Living in Washington, we are truly blessed with the best coffee scene, and drive-thru coffee stands are our signature. Spokane especially offers some of the best and most unique coffee stands that make you keep coming back time and time again. If you’re visiting Spokane and looking for the best coffee, living in Spokane and looking to expand your palette, or just ready to try somewhere new, this is for you!
With so many incredible local stands fighting for a spot in your morning routine, the competition is fierce and the creativity never stops. We have carefully curated a guide to eight of the most standout drive-thru coffee experiences the Lilac City has to offer, each one completely unique, each one worth every minute of the drive.
BRU Coffee Hause
BRU Coffee Hause opened its doors in August 2024 and has been serving up smiles and good energy ever since. Owner Sigrid Houske built BRU on a dream and a goal to spread extra happiness to everyone’s day. BRU, if you didn’t know, stands for Be the Real U, a message that goes far beyond a good cup of coffee and brings so much authenticity to the business.
Owner Sigrid Houske says: ” BRU stands for Be The Real You. It’s more than a slogan. It’s the foundation of everything we do. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been unapologetically myself. Over the years, I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from trying to fit in, it comes from fully stepping into who you were created to be. The most successful people aren’t copies of someone else. They’re authentic. They’re real. They’re confident in who they are. That’s what BRU is all about”
Of course, you can’t pull up to that window without them asking you, “What are you grateful for?” a intentional question that completely resets your morning before you’ve even taken your first sip. I asked Sigrid why this was so important to BRU and she said: “We’re building a brand that empowers people to show up as their authentic selves every single day. When someone pulls through our window and we ask, “What are you grateful for?” we’re doing more than starting a conversation. We’re helping shift perspective. Because gratitude changes perception, and perception changes everything. My hope is that every person who leaves BRU drives away believing they’re capable of more than they thought they were five minutes earlier.”
And the drinks? Absolutely worth the trip on their own. BRU has crafted a menu that feels as intentional and inspired as the woman behind it, with flavors that hit the sweet spot . The cherry on top has to be that everything is “hausemade”, from their creamy soft top to their alternative milks, they take the extra step to make sure its all authentic.
“My hope is that every person who leaves BRU drives away believing they’re capable of more than they thought they were five minutes earlier”
— Sigrid Houske, Owner of BRU Coffee Hause
Jacob’s Java
Twin brothers Paul and Scott Jacob were full-time college students pulling swing shifts at a produce warehouse when, on a highly caffeinated road trip across Washington state, they spotted a drive-thru espresso stand and had the kind of lightbulb moment that changed everything. They bought an old photo development hut, moved it to 6th and Washington, and in 1992 created Spokane’s very first drive-thru coffee stand. More than 30 years later, Jacob’s Java is still going strong with six locations and the story of two brothers who simply refused to be bored has become a cornerstone of Spokane’s coffee culture.
What sets Jacob’s Java apart today, beyond the iconic legacy, is the beans. Every single cup starts with their own proprietary blend of 100% Arabica coffee, roasted locally through their very own company, Gemelli Coffee Roastery. From roast to pour, it’s all kept in-house and in Spokane, which means your dollars stay local, and the quality is never a question.
Mandala Chai & Coffee Co.
Mandala Chai started in a kitchen. After four years as a barista, owner Aleczondra Evans noticed that nearly every coffee shop carried the exact same chai product because the options were so limited. So she did what any passionate, driven person would do: she made her own. Using fresh-pressed ginger and oranges, a blend of vanilla, sugar, and molasses, and the finest fair-trade spices she could source from around the globe, she created a chai recipe so good that after sharing it with peers for just one week, they told her she had to sell it. I asked owner Aleczondra, “Can you walk us through what it felt like the first week you shared your homemade chai recipe and people encouraged you to start selling it?”, here’s what she said: “It all started while I was helping open Café Affogato in Spokane’s Saranac Commons. We couldn’t find a chai that felt special, so after trying several brands, my manager jokingly said, “Why don’t you just make your own?” So I did….A week later, I brought in my recipe, and everyone loved it. When I later started working at Coeur Coffee, it became the café’s official house chai. Soon, other coffee shop owners were asking to serve it too.”
