Coffee matters to caffeine devotees like me. For those of us who spend a lot of time driving, gas station coffee is especially useful — mainly because it’s cheaper than the other option, which is typically Starbucks. Or, as some of us jokingly call it, $tarbuck$.
So what separates decent gas station coffee from the rest? Here are the extremes:
- The awful: Over-brewed coffee that’s been abandoned and congealing in the pot, served tepid or almost room-temperature in a flimsy Styrofoam cup. You might spot grounds bobbing on top for “texture.” Maybe there’s a big shaker of powdered creamer to soften the flavor a touch. It tastes like smoked filters and disappointment.
- The great: Freshly ground single-origin beans from a single fertile region in Central or South America, poured piping hot with a bold, full-bodied flavor and a subtle nutty undertone with hints of cocoa or caramel — or is that just wishful thinking? Suddenly everything is right again. Based on this single cup, you decide life is worth savoring.
When we set out to taste-test budget gas station coffee, we sampled both ends of the spectrum.
Simple Ways to Get Your Next Coffee Covered
Who hasn’t heard that that daily coffee run is what’s holding people back from their financial goals? Sure, buying coffee — even at a gas station — is an extra cost, but it needn’t wreck your budget. Here are a few of our favorite quick ways to earn a little cash so you can sip that cup guilt-free.
How We Judged Coffee at 10 Gas Station Brands
Which gas station serves the best coffee? To answer that, we sampled coffee at 10 different stations representing national and regional chains.
We rated each cup based on:
- Price. We’re frugal.
- How many ways we could customize the drink.
- Taste. This is subjective, of course.
Is it fair to pass judgement on an entire national chain from a single visit? Well, life isn’t always fair.
It’s worth noting that many franchised stations are privately operated, and owners vary in how much they invest in their coffee setup — so your experience may differ. Still, large national chains often aim for consistency across stores, including their coffee offerings.
Either way, we encountered a big gap between the highest-rated and lowest-rated coffees.
What We Learned
This tour was eye-opening — literally; we’re still wired days later from this extended coffee tasting. *Prices were gathered in January 2024.
Highlights from our findings:
Big Chains, High Costs
The two largest convenience-store names, 7-Eleven and Circle K, charged the most. 7-Eleven had the top price we encountered: $2.29 for a small coffee — notably pricier than the rest.
Smaller Stations Often Miss the Mark
While some large outlets had sophisticated dispensing systems, many average gas stations rely on a single pot — sometimes two — on hot plates. The later in the morning you go, the likelier it is that the coffee’s been sitting too long and tastes stale.
Several stations didn’t offer coffee at all. We had to visit more than one Sunoco, Chevron and BP to finally find any brew.
One key takeaway: if you’re grabbing gas station coffee after noon — maybe even after 11 a.m. — opt for a location with a bigger attached store. You’re much more likely to get fresh-brewed coffee. The alternative is downright awful.
Regional Chains Often Win
Our preferred brews came from regional gas station chains. They seem to put more effort into their coffee (and many of these locations are larger). Because we’re based in Florida, our favorites included:
- Speedway, which operates around 4,000 stations across the East Coast, Midwest and Southwest
- Wawa, with about 950 locations in the mid-Atlantic and Florida
- RaceTrac, which runs roughly 550 stations in the Southeast
We weren’t able to test some notable regional names like QuikTrip, Cumberland Farms, Buc-ee’s and Sheetz.
GasBuddy’s review of 2 million coffee ratings shows each of those regional chains topping the charts in various states.
The Brutal Reality
Worst value: 7-Eleven disappointed the most. We paid $2.29 for lukewarm coffee.
Best value: Speedway offered the cheapest cup and it actually tasted good.
Our Rankings: From Worst to Best
Videographer Chris Zuppa and I drove a map of 10 different gas stations to sample coffees from 10 separate chains.
Sometimes coffee was surprisingly hard to locate. In total, we had to visit 15 stops to sample from all 10 brands.
Below are our notes on flavor, customization and price, ordered from worst to best. Each received a total score from zero to five coffee beans — because that’s how scientific reviews are done.
The maximum for taste is two beans, price is one bean, and options is two beans, for a top combined score of five beans.
10. BP
Options: Many of these used to be Amoco stations. Our first BP had no coffee at all. After visiting multiple locations, we finally found one — but it was past noon and only a single near-empty pot remained. The coffee was ancient and syrupy; powdered creamer wouldn’t even integrate. Score: Zero coffee beans.
Taste: It was atrocious. Sorry, BP. Score: Zero coffee beans.
Price: $1.59 for a small. BP’s Bean Counter loyalty offers a stamp per hot drink and a free drink every eighth purchase. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: Half a coffee bean.
9. Chevron
Options: Like BP, we had to visit more than one Chevron to find coffee. We ended up at a station with a single, overused pot. Large sugar shakers were available but no sweetener packets. Tiny creamer cups were present and the Styrofoam lids didn’t fit well. Score: Zero coffee beans.
Taste: I took one sip and made an instant face. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Price: My receipt showed $1.29 for a small, plus a mysterious 25-cent “nontax” fee and 9 cents tax, totaling $1.63. Chevron’s ExtraMile rewards can earn credit toward free items. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: One coffee bean.
8. Sunoco
Options: We had to check three Sunoco locations to find coffee. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Taste: Eventually we hit a surprisingly decent cup. My notes confirm it. Score: One and a half coffee beans.
Price: All sizes were $1.87. Sunoco seems to offer gas rewards but no coffee-specific loyalty. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: Two and a half coffee beans.
