Why coffee prices are higher this National Coffee Day — and where to save
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Americans love their morning cup, but it'll cost more than ever this National Coffee Day.
Why it matters: Coffee prices are up more than 20% year-over-year, with tariffs and supply chain snarls fueling sticker shock.
- That's making this year's Coffee Day deals — from free cups to $1 brews — feel especially welcome.
The big picture: U.S. retail coffee prices rose 4% from July to August, the most in 14 years, according to the latest Consumer Price Index.
- More than 99% of the coffee Americans drink is imported, since only Hawaii and Puerto Rico can grow it domestically in meaningful quantities, per the National Coffee Association.
What they're saying: Jim Carbone, vice president of operations at WithMe, Inc., calls it a "perfect storm" and notes "everything from extreme weather in key growing regions to inflation, tariffs, and rising labor and transportation costs."
- "When the world's largest producer is squeezed, the ripple effects are felt everywhere," Carbone added of Brazil.
Between the lines: Coffee is the second-most popular beverage in the U.S., after bottled water, with 66% of Americans drinking it daily.
- The National Coffee Association says the brew fuels nearly 2.2 million U.S. jobs — plus about $38 billion in federal, state and local taxes from coffee-related businesses.
The intrigue: A bipartisan group in Congress recently introduced the "No Coffee Tax Act" to repeal Trump-era tariffs on Brazilian imports.
- In a news release, Rep. Ro Khanna called the tariffs "a new tax on coffee every morning."
Where to get free coffee, deals for Coffee Day 2025
Zoom in: Most of the offers require being signed up for rewards programs. The majority are available Monday at participating locations nationwide, while supplies last.
- 7-Eleven/Speedway/Stripes: Rewards members get a free coffee with breakfast sandwich purchase through Oct. 28.
- BIGGBY Coffee: $1 16-ounce brewed coffee Monday–Oct. 1.
- Casey's: Rewards members get a free hot coffee, any size, Monday.
- Circle K: Free medium hot or iced coffee Monday via app.
- Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Rewards members get $5 large drinks Monday.
- Dutch Bros: Two free car coasters with purchase of two or more drinks Monday.
- Dunkin': Rewards members get a free medium hot or iced coffee with purchase via app Monday.
- EG America: SmartRewards members get a free hot or iced coffee, any size, Monday at brands like Cumberland Farms, Turkey Hill, Kwik Shop.
- Einstein Bros.: Rewards members get a free hot or iced coffee with purchase Monday.
- Icelandic Provisions: Sign up online for a free Cold Brew Coffee Skyr cup.
- Krispy Kreme: Free coffee and free doughnut Monday; $1 dozen with purchase.
- Panera: New members get three months free of Unlimited Sip Club Monday; current members get 50% off a Creme Brulee latte Monday through Oct. 3.
- Paris Baguette: Rewards members get a free medium Lavazza coffee with purchase Monday.
- Peet's Coffee: Buy a $30 Cold Brew Pass in the app by Sept. 30 for 30 consecutive days of daily cold brews.
- Pilot Flying J: myRewards Plus members get a free coffee Monday.
- Playa Bowls: Rewards members get BOGO 20-ounce cold brews Monday.
- Shipley Donuts: Loyalty members get a free Cold Brew or glazed doughnut with coffee purchase.
- Smoothie King: Trolling Starbucks with its new "Stars for Smoothies" program, get a free 20-oz protein coffee smoothie. In-store only, until 10:30am Monday.
- Starbucks: Rewards members get 100 stars with purchase of any hot or iced brewed coffee Monday — enough for a free brewed coffee on a future visit. The chain also rolls out its new protein drinks the same day.
