For years Starbucks has been one of the most recognizable coffee chains globally. Known for its café, bakery items and brewed coffee, Starbucks has been known to dominate the coffee industry. On the other hand, a company called 7 Brew Coffee has gained much popularity, attracting many loyal Starbucks customers.
7 Brew Coffee was founded in 2017 and is one of the fastest growing drive-through beverage brands in America. 7 Brew got its name from its seven original signature drinks, which are still able to be purchased on their menu; however, they have added many more options making it an appeal to many. In only eight years, the company has expanded to 500 different locations.
7 Brew is known for its fast and efficient customer service and their extremely customizable menu. There is a massive menu with over 20,000 combinations. The menu is organized into categories: The Seven Originals, The Seven Classics, Seven Energy’s, Seven Fizz sodas, Teas & Matchas, Lemonades, Smoothies, and Milkshakes. The company has 29+ syrups options and eight different milk alternatives, truly representing the variety of combinations that can be made.
In addition, a feature that makes 7 Brew stand out is their wide range of sugar free options. While Starbucks does have two sugar-free flavors, 7 Brew has 15 flavors that are sugar-free.This could be especially helpful for those who are diabetic, dieting or trying to reduce their daily sugar intake. Rather than being limited to a few customizations, customers are able to create many flavors while maintaining their health goals. Because of this flexibility, many customers prefer 7 Brew as the more convenient option rather than traditional coffee chains like Starbucks.
The drive-through focused business model is a huge reason why 7 brew is gaining attention. This drive-through system makes it inconvenient to sweep through. The locations are roughly five hundred feet and usually have double or triple lanes,which make employees able to serve long lines of customers within five to ten minutes. 7 Brew locations aren’t designed to have customers sit around like Starbucks. The locations are built for speed and efficiency; customers get what they need and go on with their day.
Another reason that 7 brew coffee has gained so much attention is its constant promotions and rewards. The company regularly has special deals and events that keep customers engaged throughout the year. Many locations offer special events like March Madness where customers scan to win prizes as well as in December, a week-long celebration event with daily rewards and giveaways. Customers frequently receive free items such as stickers, keychains and even shirts with logos with the purchase of their drink. These consistent promotions encourage customers to come more frequently and build a loyal fanbase. While Starbucks does have awards programs it lacks consistency. Starbucks often focuses on mainly points and occasional discounts.
Furthermore, an advantage of 7 brew coffee is how quickly customers can earn rewards compared to Starbucks. Starbucks uses a star-based reward system where most free drinks require 200 stars to redeem a free drink. This process can take roughly $100 to be spent to reach the demand of earned stars. On the other hand, 7 Brews reward systemIs based off a system where every 10 drinks bought, One is free. This process goes from spending around $50, then a free drink. So, customers are able to enjoy rewards more frequently without having to spend as much money first.
The company also places a strong emphasis on customer interaction. Since almost all locations do not have indoor seating, workers take orders face to face outside of the car line. This creates personal interaction with customers while simultaneously keeping the process fast. Rather than placing the finished drinks on the counters like Starbucks, 7 brew workers bring the drinks back to the car, having even more contact time.
Although Starbucks remains a global chain and continues to expand its menu options, 7 brew shows that the coffee market is changing. Many customers today value speed and highly customizable drinks which are areas that 7 Brew excels in. Because of this, the company has quickly built a loyal fan base and is becoming a major competitor in the coffee industry. Both Starbucks and 7 Brew offer great drinks and loyal customers, however the rapid rise of 7 Brew shows that modern coffee drinkers may be leaning toward more quick and flexible coffee experiences. It will be interesting to see if 7 Brew will dominate over Starbucks within the next few years.
