Americans are much more pleasant after their first cups of coffee, especially when the coffee is free.
Six out of 10 Americans drink coffee each day, but today’s cup is a celebration.
That’s because Wednesday is National Coffee Day, a fake-brewed holiday for which coffee shops, restaurants, convenience stores and coffee brands are dishing up deals and giving away free coffee.
The holiday is held annually on Sept. 29 and two days later there’s a lesser-known coffee festival with International Coffee Day, which is Oct. 1. Friday also is Pumpkin Spice Day.
According to the National Coffee Association’s 2021 National Coffee Data Trends Report, COVID-19 has driven more consumers to drink coffee at home with 85% of coffee drinkers having at least one cup at home, which is up 8% since January 2020.
Many of the deals Wednesday require an app and being registered for a loyalty program.
With the loyalty programs, you can earn free cups of coffee and get discounts throughout the year. Many programs give you a free cup for joining.
Starbucks Coffee Day special: Free coffee for 50th anniversary
Starbucks is celebrating its 50th anniversary Wednesday with a rare freebie. The coffee giant is inviting customers to bring in a clean, empty, reusable cup, up to 20 ounces, to participating locations Wednesday to receive a free cup of Pike Place Roast brewed coffee.
Select Starbucks Reserve locations, including the roasteries in Seattle, Chicago and New York City, are also celebrating National Coffee Day. Customers who bring in a clean, empty, reusable cup into the store will receive a free Starbucks Reserve coffee or cold brew.
Starbucks started allowing customers to bring in personal reusable cups again in June after having temporarily restricted them in the early days of the pandemic in March 2020.
There’s another Starbucks freebie Wednesday. While supplies last, sign up for a free Pike Place Roast packaged coffee to brew at home. Go to Athome.starbucks.com to learn more. Limit one per customer.
Dunkin’ Coffee Day: Free coffee with purchase
To get Dunkin’s National Coffee Day deal, you have to be a member of the chain’s free loyalty program. DD Perks members will get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase Wednesday.
This offer also is for new members of the loyalty program who can get their first perk after signing up on the Dunkin’ app or at DDPerks.com.
Krispy Kreme free coffee and donut for Cofee Day
Krispy Kreme rewards members get a free brewed coffee and doughnut of their choice Wednesday, no purchase necessary. Non-rewards members also can get a treat – a free brewed coffee with no required purchase.
Also, through Dec. 31, get a free glazed doughnut for showing a valid COVID-19 vaccination card.
McDonald’s National Coffee Day deal: 99-cent coffee with app
McDonald’s told USA TODAY that it wouldn’t have a dedicated Coffee Day offer but does have 99-cent hot or iced coffee through the end of the year on its app.
The deal is for any size premium-roast or iced coffee and can be used once per day.
With the fast-food giant’s app and new MyMcDonald’s Rewards, you’ll earn a freebie after you make your first purchase now through Dec. 31.
After your first purchase, you’ll automatically get 1,500 points, which is enough to get a free item in the first tier on your next order: a choice of hash browns, vanilla cone, a McChicken or a free cheeseburger.
Eleven National Coffee Day: Free coffee with baked good
7-Eleven, the nation’s largest convenience store chain, is giving its 7Rewards loyalty members a free coffee Wednesday with the purchase of a baked good. Also, get a free extra large hot coffee with any purchase through 7-Eleven Delivery via the 7NOW app.
Wawa Coffee Day: Get a free cup
Wawa is giving away free coffee Wednesday at the company’s more than 940 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.
Through Thursday, Wawa is giving away free coffee to teachers and school administrators as part of its “Cheers to Classroom” initiative.
Panera free coffee for parents this Coffee Day
Panera has dedicated the coffee holiday to parents and caregivers. On Wednesday, when you place an order say you’re a parent or caregiver to get free coffee all day, similar to the chain’s $8.99 monthly unlimited coffee subscription.
Through 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday, you can enter for a chance to win one of 450 Panera “Jump Start Jug,” a gallon-sized bottle to fill with iced coffee. Enter at Jumpstartjug.com.
