These Metropolitan Statistical Areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, have the highest number of coffee restaurants in the country, according to The NPD Group's restaurant census. Coffee shops, one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry, increased 7% in units nationwide, with a larger percentage of the growth coming from chain operators. Coffee giant Starbucks and its other divisions, Seattle's Best Coffee and the Torrefazione Italia chains, have stores in all the areas.
jam-packed with coffee houses, too. This is headquarters for the Starbucks Corp., which operates and licenses more than 8,500 stores worldwide. Also based here is Tully's Coffee Corp., with more than 350 specialty shops operating in five Western states.
3. Chicago
MSA Population: 8,558,311; Units: 568; Units per 10,000 population: 0.7
Wind-blown residents get their coffee fix at Starbucks, which has many stores here. Minneapolis-based Caribou Coffee, the country's second-largest specialty coffee seller; operates a few dozen shops in the Windy City and its suburbs.
4. New York
MSA Population: 9,434,917; Units: 525; Units per 10,000 population: 0.6
Starbucks is the big name brewing many of the lattes and cappuccinos in the Big Apple. On a per capita basis, New York actually ranks last here, with less than one coffee shop for every 10,000 residents.
5. Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash.
MSA Population: 2,064,660; Units: 419; Units per 10,000 Population: 2.0
Many independent coffee sellers do business here, including some with unforgettable names like the Ugly Mug, which sells pastries, quiche and soups in addition to specialty coffee beverages.
6. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.
MSA Population: 3,117,850; Units: 384; Units per 10,000 population: 1.2
Considering the area's reputation for long, cold winters, it's no wonder the Twin Cities is a hub of coffee shops. A number of Caribou Coffee shops operate here, as well as single-store independents like Betsy's Back Porch Coffee.
7. Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va.
MSA Population: 5,326,702; Units: 379; Units per 10,000 population: 0.7
One can assume the political animnals here take coffee with caffeine. Single-store independent Jolt' n Bolt Coffee & Tea House in Dupont Circle offers hot Indian dishes along with espressos, lattes, smoothies and pastries.
8. San Francisco
MSA Population: 1,682,362; Units: 373; Units per 10,000 population: 2.2
Peet's Coffee & Tea, the legendary specialty coffee roaster, was founded in nearby Berkeley in 1966. Peet's has several upscale shops here in a region that supports many independent coffee sellers.
9. San Diego
MSA Population: 2,966,163; Units: 344; Units per 10,000 population: 12
The famed San Diego Zoo and myraid shopping centers attract tourists and coffee drinkers. Single-store operatior Intermezzo Espresso Bar, east of Fashion Valley, sells deli sandwiches and breakfast items along with coffee.
10. Orange County, Calif.
MSA Population: 2,991,264; Units: 326; Units per,1000 population: 1.1
Great beaches and Disneyland make sprawling Orange County a destination. The Koffee Klatch, an independent located a half block from the beach in wealthy Laguna Beach, offers a breakfast menu all day long with salads, sandwiches and soups to go with the specialty coffee beverages.
