Market rankings · California

Coffee shops and cafes in California

Every metro area, small-town market and county in California, ranked by the Groundwork market score for coffee shops and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 19,992; 8,501 chain locations (43%)
Official establishments: 13,412; All snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars · +13.5% since 2019
Household spending a year: $61.8B; On food away from home
Listings per 10k households: 14.8; 35% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $3.1M; 17% below the U.S.
Rank among states: #43 of 51; Market score 32 · Lower middle

A site report maps the coffee shops and cafes on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

There are 19,992 coffee shops and cafes on map listings in California as of September 2026. 8,501 of them (43%) are chain locations, against 39% across the U.S. That is 14.8 per 10,000 households, 35% above the U.S. rate of 11.0.

At $4,559 per household (12% above the U.S. average), households in California spend about $61.8B a year on food away from home. That is about $3.1M of household spending for each cafe on map listings, 17% below the U.S. figure of $3.7M. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only coffee shops and cafes.

In 2023, official counts showed 13,412 businesses with payroll in California classed as snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, up 13.5% from 2019. That is one for every 1,010 households, against one for every 1,518 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 24.3% over the same years. That count covers all snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (bakeries and dessert shops included), not only coffee shops and cafes. Since fiscal 2022, 482 SBA-backed loans worth $193.4M have gone to businesses classed as snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #43 for coffee shops and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 32 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Yuba City metro area scores highest (66). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest (43).

Every market in California for coffee shops and cafes

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in California, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching California, ranked for coffee shops and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba City, CA	66	51	8.2	$4.7M	+3.3%	#68 of 387
2Vallejo, CA	59	157	10.0	$4.5M	+0.6%	#119 of 387
3Stockton-Lodi, CA	59	258	10.5	$4.1M	+5.5%	#124 of 387
4Merced, CA	54	74	8.6	$4.1M	+5.1%	#163 of 387
5Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	52	1,534	10.6	$4M	+3.5%	#179 of 387
6Bakersfield-Delano, CA	45	272	9.5	$3.9M	+2.3%	#230 of 387
7Visalia, CA	44	129	9.0	$4.1M	+2.4%	#237 of 387
8Fresno, CA	43	382	10.3	$3.7M	+3.2%	#253 of 387
9Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	42	1,222	13.9	$3.2M	+3.2%	#263 of 387
10Hanford-Corcoran, CA	41	40	9.1	$4M	+1.0%	#267 of 387
11Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	40	358	12.8	$3.7M	−1.5%	#275 of 387
12Modesto, CA	40	197	11.1	$3.6M	+0.7%	#276 of 387
13San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	36	1,113	16.4	$3.5M	−0.6%	#307 of 387
14Salinas, CA	32	175	13.2	$3.4M	−1.5%	#328 of 387
15Napa, CA	32	73	14.7	$3.3M	−3.3%	#329 of 387
16Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	32	309	16.2	$2.9M	−0.4%	#331 of 387
17San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	29	1,998	17.1	$2.8M	−0.6%	#344 of 387
18San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	28	3,095	17.7	$3M	−2.4%	#346 of 387
19Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	28	236	15.8	$2.9M	−1.4%	#349 of 387
20Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	25	7,105	15.8	$2.8M	−2.6%	#363 of 387
21Redding, CA	25	104	14.6	$2.6M	−0.3%	#365 of 387
22San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	25	227	20.7	$2.1M	0.0%	#366 of 387
23El Centro, CA	24	49	9.9	$3.4M	+1.1%	#367 of 387
24Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	24	171	17.6	$2.7M	−4.7%	#368 of 387
25Chico, CA	21	107	12.8	$2.9M	−0.5%	#377 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for coffee shops and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	43	42	19.3	$2.2M	+0.9%	#347 of 529
1Red Bluff, CA	39	24	9.7	$3.6M	−1.7%	#381 of 529
2Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	37	68	15.9	$2.7M	−0.4%	#403 of 529
3Clearlake, CA	36	31	11.5	$3.1M	−0.6%	#419 of 529
4Crescent City, CA	29	16	16.8	$2.1M	−4.4%	#475 of 529
5Susanville, CA	28	11	11.9	$2.9M	−13.1%	#482 of 529
6Ukiah, CA	25	54	15.5	$2.4M	−3.5%	#500 of 529
7Sonora, CA	23	49	21.6	$1.8M	−4.0%	#507 of 529
8Eureka-Arcata, CA	21	95	17.3	$2M	−3.4%	#514 of 529
9Bishop, CA	19	21	26.1	$1.5M	−4.4%	#523 of 529

