Farmington's Drink Scene Expands as Entrepreneurs, Chains Chase Younger Customers

Coffee shops, soda stores and customized drink concepts have been multiplying across Farmington, driven by younger customers seeking specialty beverages and places to gather, study or socialize.

The growth spans both homegrown ventures and national franchises. Heather Ferrari opened Bella Flora & Cafe, recently celebrating with a ribbon cutting alongside the Farmington Chamber of Commerce, after a plan that started simply enough. "First day I open the door, I'm going to do flowers, coffee, that's it," Ferrari said. The first five customers had other ideas. "First five people that come in are like, 'Where's the food?' So I knew I had to do something immediately." For Ferrari, the pivot turned out to be a natural fit. "I love feeding people," she said. "I love watching them sit and just visit. It brings me great joy."

Chains and franchises have taken notice of the same appetite. The drive-through coffee chain 7 Brew Coffee opened in Farmington last year, while the specialty soda franchise POP Drinks has opened four San Juan County sites since 2022. Locally owned Oso Grande Coffee, meanwhile, recently expanded to a second location on the main floor of San Juan Regional Medical Center, serving patients, visitors and staff.

The competition itself has become a draw for more entrants. "When one competitor comes into the area, others start looking at whether it might be a good place for them to establish their business as well," said Church, who also noted that national brand growth has not crowded out community loyalty. "It's awesome that we have all those places. But there is also a strong sense of supporting local businesses here."

National data backs the momentum. The 2025 Specialty Coffee Report from the National Coffee Association found that 55% of Americans drank a specialty coffee in the past week, up six percentage points since 2020. About 60% of those drinkers add sweeteners or flavored syrups, a customization trend that has fueled the soda-store and flavored-drink concepts now appearing throughout San Juan County.