Ranking the Top Five Best Coffee Shop Chains

The coffee shop phenomenon in America has only picked up steam in recent years, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

The top five coffee shop chains in the United States all have high rankings because they offer a place for professionals to hang out and get work done without having to spend a ton of money on food or other expenses.

McDonald's and other fast food chains have invested tons of money in an effort to cut into the coffee shop niche that seems to be rapidly growing, but it's a tall task to say the least.

In fact, McDonald's for instance might be better off buying its own chain or re-branding another rather than attempting to remake its own image, which has been carefully crafted over decades.

The following coffee chains do all the little things right and may be on track to create an even bigger market for themselves with so many people growing a little tired of the same old spots.

Here is the list of the top five coffee chains in America:

5. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf-

Featuring two of the world's favorite caffeinated beverages side-by-side, this chain has a lot of potential. The Los Angeles-based chain isn't as well known as many other places in America such as Tim Horton's and Starbucks, but it has already gone international because of its strong appeal to a wider variety of customers than the typical coffee chain.

4. Tim Horton's-

The Canada-based chain has become more and more of an American institution in recent years because of its focus on a simple image and continued expansion and partnership with other well-known restaurants. The baked goods complement the coffee well and the company maintains a solid reputation among customers even as its growth has exploded across the country.

3. Panera Bread-

The company deserves a strong mention on this list of the top ten best coffee chains in America simply because of how much it gets right. From the rich taste of the coffee to the strong brand image as a premium product in a marketplace that hasn't been able to sustain many of those to the positive press and goodwill it received from its donation-based "Panera Cares" loecations in St. Louis and Michigan, Panera Bread is often chosen by coffee drinkers over pure chains in the morning in tandem with its excellent bakery, and for good reason.

2. Biggby Coffee-

This growing Michigan-based chain has a strong image as a corner coffee shop with a little bit of soul in contrast with the corporate feel of a Starbucks. Specialty drinks such as the frozen hot chocolate are excellent as well and the company's billboard-based marketing campaigns turn heads with their colorful designs and product placement savvy. The coffee is also rich and flavorful and the drink selection is large, although the baked good selection is minimal.

1. Au Bon Pain-

The Boston-based chain is like a smaller-scale Panera Bread-style operation that combines the "upscale" coffee shop/bakery atmosphere with a more focused menu. The combination of excellent coffee and baked goods along with unique food options makes this the number one pick on the list of the top five best coffee chains in America even though many people regard it as more of a bake shop than anything else.

Sources: Company websites