There’s nothing quite like the dopamine hit that comes with scoring a good deal or discount on something—or better yet, getting it for free. It can make your whole day, truly. I fondly recall a day last summer when I found $9 on the floor in the parking lot of my local ice cream shop and then proceeded to pay for my ice cream with it. It made my double scoop of butter pecan on a waffle cone taste that much better.
The good news? There’s no need to pray that you stumble upon some crumbled-up cash in a parking lot to get a money-saving high. You can get the same satisfaction by saving some dollars on a cup of coffee (or latte, or matcha, or whatever your favorite drink is) from your local coffee shop.
Here are five ways you can score discounted or free coffee. You’re welcome!
If you’re an avid Starbucks drinker and are not already a member of its rewards program, sign up right now. It’s free. You’ll get complimentary brewed coffee and tea refills when seated in-store and earn one star (or two stars when you pay with a preloaded Starbucks card) with each dollar spent on eligible purchases. You can later redeem those stars for free food and drinks. For instance, 25 stars get you an extra shot of espresso, and 150 stars get you a drink or treat (breakfast sandwich or parfait). More good news: Look forward to a free drink or food item on your birthday.
Are you more of an independent coffee shop type of person? There are some savings for you, too. Download the Cups app to find a participating Cups cafe available in cities such as New York City, San Francisco, and Nashville,. Then swing by that cafe, and you’ll score 15% off every cup of coffee by buying through the app. If you’re a daily coffee drinker, those savings can add up real quick. This is also a good way to find under-the-radar spots and hidden coffee gems in your neighborhood.
Here’s another way to save on coffee that many people don’t know about: Capital One customers get 50% off handcrafted beverages, including coffee, at Capital One cafes across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC. Everyone is welcome in the cafes, even if they don’t bank or have a credit card with Capital One. But if you do have a Capital One card (debit or credit) and a cafe nearby, definitely take advantage of the sweet discount. Even better: Capital One Cafes are offering $1 handcrafted beverages every Friday through Sunday through the end of August.
If you’re a regular Ikea shopper, don’t sleep on the Ikea Family card. It offers lots of cool perks, including exclusive discounts on select products, access to workshops and events, a birthday surprise, free kids’ entrees from the Ikea restaurant, and—the best part: free hot coffee or tea with every visit. Yes, really. Plus, it’s free to join, so you have nothing to lose and lots of coffee to gain.
Joining the Dunkin’ Donuts rewards program comes with some perks. Members get five points for every dollar spent. When you hit 200 points, you get a free drink. And, because gas is also not cheap, Dunkin’ partnered up with Fuel Rewards program, which gets you a discount of 15 cents per gallon of gas at Shell stations for every fifth beverage you purchase now through October 22, 2022.
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