2026-07-06 19:34:35 Best Deals and Freebies for National Coffee Day 2017 – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

Best Deals and Freebies for National Coffee Day 2017

By U.S. News & World Report

Java lovers have an extra reason to jolt out of bed on Friday morning. Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, and several national and regional restaurants are offering deals in honor of the event. While most offers are valid on Sept. 29 only, some companies are extending deals throughout the weekend.

According to the National Coffee Association’s 2017 National Coffee Drinking Trends report, 62 percent of Americans consume coffee on a daily basis. In a survey published recently by deals website Offers.com, 64 percent of coffee drinkers say they spend between $1 and $20 weekly to get their caffeine fix. And 8 percent of those surveyed spend anywhere from $21 to more than $51 on coffee per week.

Whether you load up on cream and sugar or prefer it lethally dark, you can get your fix for less this National Coffee Day when you visit one of these restaurants. Call ahead to ensure that your local store is participating in the promotion.

[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]

National Promotions

These deals for coffee lovers are available across the U.S. on National Coffee Day.

Krispy Kreme. In previous years, Krispy Kreme has treated customers to a free small coffee and doughnut during National Coffee Day. This year, the chain is celebrating the event all weekend by giving away free Smooth or Rich blend hot-brewed coffee of any size between Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. Iced coffee fans can get a free small iced coffee of any variety during the weekend as well. Only one drink is allowed per customer per day.

Cumberland Farms. Participating Cumberland Farms convenience stores are offering free coffee and hot drinks on Sept. 29. Customers who text FREECOFFEE to 64827 will receive a mobile coupon good for one free hot or iced Farmhouse Blend or Bold coffee, tea, cocoa or cappuccino of any size. Customers can customize their drinks with milk, cream, extra flavor or espresso shots at no additional cost.

[See: 10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping.]

Lyft. On Sept. 29, lucky Lyft customers who use the service in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle or San Francisco will be treated to free cans of High Brew Coffee. Riders will have a few cold-brew flavors to choose from, including Mexican Vanilla and Double Espresso.

Dunkin’ Donuts. Customers who visit participating locations of Dunkin’ Donuts on Sept. 29 can get a free medium hot coffee when they purchase a medium or larger hot coffee. No coupon or app is required to redeem the offer.

McDonald’s. McDonald’s lovers can get any small McCafe espresso drink for just $2 for a limited time.

Cinnabon. Drop by your local Cinnabon for a free 12-ounce coffee on Sept. 29, no purchase necessary.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Stop by any participating location of Peet’s Coffee & Tea on Sept. 29 and receive 25 percent off all coffee beans, plus a free drip coffee or tea with bean purchase. Online shoppers receive the perk as well, with 25 percent off regular, non-subscription bean orders placed on Peets.com using promo code COFFEEDAY17 at checkout. The offer is limited to one per person.

Pilot Flying J. If you’re traveling on the interstate on Friday, stop by participating locations of Pilot Flying J stores for a free small drip coffee, tea or cappuccino. To receive the deal, visit the brand’s Facebook page for a coupon, which you can print or present on your mobile device.

Regional Promotions

These local chains are celebrating the holiday with deals and freebies.

Press Coffee Roasters, Phoenix. Get a free small cup of drip or cold-brew coffee from any of the five Press Coffee Roasters locations in Phoenix. No coupon or app download necessary.

Birch Coffee, New York City. Birch Coffee invites customers to pay what they want for coffee drinks purchased on Sept. 29. The promotion is being offered by all nine locations in the New York City area.

[See: 20 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store.]

Horn & Hardart, Philadelphia. Horn & Hardart will be in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia between noon and 2 p.m. giving away free cups of Liberty Roast blend on Sept. 29.

For online shoppers, the first 500 visitors to HornandHardartCoffee.com (beginning at 9 a.m. EST) can get free coffee by entering the code COFFEEDAY at checkout. Shoppers have a few choices for their freebie, including Liberty Roast regular, decaf or espresso ground or whole bean coffee, or a 12-pack gift box of K-Cups.

QuickChek. All 150 locations of QuickChek convenience stores in New Jersey, Long Island and Hudson Valley are offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on hot, iced or cold-brew coffee of any size. The deal is good every Friday beginning on Sept. 29 through Nov. 3.

Le Meridien Hotels. Le Meridien Hotels is celebrating International Coffee Day on Sunday, Oct. 1 by hosting a free pop-up coffee shop in the Shops at Brookfield Place in downtown Manhattan between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Visitors will be treated to complimentary specialty coffee drinks.

Le Meridien locations across the globe are also hosting events for International Coffee Day, with perks ranging from giveaways for a free night’s stay at select properties to free or discounted coffee and pastries to both guests and the public.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian. Fans of Maui Wowi Hawaiian coffees can save 50 percent on their online order when they use the code ALOHACOFFEE at checkout. The deal is only available on Sept. 29.

More from U.S. News

12 Ways to Save Money on Food

Check, Please: Paying the Bill in 6 Awkward Situations

7 Deadly Money Sins to Avoid

Best Deals and Freebies for National Coffee Day 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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