Coffee is a go-to drink for most Americans, with more than six out of 10 downing a cup daily. Folks can celebrate the beverage on National Coffee Day, which is Sunday, Sept. 29, with many coffee spots having specials and freebies.
Coffee consumption hit a two-decade high earlier this year, with about 67% of U.S. adults having at least one cup daily, according to a January survey from the National Coffee Association. That dipped slightly to 63% in a subsequent July 2024 NCA survey, also conducted for the trade association by Dig Insights.
Coffee lovers are increasingly getting their java jolt away from home, too. More than one-third of the respondents who said they had coffee in the past day (36%) got their caffeine fix away from home, the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Coffee Day facts
- How much coffee do we drink? About 2½ cups per person each day, the NCA survey found.
- Favorite brands: Starbucks edges out Dunkin’ as the favorite coffee brand, with 48% of those in the Drive Research survey preferring that brand, compared to 45% for Dunkin’. Other favorites? Folgers (29%), McDonald’s McCafé (18%), and Green Mountain (18%).
- How we drink our coffee: With milk or creamer (39%); with sweetener and milk or cream (38%), black (18%); with sweetener (5%).
- Coffee and health: Coffee drinking has some health benefits with research suggesting two to three cups daily might help you live longer and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. But you may want to make sure you don’t drink too much coffee, as many experts suggest no more than four cups daily.
Coffee is “a touchstone in Americans’ everyday lives,” said National Coffee Association president and CEO William “Bill” Murray in a statement. “It embodies comforting traditions, provides fun opportunities to try new trends, and people are increasingly aware of significant scientific evidence that drinking coffee is associated with positive health outcomes.”
Here’s some deals on coffee for National Coffee Day; a few extend to Tuesday, Oct. 1, which is International Coffee Day. Remember, check social media for promotions at your favorite local coffee shops.
- Dunn Brothers: Members of the Minneapolis-based chain’s loyalty program can get a free small coffee on Sunday. Also, rewards members who make a transaction on Sunday will get a chance to win free coffee for a year – there will be one winner from Dunn Brothers’ nearly 50 locations throughout Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. One other perk: the first 5,000 customers who make a transaction across all locations will get one free coffee each of the last three months of 2024.