And if you haven’t joined Panera’s coffee subscription, there are deals for new subscribers. Sign up through Thursday for three months free and sign up starting Friday for free coffee through the end of the year. Some exclusions apply.
Burger King: Free medium coffee with app purchase Wednesday
For National Coffee Day, Burger King has two different coffee offers. Get a free medium or hot iced coffee with any purchase Wednesday with the chain’s app. Registration for the app is required and you need to add the hot or iced coffee coupon before placing the order.
Coffee Day 2021 deals and freebies
The following offers are available Wednesday, Sept. 29, unless otherwise noted. Always check with your closest location as offers and participation can vary. Also, some will require you to have a restaurant’s app or be signed up for emails.
Au Bon Pain: The bakery chain said it is kicking off a “three-day pay-it forward celebration” Wednesday. Through Friday, hot and iced brewed drip coffees are $1 and customers are encouraged to “pick up two coffees – one for themselves and one (or two or three) to treat someone else.” No promo codes or coupons are needed.
Barnes & Noble: Get a free hot or iced tall coffee Wednesday with the purchase of any item from the “bake case” at store cafes.
Baskin-Robbins: For a limited time, get a discounted Cappuccino Blast. The small is $4, medium $5 and the large is $6.
Biggby Coffee: Get a free 20-ounce hot brewed coffee Wednesday.
Black Rock Coffee Bar: Medium coffee-based drinks are $2 Wednesday.
Caribou Coffee: All Caribou Coffee Perks members who visit in-store Wednesday will get a chance to win rewards including free coffee for a year, free size upgrades, free beverages and more.
Casey’s: Now through Oct. 2, get a free small coffee with any purchase using Casey’s Rewards.
Circle K: Text FREE to 31310 for a free cup of joe offer Wednesday.
Del Taco: With the chain’s rewards program, get a free hot or regular size iced coffee with purchase until 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Nekter Juice Bar: Get the chain’s Cold Brew Protein Smoothie or PB Mocha Smoothie for $5 with the rewards app Wednesday.
Peet’s Coffee: Through Wednesday, Peet’s is offering 25% off coffee beans, K-Cup pods and espresso capsules and a chance to win its first-ever Black Card worth $2,000. Two will win the gift card and can enter on Peet’s Instagram, Facebook or at Peets.com/nationalcoffeeday. On Friday, Peetnik Rewards members get free delivery on mobile orders from Peet’s coffeebars on orders placed through the chain’s app.
Pilot Flying J: Get any size dispensed hot, iced, or cold brew Pilot coffee free with the chain’s rewards app Wednesday.
PJ’s Coffee: Get a free 12-ounce hot coffee or cold brew Wednesday with the chain’s app with code COFFEE.
QuickChek: Rewards members get a free 20-ounce hot or iced coffee Wednesday.
Scooter’s Coffee: Customers can get a free coffee Wednesday with the chain’s app.
Sheetz: Rewards members get one free coffee Wednesday. The offer is for any size self-serve coffee and no purchase is necessary.
Smoothie King: With a $10 minimum purchase on the company’s website or app, get free delivery Wednesday.
Sonic Drive-In: For a limited time, get the new Mocha Crunch Blast for 50% off with a deal in the chain’s app. The offer can only be used one time per account.
Tim Hortons: The chain says National Coffee Day is Coffee Month this year and is celebrating Wednesday through Oct. 26 with any size hot or iced coffee for 99 cents when ordering on the Tim Hortons app or online. New Tims Rewards members from Wednesday through Nov. 9 also get a free donut with the purchase of any coffee beverage.
EG America: All SmartPay Rewards app users across the company – which includes Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N’ Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb and Turkey Hill – will receive a digital coupon for one free coffee Wednesday. The coupon is for any size, hot or iced coffee.
Duck Donuts: Registered loyalty members will receive an app reward for a free medium cold brew or frappe that can be redeemed in-shop or online Wednesday through Friday . To get this deal, guests needed to download and register for the app by 11:59 p.m. EST Tuesday.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: With any food or beverage purchase $2 or more, get a free regular size brewed coffee Wednesday.
Einstein Bros. Bagels: The chain says every day is a free coffee day when you order ahead in the app. Get a free hot or iced coffee with app orders.