Today, Mandala Chai & Coffee Co. operates a drive-thru in Spokane Valley that is so much more than just a coffee stop. The menu reads like a love letter to intentional ingredients house-made chai, specialty matcha, small-batch locally roasted coffee and drinks like the Earl Grey Lavender Crème (if you havent tried it, take this as your sign). The browned butter caramel sauce alone has become something of a legend in the Spokane coffee world. I asked Aleczondra “What drink do you make that you think best tells the Mandala story to someone who’s never visited”, and she said ” I think our BB Spicy Chai. The BB chai is special because it’s entirely house made I think our BB Spicy Chai. The BB chai is special because it’s entirely house made… we start with a house made browned butter caramel, and mix it with our house made Spicy Chai”, if that isn’t enough to get you to try it I don’t know what will!
“…we didn’t have a chai on the menu yet, I wanted something special- not the big box sugary chai every one else carried at the time” — Aleczondra Evans, Owner of Mandala Chai & Coffee Co.
Muggies Coffee Co.
You can’t talk about Spokane Coffee and not mention Muggies. Owner Mady Hare funded the dream through sheer grit and cross-country hustle, and transformed Muggies into something Spokane had never quite seen before: a bubblegum-pink, unapologetically feminine, wildly creative drive-thru that has since gone viral on TikTok and Instagram. When I asked Owner Mady Hare “What was the moment you decided to say yes to buying the stand?” she said: “Owning my own coffee stand had been a dream of mine since I was 18, but at that point in my life, the timing just wasn’t right. I pursued a different career path, always keeping that dream in the back of my mind. Then, when I was 24, I was given the opportunity to purchase the very stand I had worked at when I was 20. The moment that opportunity came up, I knew it was meant to be. It felt like everything had come full circle. I immediately made the decision to move back to Washington and pursue the dream I had held onto for years. It was finally taking the leap toward the career and life I had always envisioned for myself”
The pink stand on West Garland Avenue in the Garland District has become a full-on destination. Maddy took what she learned from California’s social media-forward coffee culture and brought it to the Pacific Northwest, and the result is a brand that feels fresh, fun, and distinctive. The drinks are as beautiful as they are delicious, like the upside-down strawberry matcha. And we can’t forget “Muggies Monday” aka free donuts every Monday. When asked what she wanted Maggie’s to represent in the Spokane community, she said “I want Muggies to be a place where everyone feels welcome, valued, and included. Community is at the heart of everything we do. Kindness first and always. We especially love empowering and supporting our Muggies Girls. It has always been important to me to uplift women, encourage confidence, and create a positive space where they feel seen and supported. At the same time, we love and appreciate our Muggies Men just as much. We want everyone who comes through Muggies to feel like they belong and are apart of our kindness movement in Spokane”
And don’t forget, it’s not just the one stand on Garland, they have Muggies Mini on Hastings up in North Spokane and their iconic Muggies Mobile which can be rented for weddings and events! Muggies mobile also does pop up kindness events, where they go out for one hour and hand out free coffee to the community!
“It was finally taking the leap toward the career and life I had always envisioned for myself” — Mady Hare, Owner of Muggies Coffee
White Dog Coffee
A PNW-born, Spokane-raised couple with a passion for people, coffee, and animals, they turned those two stands into what is now White Dog Coffee, a beloved local brand with four locations across the city and a name that comes straight from the heart. When asked the owners Tori and Corey Schrock why they named it “White Dog”, Tori didn’t hesitate: “Deegan was our first baby. He was beautiful, majestic, and honestly, I think the best dog to ever walk this earth… We always wanted our coffee shops to be part of a journey when it came to people and their beloved pets. Whether you start your day with a coffee and a pup cup, stop by after a day full of adventure, or simply bring your best buddy through for treats, attention, and a little extra love, we want White Dog to be part of those memories.”