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for coffee shops and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba County, CA	80	21	7.3	$5.2M	+8.2%	#110 of 2,063
2San Benito County, CA	63	22	10.7	$4.6M	+8.6%	#503 of 2,063
3Madera County, CA	61	36	7.9	$4.8M	+7.4%	#562 of 2,063
4Contra Costa County, CA	59	400	9.7	$5.4M	+0.3%	#638 of 2,063
5Solano County, CA	58	157	10.0	$4.5M	+0.6%	#690 of 2,063
6San Joaquin County, CA	58	258	10.5	$4.1M	+5.5%	#699 of 2,063
7Merced County, CA	56	74	8.6	$4.1M	+5.1%	#777 of 2,063
8Riverside County, CA	56	837	10.8	$4M	+5.0%	#779 of 2,063
9Kern County, CA	50	272	9.5	$3.9M	+2.3%	#998 of 2,063
10Placer County, CA	50	251	15.9	$3.1M	+8.9%	#1,017 of 2,063
11San Bernardino County, CA	49	697	10.3	$4M	+1.9%	#1,046 of 2,063
12Calaveras County, CA	49	20	10.8	$3.7M	+2.8%	#1,052 of 2,063
13Sutter County, CA	48	30	9.0	$4.4M	−0.7%	#1,088 of 2,063
14Tulare County, CA	47	129	9.0	$4.1M	+2.4%	#1,127 of 2,063
15Colusa County, CA	47	9	12.0	$3.1M	−0.1%	#1,146 of 2,063
16Fresno County, CA	46	346	10.7	$3.6M	+2.6%	#1,174 of 2,063
17Yolo County, CA	46	109	14.2	$3.1M	+3.1%	#1,182 of 2,063
18Kings County, CA	45	40	9.1	$4M	+1.0%	#1,200 of 2,063
19Stanislaus County, CA	44	197	11.1	$3.6M	+0.7%	#1,242 of 2,063
20Sacramento County, CA	43	751	13.2	$3.3M	+2.0%	#1,281 of 2,063
21Ventura County, CA	42	358	12.8	$3.7M	−1.5%	#1,305 of 2,063
22El Dorado County, CA	42	111	14.6	$3.3M	+0.6%	#1,320 of 2,063
23Santa Clara County, CA	40	1,091	16.5	$3.5M	−0.9%	#1,378 of 2,063
24Marin County, CA	38	166	16.1	$3.5M	−2.9%	#1,470 of 2,063
25Amador County, CA	38	26	16.2	$2.5M	+3.2%	#1,495 of 2,063

