• by Teresa Buyikian , Yesterday

Less than a decade after launching in Arkansas in 2017, burgeoning coffee chain 7 Brew is already ready for its close-up. The now 700+ unit drive-thru chain is present in 38 states, with more than 300 additional units slated for this year.

The brand originally began with just seven drinks (hence the name) but now boasts more than 20,000 drink combinations in seven beverage categories, with no additional charges for most customizations (unlike many big brand competitors, the company says). Sales in 2025 topped $1.2 billion, more than double 2024 numbers.

7 Brew’s CMO Nick Chavez talked to QSR Insider about the brand’s ethos of cultivating kindness and its focus on local marketing.

QSR Insider: What does 7 Brew mean by “cultivate kindness”?

Chavez: Cultivating kindness is the foundation of everything we do at 7 Brew. We recognize that each interaction in the drive-thru is an opportunity to make someone’s day better through positivity, kindness and laughter. Amazing, customizable drinks are what draw guests to our stands, but it’s the energy and connection of our Brew Crew that keeps them coming back.

QSR Insider: How does that ethos show up for the customer? How is it reflected internally?

Chavez: Our brand experience starts with the connection between our Brewistas and our guests. Around 7 Brew, we often say, “We hire kind.”

QSR Insider: What is your point of differentiation in the crowded coffee market?

Chavez: Everything we do is set up for the Brew Crew to create a great experience for the guest. With that as our foundation, our guests are best able to experiment with our more than 20,000 possible drink variations across seven categories: Coffees, 7 Energy drinks, 7 Fizz Sodas, Teas, Lemonades, Smoothies and Shakes. Those combinations come at no additional charge, enabling our guests to explore the menu freely. Combined, this creates a fun, exciting, and memorable experience for our guests.

QSR Insider: Despite being in 38 states with over 700 locations, the majority of your marketing is local-community-focused. Can you discuss the strategy behind that?

Chavez: We are currently opening about seven to 10 new locations a week. That means we are hiring and training 60+ Brewistas at each location. We start each grand opening week with a program we call “Caffeine for a Cause.” On that day, we empower guests to donate whatever they can when ordering a drink, and 100% of that money goes to the local cause our team selected. This is paramount not just to how we first show up in a new community, but how we continue to be part of it for the long term.

QSR Insider: Can you talk a bit about your social strategy?

Chavez: Social media is an extension of what’s happening [in our locations] every day. We spotlight those day-to-day interactions with guests, feature the newest drinks that are being asked about at the drive-thru, and engage with our social community one-to-one as often as we can, In addition, we deeply understand the interest of our fans, which is why our recent social campaigns like “Mean Girls” and “Indiana Jones” were so well-received.