Their passion for animals, specifically dogs goes even further with their “Good Dog” menu, “It gives customers a menu for themselves and their dogs. Every item is named after one of our forever good dogs, making it a fun little treat for your fur babies and something different you can’t get anywhere else”
All of their sandwiches are made fresh, in house, using high quality ingredients and the source their bagels from the one and only Hidden Bagels. Their Crunchy Turkey Bagel Sammy is truly out of this world, which turkey, Dijon mustard, cream cheese and the perfect crunch from chips, making it the perfect savory sandwich.
“We want to be part of your coffee ritual and the memories you create with your own companions.” — Tori and Corey Schrock, Owners of White Dog Coffee
Daily Habit Espresso
The name says it all, once you find Daily Habit, it becomes exactly that. With multiple locations across Spokane including Division Street, Assembly, Country Homes, and Trent Avenue, Daily Habit has quietly become one of the most consistently excellent espresso stops in the city. Their beans arrive fresh from their roaster twice a week. I asked owner Katie “What was the driving idea behind Daily Habit when it first started? ” Katie said, “We purchased Daily Habit in 2009. Our goal when we started is to have a drive thru custom coffee shop that serves the highest quality products out the window. We have the freshest coffee with the largest variety of flavors. Our coffee beans are roasted locally in the morning and delivered the same day. We have the largest selection of regular and sugar-free flavors. If not perfect, we will fix or remake it.”
Daily Habit leans into generosity in a way that feels genuinely refreshing. Their 100% satisfaction guarantee is real and they mean it, and their birthday free drink program plus loyalty rewards show that they think about their regulars. The menu covers all the bases espresso drinks, cold brew, matcha, lotus energy, chai and the 5 a.m. opening time means they’re there for you before the rest of the world has even thought about waking up. Early risers of Spokane, this one is for you. I asked owner Katie, “What drink do you think is the most underrated item on your menu and deserves a little more attention?” and she gave us the best answer, “We have the BEST granitas in town. This is a coffee slushy sweet drink. In July, we are starting $2 granita Tuesdays (16 oz granita all day at any location)”.
“We have the freshest coffee with the largest variety of flavors. Our coffee beans are roasted locally in the morning and delivered the same day”
-Owner Katie Yockey
Liberty Sips
Liberty Sips holds a title that is genuinely exciting: Spokane’s first-ever coffee and soda drive-thru. Situated near the Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake border on East Appleway, this locally owned and operated stand opened in late 2024 and immediately filled a gap that nobody knew was there until it was filled. Because yes you can get a beautifully pulled espresso and dirty soda with. When I asked owners Laura and John Stevens, and, Erica and Ryan Layton “Why coffee and Soda” here’s what they said, “it was definitely a combo of experiences that brought together coffee and soda…Laura and John met a couple during a trip in Mexico who owned a soda franchise. Erica and Ryan approached John and Laura about opening a coffee stand together and Laura knew right away to combine soda AND coffee because Spokane had nothing that truly offered and specialized in both.”
The menu at Liberty Sips is thoughtfully built for inclusivity and variety. Notably, they carry a wide range of gluten-free options and are dye-free and dairy-free friendly including celiac friendly gluten free options like bagels, breakfast sandwiches, protein balls, cake pops, cookies and hand-pies. When I asked the owners about why that was so important to them, here’s what they said “That is a personal commitment to health and wellness, along with a celiac disease diagnosis…We all met in our journey with Isagenix over 10 years ago, it’s a health and wellness company. So, bringing healthy options into the stand is core to who we all are”
If you haven’t made the drive out to East Appleway yet, make it soon this one is only going to keep growing.
“It was personal necessity mixed with a passion to serve a more conscious audience that motivated us to bring in the cleaner options!” – Laura and John Stevens, and, Erica and Ryan Layton