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for coffee shops and cafes by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26San Mateo County, CA	37	442	16.7	$3.4M	−2.5%	#1,513 of 2,063
27Monterey County, CA	36	175	13.2	$3.4M	−1.5%	#1,553 of 2,063
28Sonoma County, CA	36	309	16.2	$2.9M	−0.4%	#1,559 of 2,063
29Napa County, CA	35	73	14.7	$3.3M	−3.3%	#1,580 of 2,063
30Tehama County, CA	34	24	9.7	$3.6M	−1.7%	#1,606 of 2,063
31Glenn County, CA	34	11	11.2	$3.1M	−2.6%	#1,611 of 2,063
32Alameda County, CA	34	999	16.7	$3.1M	−2.6%	#1,612 of 2,063
33San Diego County, CA	33	1,998	17.1	$2.8M	−0.6%	#1,654 of 2,063
34Nevada County, CA	33	68	15.9	$2.7M	−0.4%	#1,655 of 2,063
35Lake County, CA	32	31	11.5	$3.1M	−0.6%	#1,677 of 2,063
36Santa Barbara County, CA	32	236	15.8	$2.9M	−1.4%	#1,683 of 2,063
37Orange County, CA	32	1,866	17.2	$2.9M	−1.1%	#1,684 of 2,063
38Imperial County, CA	31	49	9.9	$3.4M	+1.1%	#1,710 of 2,063
39Shasta County, CA	31	104	14.6	$2.6M	−0.3%	#1,720 of 2,063
40Los Angeles County, CA	29	5,239	15.3	$2.8M	−3.0%	#1,783 of 2,063
41San Luis Obispo County, CA	29	227	20.7	$2.1M	0.0%	#1,795 of 2,063
42Butte County, CA	28	107	12.8	$2.9M	−0.5%	#1,812 of 2,063
43Santa Cruz County, CA	28	171	17.6	$2.7M	−4.7%	#1,816 of 2,063
44Del Norte County, CA	26	16	16.8	$2.1M	−4.4%	#1,865 of 2,063
45Mariposa County, CA	24	17	22.6	$1.6M	−1.2%	#1,916 of 2,063
46Lassen County, CA	23	11	11.9	$2.9M	−13.1%	#1,922 of 2,063
47San Francisco County, CA	22	1,088	29.9	$1.8M	−5.6%	#1,947 of 2,063
48Mendocino County, CA	21	54	15.5	$2.4M	−3.5%	#1,963 of 2,063
49Tuolumne County, CA	20	49	21.6	$1.8M	−4.0%	#1,985 of 2,063
50Mono County, CA	19	24	41.8	$1.1M	−5.4%	#1,997 of 2,063
51Humboldt County, CA	17	95	17.3	$2M	−3.4%	#2,007 of 2,063
52Inyo County, CA	16	21	26.1	$1.5M	−4.4%	#2,023 of 2,063
53Plumas County, CA	16	26	32.3	$1.1M	−5.9%	#2,025 of 2,063
54Siskiyou County, CA	14	30	15.7	$2.1M	−4.5%	#2,033 of 2,063
55Trinity County, CA	11	9	16.1	$2M	−2.3%	#2,045 of 2,063
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	6	18.4	$1.8M	−2.9%
Sierra County, CA	Not scored	5	41.0	$851K	−4.0%
Alpine County, CA	Not scored	4	92.0	$501K	−11.6%

Markets with fewer than 5 coffee shops and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many coffee shops and cafes are in California?

As of September 2026, map listings count 19,992 coffee shops and cafes in California. 8,501 of them (43%) are chain locations. The listings count coffee, tea, juice and bubble tea shops, and cafes. Official counts show 13,412 businesses with payroll classed as snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars in 2023, up 13.5% from 2019. The official count takes in all snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars, not only coffee shops and cafes: bakeries and dessert shops are counted too. Another 2,270 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.

How much do households in California spend on food away from home?

About $61.8B a year, or $4,559 per household. That is 12% above the U.S. average (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 19,992 coffee shops and cafes on map listings, it comes to $3.1M per cafe. That spending covers all food away from home, which coffee shops and cafes share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 13,548,091 households in California and national spending patterns by income.

How does California compare with the U.S. for coffee shops and cafes?

California has 14.8 coffee shops and cafes per 10,000 households, 35% above the U.S. rate of 11.0. Spending per cafe is $3.1M, 17% below the U.S. figure of $3.7M. At the U.S. ratio of coffee shops and cafes to household spending, California would have about 16,678, against 19,992 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,010 households, against one for every 1,518 across the U.S. The official count rose 13.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +24.3% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for coffee shops and cafes?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Yuba City metro area scores highest, at 66 (upper middle). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest, at 43 (lower middle). Among 55 scored counties in California, Yuba County scores highest, at 80 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. California scores 32 for coffee shops and cafes (lower middle), #43 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in California. It maps the coffee shops and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Restaurants and cafes173,915 listings
Sit-down restaurants100,104 listings
Fast food and sandwich shops17,525 listings
Pizza9,414 listings
Bakeries and dessert shops15,896 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in California?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

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