The Coffee Wars Heat Up: 7 Brew Drive-Thru Opens in Lakewood Ranch
By Joseph Maguire, Editor-in-Chief — Extended Reach Florida
Lakewood Ranch, FL — October 21, 2025
Just when you thought Lakewood Ranch couldn’t brew up another cup of competition, 7 Brew Coffee has entered the ring. The new drive-thru coffee stop, which opened on October 20, 2025, along Route 70, introduces a pit-stop-style model that’s all about speed, smiles, and streamlined service.
And they picked quite the battleground. The new 7 Brew sits directly across from Dunkin’, within latte-throwing distance of Starbucks, Panera Bread, and Wawa — a corridor that’s become ground zero for what I’m calling the Coffee Wars of Lakewood Ranch.
⚡ The 7 Brew Experience
Pulling into 7 Brew feels more like entering a Formula 1 pit lane than a coffee shop. Attendants meet you in the drive-thru line — taking orders, processing payments on tablets, and chatting casually through your car window. It’s a Chick-fil-A-style service model, but built entirely around coffee culture.
The pickup process is nearly seamless: no app required, no long waits, and your drink is ready by the time you reach the window. For busy commuters on Route 70 or parents en route to school drop-offs, this will be a hit.
I ordered a latte and a macchiato. Both drinks looked polished — great presentation, lively aroma, and a solid crema — but were, in my opinion, a bit too sweet. That’s a personal taste preference; I tend to lean toward the Italian medium-roast side of things (Lavazza at home remains my gold standard). For those who love dessert-style coffees, though, this may feel right on target.
🏁 How It Stacks Up
With so many competitors within a few hundred yards, it’s impossible not to compare:
- ☕ Starbucks: Still the champion of consistency and customer experience, but premium pricing keeps it out of the “everyday” range for some. The speed and those lines, though, are the biggest detractors outside of price.
- 🍩 Dunkin’: Offers the best drive-thru breakfast sandwiches hands down, though food quality varies store-to-store.
- 🥯 Panera Bread: Wins on food variety but doesn’t compete well on coffee taste or coffee pricing or drive-thru speed ( despite generally having little through traffic )
- 🚗 Wawa: The everyman’s option — fast, cheap, and decent, though their Pete’s Coffee blend tastes watered-down.
- 🤙 Bad Ass Coffee: Great energy and local vibe, but no drive-thru — a missed opportunity in a market defined by convenience.
- ☕ Kawa’s: My personal pick for best simple coffee in Sarasota / Bradenton — local, balanced, and consistently good.
- 🍟McDonald’s: Not my first choice, but it has a great service and team on board at both Lakewood Ranch Locations. Their coffee is generally too sweet for my taste.
And now, 7 Brew joins the fray: friendly, efficient, and affordable. My honest score? 6 out of 10.
Excellent for ease and service, solid on price, but with flavor that leans a little too sweet and food offerings that feel secondary — flat-top muffins don’t quite compete with Starbucks’ or Panera’s breakfast menus.
Still, they’ve clearly found their lane: fast, energetic, and on-the-go. For drivers who don’t want to wait in line or spend $8 on a single drink, this will hit the sweet spot — literally.
🌴 What It Means for Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch has quietly become one of the most competitive suburban retail corridors in Southwest Florida. From car washes to craft coffee, the area continues to attract brands vying for commuter traffic and mid-morning routines.
With 7 Brew’s opening, the coffee landscape here gets even more dynamic. Expect the established players to respond with loyalty promotions, drive-thru upgrades, or seasonal discounts as they adapt to this new competitor’s speed-driven model.
The question isn’t whether Lakewood Ranch needs more coffee — it’s which brand will best blend convenience, quality, and community in a market where mornings are moving faster than ever.
☕ More 7 Brew Locations on the Way
If you think this is the last 7 Brew you’ll see in the region, think again. According to The Bradenton Herald, 7 Brew plans to have three locations in the Bradenton area by the end of 2025, said DeWitt, one of the company’s franchise leaders. That includes shops at 14529 State Road 70 E. in Lakewood Ranch’s Braden River Shopping Center, and 5805 Manatee Ave. W. in Palma Sola Square Shopping Center.
DeWitt added:
“Our speed with the drive-thru coffee experience is really what sets us apart, especially for the people that are commuting for work that didn’t have time to make their coffee in the morning or whatever it might be. We try to get you in and out of the line in under three minutes all while giving you that amazing customer-service experience and cultivating kindness and supporting the community.”
(Source: The Bradenton Herald)
