Starbucks is the world’s largest coffeehouse chain by number of stores.
The company began in 1971 at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, initially selling roasted coffee beans and equipment rather than operating the café-style business associated with it today. Howard Schultz helped transform Starbucks after joining the company in the 1980s, drawing inspiration from Italian espresso bars.
Starbucks expanded internationally in the 1990s and now operates tens of thousands of stores across dozens of markets. Its reported store total is above 40,000, putting it ahead of major rivals such as Dunkin’, Tim Hortons, and Costa Coffee worldwide.
A common mix-up is confusing global leadership with leadership in an individual country. Luckin Coffee, for example, has more stores than Starbucks in China, but Starbucks remains larger worldwide by total store count. The answer also refers to coffeehouses, not every restaurant or convenience store that sells coffee.