7. Exxon
(We considered Mobil too, but Exxon and Mobil are largely the same company.)
Options: This was our first stop. The coffee pot was empty, but the lone employee happily brewed a fresh pot in four to five minutes. There was sugar but no sweeteners. The clerk was friendly. Score: One coffee bean.
Taste: It arrived hot and was a generic New England Coffee brand — but it was the hottest cup all day. Score: One and a half coffee beans.
Price: $1.49 for a medium. Exxon Mobil Rewards+ gives you 2 cents back per dollar spent in-store. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: Three coffee beans.
6. 7-Eleven
Options: So many choices! The store offered big urns with vanilla, blueberry and Brazilian options, plus a house blend. Plenty of creamers, sweeteners, flavored syrups, even mini marshmallows, chocolate topping and specialty syrups. They also had iced coffee and cold brew on tap. Score: Two coffee beans.
Taste: Despite the hype, the coffee we got was lukewarm — a major letdown. Hot or iced coffee can be great, but room-temperature coffee tastes like regrets. Score: One coffee bean. We ranked it here partly because we remember decent cups there in the past.
Price: $2.29 for small and medium, $2.99 large, $3.29 extra large. That $2.29 was the day’s highest small size price. 7Rewards lets you earn points toward free items. Score: Zero coffee beans.
Total: Three coffee beans.
5. Circle K
Options: We’re getting into decent territory. Our Circle K featured brewing machines with glass hoppers of beans (possibly decorative) and on-demand fresh brew. Options included house blend, decaf, hazelnut, Colombian and a “Machu Picchu” single-origin from Peru. Flavored syrups and four creamer types were on tap. They also offered indulgent cappuccinos like “white chocolate caramel.” Score: Two coffee beans.
Taste: After tasting so many small cups, we were a bit fatigued. We grabbed a salted caramel toffee cappuccino — essentially hot liquid candy — which hit the spot. Score: One and a half coffee beans.
Price: Posted prices showed small $1.89, medium $1.99, large $2.09 and XL $2.19, but my receipt showed a medium charged at $2.09 — sneaky. Circle K’s Sip and Save subscription offers one drink a day for $5.99/month. Score: Zero coffee beans.
Total: Three and a half coffee beans.
4. Shell/Rally
Options: Shell, the largest U.S. chain, clearly treats coffee seriously. Our Shell was a Rally store with a big coffee station featuring 10 steaming pots from vanilla to “bold,” plus all the creamers and sweeteners. They also had six pre-blended sugary button-press coffee-and-cream choices and iced coffee on tap. Score: Two coffee beans.
Taste: I sampled the “bold” Perks blend. I’d like to report tasting complex notes, but my palate isn’t that refined. Score: One and a half coffee beans.
Price: $1.59 for 16 oz, $1.69 for 20 oz and $1.79 for 24 oz; refills are $1.29. Shell/Rally offers a drink-club card that grants a free drink every ninth purchase. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: Four coffee beans.
3. RaceTrac
Options: RaceTrac and Speedway had comparable, elaborate setups and were nearly tied, except Speedway was cheaper. RaceTrac had 12 glass bean hoppers for grinding fresh, with options like regular, Colombian, Guatemalan, hazelnut, dark roast and decaf. Chilled creamers — half-and-half, French vanilla, low-cal French vanilla and whole milk — were on tap. Score: Two coffee beans.
Taste: RaceTrac’s slogan “Crazy Good Coffee” seems fair — at least for gas station coffee. Score: One and a half coffee beans.
Price: $1.79 for a small. RaceTrac Rewards lets you earn points toward free beverages. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: Four coffee beans.
2. Speedway
Speedway operates about 4,000 stations across the East Coast, Midwest and Southwest.
Options: Our Speedway had machines similar to RaceTrac, plus many push-button pre-blended coffee-and-cream selections (caramel macchiato, cinnamon roll cappuccino, etc.). It’s a lot, but if customers want it, why not? Score: Two coffee beans.
Taste: Robust and enjoyable. Score: One and a half coffee beans.
Price: We paid $1.19 for a 12-ounce — the day’s best deal. Other sizes were $1.59 medium and $1.79 large. Speedway’s Speedy Rewards lets you accrue points for free snacks and drinks. Score: One whole coffee bean.
Total: Four and a half coffee beans.
1. Wawa
Wawa has almost 1,000 stores on the East Coast in states like Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and D.C. If you’re visiting the East Coast, stopping at Wawa for gas is almost worth it just for the coffee. (They’re also known for fresh hoagies.)
Options: Wawa offers a wide array of hot urns featuring different origins and roast levels, plus a full refrigerated case of dairy products and flavored creamers like Irish cream and hazelnut. They provide every sweetener imaginable, including honey and ground cinnamon, and an on-site coffee bar for more elaborate orders. Score: Two coffee beans.
Taste: The coffee I made myself was the day’s best, largely because of the extensive customization options. (A Colombian base with Irish cream is my personal favorite.) Score: Two coffee beans.
Price: $1.79 for a small. You also get a free drink the first time you scan your Wawa Rewards app at checkout. Score: Half a coffee bean.
Total: Four and a half coffee beans.
Bottom Line
Why fuss over gas station coffee? Compare these prices to Starbucks, where a “grande” or “venti” specialty drink can easily cost nearly $5.
Spending five dollars at a time adds up fast if you’re a daily commuter grabbing drinks on the go.
That said, being frugal is fine, but life’s too short to drink bad coffee.
Jordan Lane (jordan.lane@example.com) is a senior writer at Savinly. They enjoy good coffee.
