Drive-thrus evolved from a novelty into a routine part of American mornings because cars, suburbs and highways made eating on the move increasingly practical. Their appeal has been reinforced by convenience and an increasingly on-the-go lifestyle, with breakfast and coffee becoming common drive-thru purchases.

Red’s Giant Hamburg in Missouri may have introduced the concept in 1947, although In-N-Out is widely credited with pioneering the two-way intercom system in 1948. Jack in the Box launched breakfast in 1969, McDonald’s introduced the Egg McMuffin in 1971 and opened its first drive-thru in 1975; drive-thrus now generate about 70% of McDonald’s sales and two-thirds of Starbucks’ sales.