Jittery Joe’s unveils low-cost drive-thru franchise model to fuel US expansion

Georgia-based Jittery Joe’s currently operates 14 take-away focused outlets | Photo credit: Jittery Joe’s/Facebook

US coffee roaster and café chain Jittery Joe’s has launched a new drive-thru model to accelerate franchise outlet growth outside of its home state of Georgia. 
 

Founded in 1994, Jittery Joe’s currently operates 14 take-away focused outlets across the southeastern US state. The coffee chain is popular with students and has four sites on University of Georgia campuses. 

In a press release, the business said it was seeking to tap into the ‘evolving needs’ of US coffee consumers, who increasingly prefer the convenience of the drive-thru coffee format, while remaining attractive to partners with a small footprint, low-cost franchise model. 

“As demand for coffee and energy continues to rise, savvy investments are shifting toward the smaller-footprint, drive-thru-only coffee model. Our new drive-thru concept is poised to capitalise on these trends while offering the same exceptional coffee that has built a loyal following over the past three decades,” said Drew French, co-owner of Jittery Joe’s Franchising. 

Jittery Joe’s is seeking to partner with experienced multi-unit franchise owners who can introduce the brand to new US states with the increasingly popular drive-thru coffee shop model.  

World Coffee Portal’s Project Café USA 2025 report shows more than half of US consumers surveyed prefer drive-thru service over entering a coffee shop when given the option. More than a quarter used the format for their most recent coffee shop order. 

Drive-thru operators were also among the fast-growing branded coffee chains in the US market last year, with Oregon-based Dutch Bros, Nebraska-based Scooter’s Coffee and Arkansas-based 7 Brew all opening more than 100 net new sites over the last 12 months.