During a recent trip to see family in Louisville, Kentucky, I saw firsthand the rapid rise of drive-thru-only coffee shops.

Cruising around the suburb where I spent many summers as a kid, I ran across a 7 Brew and a Scooter's within a half-mile of each other.

Since my last visit several years ago, 7 Brew has opened at least 10 locations and Scooter's at least eight in Louisville. Yet another fast-growing drive-thru chain, Dutch Bros, started moving into the city just last year.

This is a familiar suburban trend across...