Jamba: The chain has released new iced beverages, Gotcha Matcha and Bold ‘n Cold Brew, and has no delivery fee on orders $12 or more on the app or website Wednesday through Friday. Rewards members who order the new drinks also earn double points.
Kolache Factory: Get a free 12-ounce coffee Wednesday with a coupon that will be emailed and posted on social media. No purchase is necessary but the coupon is not valid on espresso drinks. Limit one coupon per person, per visit.
Love’s Travel Stops: Get any size coffee or hot beverage for $1 Wednesday with the Love’s Connect app. All proceeds go to Love’s annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign.
MAPCO: All guests can get a free 16-ounce coffee Wednesday.
Maverik – Adventure’s First Stop: All loyalty members who use their Adventure Club or Nitro cards can get any size coffee for $1 Wednesday.
Wendy’s: For a limited time, get $2 off any breakfast combo, which includes a breakfast sandwich, side of potatoes and a drink with an offer on the chain’s app.
Yogurtland: From Wednesday through Friday, which is also Pumpkin Spice Day, Real Rewards members can earn 15 bonus points with any purchase of $5 or more in-store, online or with the chain’s app.
More deals: Local coffee shops and smaller chains may also offer free coffee or discounts Wednesday. An easy way to find out is to check social media.
National Coffee Day 2021 contests
Atlas Coffee Club: The club is having a giveaway on its Instagram page and two will win 12-month coffee world tours. To enter, follow @atlascoffeeclub, like the Coffee Day post and tag “a friend you want to travel the world of coffee with.”
Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters: The company has a Flavor Your Day national sweepstakes through Oct. 4 and will give a year’s supply of its coffee away. But when you enter, you will be nominating a coffee-obsessed family member, a java-loving friend, a hardworking co-worker “or anyone you believe deserves a little flavor added to their day for an entire year.” Go to Flavoryourday.com to learn more and to enter.
Chameleon Organic Coffee: The coffee brand has an Instagram contest through Wednesday with a chance to win a “special prize bundle of coffee and branded merch.” To enter, follow @chameleoncoffee on Instagram, like the brand’s sweepstakes post, tag a friend in the comments with #ChameleonSweepstakes.
Death Wish Coffee Co.: Through Oct. 28, make a purchase online or at its retail location to enter into its “Til Death Do Us Part: Free Coffee for Life Sweepstakes.” There’s also a way to enter without a purchase. Learn more in the contest rules.
Dutch Bros Coffee: The chain is giving free “Dutch for a Year” to 100 winners. Beginning Wednesday, customers who download and use the Dutch Bros app will have a chance to win. The promotion is scheduled to last until Oct. 31 or until 100 winners have been selected, whichever comes first. When a rewards member scans their app to make a purchase or redeem a reward, they’re automatically given an entry to win. Maximum of one entry per day. Learn more at Dutchbros.com/win.
Capresso: Enter the brand’s Instagram giveaway Wednesday through Oct. 3 to win prizes with a retail value of $440 by following @mycapresso and tagging two friends in the giveaway post.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: Starting Wednesday and through Oct. 4, enter for a chance to win the company’s “Pumpkin Spice for Life” contest at Pumpkinspiceforlife.com. One winner will be randomly selected to win the seasonal flavor by entering their email on the site that launches Wednesday.
JURA: The brand is holding an Instagram giveaway Wednesday through Oct. 3. The prize has a retail value of more than $2,000. Go to @jura_us to enter “describe your perfect cup of coffee in three words in the comment section of the giveaway post.”
Nescafé: The coffee brand has an Instagram sweepstakes through Wednesday with a chance to win the “ultimate coffee prize pack,” including a year’s worth of instant coffee and signature red Nescafé mugs. To enter, follow @nescafelatino on Instagram, like the brand’s sweepstakes post, tag a friend in the comments and include #MomentoNescafe and #Sweepstakes.
Rebel Hard Coffee: For the alcoholic coffee brand, Wednesday is National Hard Coffee Day. Through Oct. 17, visit Winwithrebel.com to enter its sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Costa Rica and other prizes.
