners Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine. They successfully opened their first coffee house in Australia in the year 1996 and in less than 8 years, they had over 200 coffee houses across Australia!

However, there were a few controversies going on regarding the ingredients and labels of the products they sold. Sometimes there were problems with the sugar and fat content, about their coffee supply, financial problems and to top it all, underpayment of wages.

All these kept aside, this company works and puts in extra effort beyond their line too. Their CSR is very impressive as they recently funded about $160,000 to the Children’s Charity!

11. Largest Coffee Chains: Caribou Coffee

largest coffee chains‘Life is short, stay awake for it.’

This is a very famous slogan of this company and this slogan itself, is responsible for attracting so many customers from across the United States!

This is the second largest coffee company in the continent of USA and is also spread over 10 countries and is the owner of over 270 companies under it. This company pays special focus on handcrafted espresso and their mouth-melting beverages.

10. Largest Coffee Chains: Coffee Beanery

largest coffee chainsFounded in the year 1976 by JoAnne and Julius Shaw, this company serves the best coffees in the world. It not only produces brilliant coffee but also at the same time, sells coffee beans that would just make you rethink about all the coffees you’ve ever had in your life.

One remarkable thing about this company is its strategy for maximizing their profits and for effective marketing. What they do is that they sell off the coffee houses or shop franchises that they have and most of their income comes directly from selling these off!

9. Largest Coffee Chains: Dunkin’ Donuts

largest coffee chainsThe very popular ‘America Runs on Dunkin” is what this company lays special emphasis on. Being one of the most diverse fast food chains (as they serve the best food and soft beverages and therefore not only a coffee house,) this company has over 11,000 stores worldwide and their revenue in the year 2012 was $9 BILLION.

However, the company back in the year 1997 faced harsh criticism due to the website that a customer had found and wasn’t even bought by the company yet. It lead to huge losses for the Franchises it owned and led to its downfall. The company hit rock bottom but soon, recovered from it.

8. Largest Coffee Chains: Starbucks Coffee!

largest coffee chainsJava Chip?

Yes, that’s what comes to your mind when you think of the one and only, Starbucks. Pure excellent quality coffee along with the goodness of delicious beverages. This coffee house has over  21,000 shops ALL OVER THE WORLD. Its revenue, as ascertained only last year crossed $16 billion and is on its rise.

It was founded in the year 1971 in a Pike place market, by three people namely Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, marking its first grand opening.

‘Grounds for your Garden’ is a Starbucks start up so as the make their business environment-friendly. It uses recycled paper, composes coffee and also focuses on making use of environment-friendly ingredients when it comes to producing its remarkable coffee!

7. Largest Coffee Chains: McCafe

largest coffee chainsThis coffee house is a McDonald’s franchise and was founded in the year 1991 by Dick and Mac McDonald. Having started its first startup in the year 2002 in the continent of US, this company soon grew worldwide with over 300 coffee chains.

6. Largest Coffee Chains: Costa Coffee!

largest coffee chainsA very obvious name on the list, isn’t it? Yes. Costa Coffee is one of the fastest developing coffee chains in the world. It is the largest coffee chain in the United Kingdom and the second largest in the world! It is wholly a British foundation and is owned by Whitbread.

This company has over 3000 coffee houses all over the world and is growing fast towards further development. Also, what is distinctive about this coffee house is its hospitality. This is why, unlike a lot of other coffee houses, this company is in the hospitality industry instead of the food and beverages industry.

Also, not to forget the revenue it earns. As it was last recorded, this company’s revenue was $340.9 MILLION!

5. Largest Coffee Chains: Tully’s Coffee

largest coffee chainsWith an employ turnover of 450 and an annual sales turnover of over $36 million, this company’s motto was something completely different. When it was founded in the year 1992, it had, along with other motives, one main motive in mind. It was their competition with their rivals, Starbucks.

It was first founded in Seattle and then its chains spread all over the world.

4. Largest Coffee Chains: Peet’s Tea and Coffee

largest coffee chainsRoasted Arabia coffee is the first thing that crosses our minds. Didn’t know this? Well, roasted coffee sums up the entire purpose of this coffee house. Peet’s Coffee and Tea is an old foundation that goes way back in the year 1966. This coffee house is also known for its brilliant espresso drinks and hospitality services.

