The Best Gas Station Coffee in Every State

In recent years, social media has become a hotbed of debate for diehard fans of regional gas stations—there’s even an upcoming documentary about whether Sheetz or Wawa is better. While these discussions usually factor in food, beverages, and overall experience, GasBuddy has narrowed the discourse to one specific question in honor of National Coffee Day on September 29: Which gas station has the best coffee in each state?

To answer it, the Boston-based tech company—whose app helps you find the lowest gas prices in your area—analyzed about 2 million user reviews across more than 150,000 gas stations nationwide. The data was limited to stores with at least 20 locations in a given state, so the results are mostly well-known franchise brands like Wawa and QuikTrip. Since gas stations vary by region, however, there are probably at least a few you’ve never heard of.

Based on coffee alone, it looks like Wawa is better than Sheetz. It serves the highest-rated coffee in six states, including Pennsylvania (where it was founded), New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. Wawa might rule the mid-Atlantic, but Cumberland Farms reigns supreme in New England, where its coffee ranked highest in its home state of Massachusetts and four other northeastern states.

QuikTrip, not to be confused with Kwik Trip, tied Wawa with six states scattered across the country, from South Carolina to Arizona. California, not known for sticking to the status quo when it comes to chin curtain beards or anything else, is the only state willing to declare its love for 7-Eleven bean juice.

While people may have questioned the quality of gas station coffee in the past, that’s no longer the case. Frank Beard, a convenience store and retail trends analyst at GasBuddy, explained in a press release that gas station brands have responded to the demand for a one-stop-shop experience with “offerings that are competitive with national coffee brands, including sourcing premium coffee beans and making handcrafted espresso beverages.”

Today’s gas stations may boast top-notch coffee, hand-breaded fried chicken, and more, but here are some things you’ll no longer see there.