National Coffee Day 2026 is on Tuesday, September 29, and that means mug-fulls of free hot coffee for java junkies across the country at Dunkin’, Starbucks, 7-Eleven, and great deals on coffee and home coffee brewing equipment from Keurig, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and other retailers.
The earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking dates to the middle of the 15th century at Sufi monasteries around Mokha in Yemen, according to National Day Calendar. Monks roasted coffee seeds and brewed coffee using methods similar to those used today. Yemeni traders brought coffee from Ethiopia and began cultivating it in Yemen. Coffee later spread to Europe, Indonesia, and the Americas.
Coffee Day was started in 2005 by the National Coffee Association. There’s no real significance to the date, but it happens every year on September 29 (and two days later on October 1 in Canada). The foodie holiday didn’t really take off until 2009, when the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans labeled the day Coffee Day to kick off the inaugural New Orleans Coffee Festival.
You should always check your local coffee shops and retailers, but here’s where you can snag free coffee and more from national chains today:
7 Eleven
Get a FREE Coffee with the purchase of a Breakfast Sandwich.
Aroma Joe’s
Get a FREE 16-oz Hot or Iced Coffee on September 29! AJ’s Rewards members will also receive an in-app reward for a FREE 24-ounce coffee, valid September 29 through October 5.
Caribou Coffee
Get a free medium hot coffee or cold brew with the purchase of another beverage at participating stores nationwide.
Circle K
Customers can get a FREE Hot or Iced Coffee through the app on September 29th.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
In celebration of National Coffee Day, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is offering rewards members any large beverage for $5 on Sept. 29. If you live in the Los Angeles area, rewards members who make a purchase of $15 or more on Sept. 29, can also grab a free limited-edition mini tote and collectible patch, while supplies last. Offers valid in store only.
Dairy Queen
DQ is offering a small Coffee Cooler for $3 at participating US locations through Sunday, Nov. 1. The frozen drinks combine cold brew, DQ soft serve, and ice, with flavors including Oreo, Salted Caramel, and the limited-time Toasted Marshmallow.
Denny’s
Customers who spend at least $10 on a meal can get free coffee on Sept. 29 at participating US locations in stores and online. Cold brews and frappes are excluded.
DoorDash
The delivery company is offering a few deals to celebrate. Make a $15 purchase and get a free medium hot or iced coffee from Dunkin’ on Sept. 29. If you have a Scooter’s Coffee near you, buy one medium Carmelicious drink on DoorDash and get one free from Sept. 27-29.
Dunkin’
Rewards members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase at participating locations through the Dunkin’ app on Sept. 29. Cold brew and hot espresso beverages are excluded. The deal comes as Dunkin’ launches its first collaboration with fellow New England brand L.L.Bean. The collection includes a Birdseye Sweater for $79.95 and a Dunkin’-inspired Boat and Tote for $59.95.
Dunn Brothers Coffee
This year, Dunn Brothers Coffee is celebrating National Coffee Day by offering all guests a free small brewed coffee or cold brew. No purchase necessary. Limit one per customer.
Dutch Bros
Go by any Dutch Bros location on Sept. 29 and get two free car coasters with any purchase of two or more drinks, while supplies last.
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Customers can get a free any-size iced coffee with any purchase on National Coffee Day. You must mention the offer in the store to redeem the deal, which is only available for in-store purchases.
Fresh Roasted Coffee
From Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, Fresh Roasted Coffee is offering 25% off coffee from a different featured region each day when you enter promo code COFFEEDAY at checkout. Shop Central America and the Islands on Sept. 29, Africa and the Indo-Pacific on Sept. 30, and South America on Oct. 1.
Keurig
Coffee drinkers can save on some Keurig brewers and accessories through Sept. 29, including a K-Supreme Plus Special Edition for $119.99, down from $219.99. Select 20- to 24-count boxes of K-Cup Pods will also be available for $12 on Sept. 29 and Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Klatch Coffee
Get a free Competition Cappuccino (also known as a “Comp Capp”) if you use the promo code provided in the Klatch mobile app on Sept. 29. Limit one per guest.
Krispy Kreme
The doughnut chain is offering a free small or medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase at participating shops on Sept. 29. Krispy Kreme is also debuting an Original Glazed Coffee Flavored Doughnut from Saturday, Sept. 26, through Sept. 29, with customers able to get a dozen for $5 with the purchase of any regularly priced dozen.
Paris Baguette
Rewards members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase on Sept. 29, made with premium Lavazza beans, valid only through the app. The deal comes during the bakery-cafe chain’s fall menu, which includes the Caramel Apple Macchiato, Pumpkin Streusel Latte, and Pumpkin Sweet Cream Cold Brew.
Peet’s Coffee
The chain is rolling prices back to its founding year of 1966 with medium coffees for 25 cents at participating locations on Sept. 29. Peet’s Coffee is also selling a $30 Cold Brew Pass in stores and offering 25% off purchases at Peets.com.
Pilot
Travelers can get a free hot coffee of any size at more than 900 Pilot, Flying J, and One9 locations on Sept. 29, with no purchase required. Customers must open the Pilot app and redeem the National Coffee Day offer at checkout.
PJ’s Coffee
PJ’s Coffee is treating customers to a free 16-ounce cold brew on National Coffee Day. Simply place your order through the app on Sept. 29, and you’ll get it for free.
Pret A Manger
On Monday, Sept. 29, customers who order on the Pret app can enjoy one free organic, barista-made coffee. The offer includes Pret’s new Cinnamon Swirl Latte, which is an in-app exclusive.
Scooter’s
Get a FREE Medium Brewed Coffee in the app. No purchase necessary.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack is bringing back its beloved Coffee Shake for National Coffee Day, thanks to popular demand. The drink is made with dark roast coffee hand-spun with house-made vanilla frozen custard.
Sheetz
My Sheetz Rewardz members can get a free self-serve hot or iced coffee of any size with a qualifying purchase from Sept. 29 through Thursday, Oct. 1, the Altoona Mirror reported. The offer is available at all of the chain’s more than 850 locations and is limited to one redemption per loyalty member.
Starbucks
Through Sept. 29, Starbucks Rewards members will earn 100 bonus Stars when they order a hot or iced coffee of any size. Grubhub is also offering $7 off $20 Starbucks orders for Grubhub+ members for National Coffee Day.
Whataburger
On 9/29, get a free 16oz Iced Coffee or 12oz Hot Coffee from 6 am–6 pm. No purchase needed!
Didn’t see your favorite java joint mentioned here? Check out their websites or stop by and see what they have in store!
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