The coffeehouse market is comprised of a total of 53,987 coffeehouses in the United States with “Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts owning around 60% of the country’s coffee market. Starbucks controls an estimated 36% market share with 20,000-retail stores in 65 countries (11,000 of them in the U.S.). While Dunkin’ Donuts roughly owns 24% market share with nearly 11,000 outlets in 33 countries, about 7,000 in the United States (CHAMPAGNE, & IEZZI, 2014).
The history of Starbucks dates back to 1971, the first store opened in Seattle, Washington. The store originally sold just coffee beans and coffee making equipment rather than the popular beverages they have become so famous (History of Starbucks. 2015).