Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Here's your Thursday pick-me-up: It's National Coffee Day and savings are brewing on cups of joe.
The big picture: Coffee is considered the most popular beverage with 66% of Americans drinking it each day, more than any other beverage including tap water, according to data from the National Coffee Association.
Yes, but: Coffee prices have increased nearly 18% with inflation in the last year and chains have raised prices across the menu.
Reality check: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said earlier this month that the coffee giant has seen record demand.
- “We have been immune from any recognition whatsoever that there is a downturn in customer traffic, a downturn in ticket,” Schultz said at the company's Sept. 12 investor day in Seattle.
Flashback: Pumpkin spice season got off to an early start at Dunkin' and Starbucks brought back its PSL and fall menu Aug. 30.
National Coffee Day deals and freebies 2022
Loyalty has its perks and being signed up for rewards programs is needed to get the majority of these Coffee Day deals, which are available Thursday unless otherwise noted.
Be smart: Not all locations are participating so to be on the safe side consider checking before heading out. Most will require a purchase.
- Local businesses may also have deals and some will post on their social media channels.
Barnes & Noble Coffee Day freebie
Barnes & Noble is giving customers a free tall hot or iced coffee with the purchase of any baked item from B&N Cafés nationwide Thursday.
Fine print: The free tall hot or iced coffee is limited to one cup per transaction.
Biggby National Coffee Day coupon
Biggby Coffee has posted a coupon on Twitter for a free 20-ounce hot or iced coffee to use Thursday at participating locations.
- Upgrades are available for a cost, the chain said.
Burger King National Coffee Day deal
Burger King’s freebie for Coffee Day is only during breakfast in the BK app or for orders on the chain's website.
Details: Get a free small iced coffee with a $1 or more purchase through Friday from 6 to 10:30am with the online offer.
National Coffee Day Caribou Perks deal
Caribou Coffee Perks members can get a $3 medium handcrafted drink Thursday.
Bonus: Members who order ahead Thursday will get a size upgrade Friday, the company said in a Facebook post.
Dunkin' free Coffee Day 2022
Dunkin’ loyalty members get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase Thursday. The current loyalty program DDPerks will soon be replaced by the new Dunkin' Rewards.
Fine print: Cold brew is excluded and dairy alternatives, cold foam, flavors and espresso shots may be an additional charge.
Dutch Bros National Coffee Day contest
Dutch Bros has a contest for its rewards members who scan their Dutch Pass on Thursday with the chance to win free coffee for a year.
EG America National Coffee Day freebie
SmartPay Rewards App users can get a free coffee Thursday at Cumberland Farms, Loaf N Jug, Turkey Hill, Tom Thumb, Minit Mart, Kwik Shop, Quik Stop, Certified Oil and Fastrac stores.
Details: A coupon will be automatically loaded to members’ accounts and can be used to get any hot or iced coffee in any size.
More savings: Other convenience store chains including ARKO Corp. are also giving free coffee to loyalty members Thursday.
Krispy Kreme Coffee Day free coffee and doughnut
Visit a participating Krispy Kreme Thursday and get a free brewed coffee.
Meanwhile, members of the chain's rewards program also receive a free doughnut of choice. No purchase is necessary for these free offers.
Love’s National Coffee Day $1 coffee deal
Love’s Travel Stops has any sized coffee or hot beverage for $1 Thursday.
- Purchase through the chain’s app and proceeds will go to Love’s annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign.
McDonald’s Coffee Day app deal
McDonald’s has a daily deal for coffee lovers. With the chain’s app get any size premium-roast coffee or iced coffee for 99 cents through the end of the year.
Between the lines: The offer can be redeemed once per day at participating restaurants nationwide.
Coming soon: Special boxed meals for adults are launching next week and even come with a collectible figurine.
Panera National Coffee Day deal
Panera Bread is offering new subscribers of its Unlimited Sip Club two months free Thursday.
- Existing members will get $2 off select barista beverages and smoothies with a one-time app offer.
- The chain told Axios it is holding its first MyPanera Week through Oct. 5 for loyalty members with “exclusive perks.”
Peet's Coffee Day freebie and discount
Peet's Coffee is giving away free small drip coffee Thursday with any purchase and 20% off roasted coffee beans, K-Cup pods and espresso capsules in Coffeebars nationwide.
Pilot Flying J Coffee Day free cup
Loyalty members can get a free cup of coffee at more than 650 participating travel centers across the country Thursday.
Details: Choose from any size dispensed hot, iced, cold brew or frozen coffee and redeem the deal through the myRewards Plus app.
Scooter’s Coffee Day free cup
Scooter’s Coffee is treating customers to a free, small cup of coffee Thursday when they scan the chain’s app at participating locations.
Fine print: Limit one, while supplies last.
Sheetz free cold brew for Coffee Day
Sheetz is giving away free cold brew coffee Thursday with the purchase of any in-store item.
Between the lines: The promotion is for My Sheetz Rewardz members and can be redeemed through the chain’s app for any size cold brew at more than 660 locations.
Shipley Do-Nuts Coffee Day deal
Shipley Do-Nuts is giving away free medium House Blend coffee with any purchase in-store or online with code COFFEE929 Thursday.
Smoothie King National Coffee Day smoothie deal
Smoothie King has a few National Coffee Day deals including an offer to get a 20-ounce Espresso or Cold Brew blended smoothie for $5 before 11am.
Separately, Smoothie King Healthy Rewards members who buy a coffee smoothie will get a reward for a free smoothie to be used at a later date.
- Members also have a free espresso shot reward in their accounts that expires Sept. 30.
Starbucks Coffee Day 2022
Starbucks doesn’t have a National Coffee Day deal this year, but rewards members can earn 25 stars when they bring in a clean, reusable cup for their drink to be made in, according to the company.
Meanwhile, customers who bring in a reusable cup can also save 10 cents on their drinks.
7-Eleven National Coffee Day deal
7-Eleven also told Axios that it didn't have a deal for National Coffee Day this year.
Yes, but: There are savings on the convenience store chain's app like a large coffee for $1.49 with an app offer. Offers can vary by user.
- 7-Eleven also has a punch card on its app where you can get a free cup of coffee after purchasing six.
Tim Hortons National Coffee Day deal
Tim Hortons U.S. locations are offering a medium hot or iced coffee Thursday for 25 cents when you order on the chain’s app or website.
- A deal for International Coffee Day kicks off Saturday with a medium hot or iced coffee in October when ordered on the app or website.
Wawa National Coffee Day free coffee
New and existing Wawa Rewards members get a free cup of self-serve coffee up to 24 ounces Thursday with an offer on the chain's app.
Between the lines: The offer excludes iced coffee and is limited to one per customer. It cannot be redeemed at self-checkout registers.
Wendy's free coffee for Coffee Day
The fast-food chain is giving free small coffee beverages with a purchase in the Wendy's app Thursday through Oct. 5.
Fine print: The deal is valid for one-time use but can be used on the Frosty-ccino and other coffee drinks.
International Coffee Day
What’s next: International Coffee Day is Oct. 1 but is a lesser-known coffee day by way of deals.
More from Axios:
- Amazon Prime Day-like sale coming in October
- Pets at work? No problem at this office in Japan
- What to expect at Bed Bath & Beyond closing store sales
- Target "Deal Days" and holiday price match guarantee returning early
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional deals.