In the year 2008, as it was calculated, their annual revenue was over $284.8 MILLION, with an employ turnover of 3750. It is a privately held subsidiary and functions effectively even in the field of social responsibility.

3. Largest Coffee Chains: Lavazza Coffee

largest coffee chainsAlso known as Italy’s favorite coffee, this coffee house is a giant success all over the world as well. Its employ turnover is over 3000 and is spread across 90 countries all over the world. It has 4 of its major plants only in Italy with a turnover of over $17 BILLION.

This company has a great social responsibility. It has opened up about 25 different training schools all over the world in order to serve their social responsibility and make it accessible to the children who’re deprived of education.

2. Largest Coffee Chains: Bewley’s

largest coffee chainsProbably one of the oldest coffee houses in the history if coffee chains, this company is very well known. It was and even now is known for its Irish beverages and then later was known for its tea and coffee.

It has its branches spread over north America and Grafton Street!

1. Largest Coffee Chains: Tim Hortons!

largest coffee chainsAnd this one is Canada’s favorite coffee and you will now know why. It is because they’ve always got a ‘fresh pot’ ready. This basically means that their coffee, whenever served is fresh and is never kept in jugs for hours together just before their customers arrive.

One of the largest in the world, this coffee houses’ annual turnover is nothing less than $3.225 BILLION with over 4000 chains all over the world. And why wouldn’t there be so many? There are over 100,000 employees in this coffee house!

So, which of there is your favorite?

17 CommentsLeave a comment

  • I’m not really keen on these big chains. Would rather get a better cup from an independent. I use koolbeans.co.uk

  • How do you list Caribou at second-largest at 270 stores???, but Tully’s is 450 stores, CBTL 1000s, Starbucks & Tim Hortons 10000s. Check your facts and stop copy and paste of corporate website fantasies.

  • ’employ turnover’ means something completely different – this is the number (or percentage) of employees leaving your company. It is not a good thing. Search google.

    You’re welcome

  • Gloria Jeans started in America in the 70’s. The worldwide rights was later purchased by two Australian’s in the nineties. Not good coffee by todays standards.

    McCafe started in Melbourne Australia to compete with the coffee culture of the time. 92 from memory. The coffee they serve in Australia is reasonably decent but that does not translate to McCafe’s in other parts of the world.

    Starbucks is a smart franchise but poor quality beans. Comparing their coffee to some of the more elite coffee houses available today is like comparing McDonalds burgers to something Gordon Ramsay would serve at his restaurant. Not even in the same league. They do not train their barista’s properly either instead aiming to get the coffee out fast rather than taking the required time to get the best extraction from the beans they do use. Add that it is made extremely weak and has a weird aftertaste it is fair to say that Starbucks is for the undiscerning.

    That is why Starbucks could not survive in Australia except in a few extremely busy areas. The competition for good coffee is way too strong. Oddly Nespresso is far better coffee than Starbucks yet the franchise does well in America still.

    Lavassa is decent in Italy but if you buy the beans from the supermarket you will be disappointed.Their pod coffee is truly disgusting.

    Truth is many of these franchises are relying on branding to sell coffee made from inferior beans when far better is available nearby.

  • Dear Madam / Sir,

    We are the packing materials manufactory in Taiwan.
    Our coffee bag is USD0.018 / pcs, FOB Taiwan.

    If you need it, please let us know. Thanks.

    Best regards,
    Eugene Shen / Sales Manager

  • hey am samuel Njoroge from Nairobi kenya ,since the international coffee shops are doing very well and growing very fast am thinking of partnering with willing coffee store who may wish to start a venture here in Kenya , i have in business especially marketing , coffee lover,done research on coffee both quality and quantity ,i will be much will to get the coffee store partner in Kenya ,thanks
    kinds regards
    samuel njoroge

  • Dear madam/sir
    I am Mengistu k. From Ethiopia. Here we have organic arabican coffee beans with large supply. We need buyers. We need companies who could take our coffees.
    Best regard

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