Nouria convenience stores received the second-best score, 96.5%, in the coffee section of the revealed audit of CSP and Intouch Insight’s 2026 Mystery Shop evaluation.
York, Pennsylvania-based Rutter's earned a final overall score of 93.9%, topping Worcester, Massachusetts-based Nouria’s 92.9% and Pleasanton, California-based ExtraMile Convenience Stores’ 92.6% in this year’s Mystery Shop.
Coffee is one of Nouria’s signature categories, said COO Joe Hamza.
“We offer traditional blends, dark roast, flavored coffees, seasonal offerings and specialty beverages,” Hamza said. “Our goal is to make the coffee destination inviting, easy to shop and visually appealing.”
- Nouria is No. 29 on CSP’s 2026 Top 202 U.S. c-store chains by store count.
When it comes to freshness and presentation, he said those elements are critical—and Nouria gives them the care that elevates the program.
“We believe coffee is a ritual for many guests,” he said. “For some, we’re the first interaction they have every morning. We take that responsibility seriously, adding, “Great coffee can set the tone for someone's day.”
Nouria has its employees check the coffee station continuously throughout the day.
“We have clear operating standards around brewing cycles, cleaning schedules, stocking levels and freshness,” Hamza said.
When it comes to coffee offerings, Nouria has a variety of blends and seasonal flavors.
“We’re always evaluating new products based on guest preferences and trends,” Hamza said.
Maintaining consistency during peak periods can be a challenge, Hamza said.
“Coffee demand can change quickly throughout the day, so execution and staffing are important,” he said.
Regarding keeping coffee machines up and running, Hamza said equipment uptime is critical.
“We have maintenance partners, internal support teams and escalation processes designed to minimize downtime,” he said. “We track equipment performance and respond quickly when issues arise.”
Nouria also finished second in the revealed audit’s fountain drinks section, at 98.2%. The company said it offers a broad assortment of national brands, fountain beverages, frozen beverages and value options.
“Our philosophy is simple: Abundance creates confidence,” Hamza said. “Guests should always feel like the product they want is available, fresh and ready to enjoy.”
Nouria, the 2025 Mystery Shop winner, said it’s important to participate in Mystery Shop because “you can’t improve what you don’t measure.”
He said third-party evaluations provide objective feedback and help the company identify opportunities to get even better.
When it comes to goals moving forward, Hamza said the company wants to continue raising the bar.
“We’ll focus on guest experience, foodservice growth, employee development, technology and operational excellence,” he said, adding that “the goal isn't just to maintain our standards—it’s to improve them.”
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