Coffee Shops Across the U.S. Mark September 29 with Freebies and Special Offers

National Coffee Day is back, and while it may not come with a day off or closed banks, it still gives coffee lovers plenty to look forward to. Across the United States, cafés and roasteries observe September 29 with a range of promotions—from discounts and specials to outright freebies. Yet the occasion offers more than just savings: it’s also a chance for businesses to highlight social responsibility, roll out new products or giveaways, drive downloads of a mobile app, or boost social media interaction. Customers already appreciate your coffee, so why not give them another reason to return?

Supporting a Cause

National Coffee Day presents a natural moment for companies to publicly back causes they care about. Verve Coffee, based in Santa Cruz, California, is doing exactly that: on September 29, it will donate 5 percent of in-store pour-over and quick cup coffee sales, along with 5 percent of online whole bean coffee sales, to World Coffee Research.

Le Pain Quotidien, with 99 shops nationwide, is taking on climate change by inviting customers to bring their own mugs—anyone who does will receive a complimentary cup of coffee.

New Product Launches

QuickChek, headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, is tapping into the day’s excitement by encouraging downloads of its new mobile app and orders placed through it. First-time users of the app (available on the App Store or at quickchek.com) can get a free hot or iced coffee in any size.

Keurig is introducing its Average Joe Sweepstakes: if your name is a variation of “Joe” and you were born on September 29, you have a chance to win a new Keurig K-Duo Brewer and a free year of coffee.

Intelligentsia Coffee is using the day to promote trial of its instant coffee, made in collaboration with Sudden: all guests will receive a free instant coffee with a purchase of $10 or more.

Atlas Coffee Club, a coffee-of-the-month club that curates micro-lot coffees from around the world, is highlighting its subscription service by offering new customers their first full-size bag of coffee for just the cost of shipping.

“This promotion helps us increase subscribers—people love a little something for free—and they stay on once they realize that our subscription can help them turn their morning routine into a daily adventure,” says Jordan Rosenacker, co-owner and executive creative director of Atlas Coffee Club.

Boosting Engagement

Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, with locations in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles, is running a social media contest through September 29. Fans of Fairgrounds can enter for a chance to win free coffee for an entire year by following @OurFairgounds on Instagram, liking the contest posts, and tagging five coffee-loving friends.

Discounts and Deals

Food-focused holidays like this one are a creative way to attract new faces to your shop and to bring back customers who haven’t visited in a while—some cafés eagerly anticipate the day they can offer a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.

“Our favorite day of the year is upon us and there is no better way to celebrate National Coffee Day than by inviting our customers to bring family or friends to try one of our lattes,” says Daniel Kermani, owner of Daniel’s Coffee & More in Las Vegas.

Common Room Roasters in San Diego is marking National Coffee Day with $1 flat whites in-store—a nod to its Melbourne roots—and 25 percent off all merchandise, including beans, online.

“We think specialty, high-quality coffee is something that should be celebrated and enjoyed commonly by all, which is why we wanted to use National Coffee Day to offer a discount on online orders as well,” says Ed Moffatt, head roaster and co-owner of Common Room Roasters.

Whatever you choose to do, your customers will appreciate the extra effort this National Coffee Day.

Additional Offers

We’ve gathered a few more of our favorite deals and freebies below. Promotions are subject to change; please call ahead to confirm.

Share your deals with our website using #NationalCoffeeDay on all social media channels.

• Birch Coffee, a New York City-based chain, will give a complimentary coffee drink of any kind with the purchase of a thermos. Debuting on the holiday, thermoses come in 12-ounce ($28) or 16-ounce ($40) sizes. The offer is available on September 29 during business hours (8 a.m.–8 p.m.).
• Goldfinch at The Time New York will offer complimentary Stumptown coffee and cold-brew shots from the shop’s keg. The offer is available during business hours (7 a.m.–5 p.m.).
• Café Collective, a coffeehouse and co-working space in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is giving customers a free cup of coffee with the purchase of any other item.
• PJ’s Coffee is offering a free 12-ounce Viennese Blend coffee, a 100 percent direct trade product featuring coffee from Agua Fresca in Nicaragua and Finca Terrerito in Honduras.
• Rough Shift Roasters, owned and operated by firefighters, is offering a buy one, get one 50 percent off discount on bags of coffee.
• Circle House Coffee in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is offering a free small latte or drip coffee with any purchase of $5 on National Coffee Day.
• All 219 Scooter’s Coffee locations across fourteen states are offering a free small brewed coffee for customers, no strings attached.
• Cafés in New York’s Grand Central Terminal are offering discounts on coffee: Café Grumpy is offering $0.25 off, Joe Coffee Company is offering 20 percent off one beverage, Tartinery is offering $2 coffee, and Oren’s Daily Roast is offering $1 off a pound of whole bean coffee.
• XO Espresso Bar at the Lincoln Eatery in Miami Beach, Florida, is offering a buy one coffee drink, get the second one free deal to anyone who mentions “for the love of coffee.” Offer good on all sizes, flavors, and temperatures.