National Coffee Day 2017 Promotional Offers and Freebies Across U.S. Retailers

National Coffee Day on September 29, 2017, marked a significant promotional period for coffee retailers and manufacturers across the United States. Numerous brands, ranging from national coffee chains to gas stations and grocery stores, launched limited-time offers, free samples, and special deals to celebrate the occasion. These promotions included free cups of coffee, buy-one-get-one deals, discounts on bulk purchases, and digital coupons requiring app downloads or text message sign-ups. The offers were generally valid for a specific timeframe, primarily centered around September 29, 2017, with some extending through the weekend or into the following month.

The variety of promotions reflected different marketing strategies. Some brands, such as Cinnabon and Krispy Kreme, offered free coffee with no purchase necessary, serving as a straightforward customer acquisition tool. Others, like Dunkin' Donuts, utilized buy-one-get-one (BOGO) incentives to drive traffic and increase average transaction values. Digital engagement was a key focus for major players like McDonald's, which required users to download their mobile application to access free McCafe beverages. Additionally, gas stations and convenience stores like Pilot Flying J and Cumberland Farms utilized SMS-based coupon systems to distribute free coffee offers directly to consumers' mobile devices.

Major Coffee Chain Offers

Several prominent coffee and quick-service restaurant chains participated in National Coffee Day 2017 with distinct promotional structures.

Dunkin' Donuts offered a buy-one-get-one promotion on National Coffee Day. Customers who purchased a medium, large, or extra large signature hot coffee received a second medium hot coffee for free. This offer was valid at participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants nationwide on September 29, 2017.

McDonald's provided two distinct options for consumers. A free McCafe Latte or Frappe was available when customers downloaded the My McCafe App. Alternatively, consumers could purchase any small McCafe beverage for $2. The brand also offered free original blend, dark roast, decaf, or iced coffees of any size after downloading the app, valid from September 29 to October 8.

Krispy Kreme extended its promotion beyond a single day, designating it as "National Coffee Weekend." The offer included a free any-sized hot brewed or small iced premium blend coffee per day from September 29 through October 1. This promotion was valid only at participating Krispy Kreme shops and excluded grocery or convenience store locations.

Cinnabon offered a free 12-ounce coffee at participating locations on September 29, 2017. This was a no-purchase-necessary offer available all day.

Starbucks took a different approach to the day. Instead of offering free coffee, the chain removed menu boards and focused on honoring farmers and families who grow beans sustainably.

Caribou Coffee promoted a refillable tumbler offer, allowing customers to refill their "Amy's Tumbler" with brewed coffee for free or get a handcrafted beverage for $2.99 throughout the month.

Peet's Coffee and Tim Hortons (US Only) were also listed among the chain and online deals, though specific offer details were not elaborated in the source data.

Convenience Store and Gas Station Promotions

Convenience stores and gas station chains played a significant role in the National Coffee Day landscape, often leveraging loyalty programs and mobile technology to distribute offers.

7-Eleven offered free coffee of any size to 7Rewards members from Friday, September 29, through Sunday, October 1. The offer allowed for one coffee per day.

Cumberland Farms utilized an SMS-based system for distribution. Consumers could text "FREECOFFEE" to 64827 to receive a coupon for a free iced or hot coffee of any size. The coupon was redeemable on Saturday (September 30) at participating locations. The offer also included tea, cappuccino, or hot chocolate.

Pilot Flying J provided a free cup of coffee via a specific coupon available on Friday, September 29.

Wawa offered a free cup of any size Wawa Coffee.

QuickChek ran a promotion valid from September 29 to November 3, where customers could buy one coffee and get a second one free every Friday.

Stewart's Shops offered all hot and iced coffees for free from 12 p.m. to close on National Coffee Day.

Holiday Stationstores offered a free cup of coffee on Saturday by texting "COFFEE" to 44022. They also ran a "Free Coffee Tuesday" promotion through October 9, which did not require a coupon.

Retail and Grocery Product Discounts

In addition to ready-to-drink offers, several brands provided discounts on packaged coffee products.

Green Mountain Coffee (associated with Keurig) offered 20 percent off all online K-Cup orders from September 29 through October.

FORTO Coffee Shot offered a free 2-ounce single coffee shot at Walmart via a rebate through the Ibotta smartphone app. This offer was available for Ibotta users who had not previously redeemed the FORTO rebate.

Digital Engagement and App-Based Offers

A recurring theme in the 2017 National Coffee Day promotions was the requirement to download a brand's mobile application or engage via text messaging to receive free products.

McDonald's required app download for free lattes or frappes.
Cumberland Farms required a text message to a specific shortcode to generate a coupon.
Holiday Stationstores required a text message to receive a coupon code.
7-Eleven required enrollment in the 7Rewards loyalty program, typically managed through their app.
FORTO required the use of the Ibotta rebate app.

This shift toward digital redemption allowed brands to collect consumer data and encourage continued engagement beyond the single-day event.

Terms and Conditions

While the offers were widespread, specific terms and conditions applied. Most freebies were valid only at participating locations, and supplies were often limited. For example, the Krispy Kreme offer explicitly excluded grocery and convenience stores. The McDonald's app offer was valid for a specific window (September 29 to October 8), while the Krispy Kreme offer extended through the weekend. The Cumberland Farms text-to-redeem offer was valid on Saturday, not necessarily on the main National Coffee Day date of Friday, September 29.

Conclusion

National Coffee Day 2017 served as a major promotional event for the coffee industry, featuring a wide array of freebies, discounts, and deals. Consumers had opportunities to access free coffee through in-store visits, app downloads, and SMS sign-ups from major chains like Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and McDonald's, as well as convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Cumberland Farms. The event highlighted the industry's increasing reliance on digital platforms for marketing and customer acquisition. While specific offers varied by brand and location, the collective availability of free and discounted coffee provided significant value to consumers on September 29, 2017, and the surrounding weekend.