National Coffee Day is Sept. 29: Here's where to get a free cup at the Jersey Shore

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·4 min read

The best day of the year is here.

No, not Christmas. And not your birthday. We're talking about National Coffee Day, taking place Thursday, Sept. 29.

If you miss it, don't worry: International Coffee Day is Saturday, Oct. 1. Why two different days? We don't know. But we do know that two coffee holidays are better than one.

Here is a roundup of what national and local shops will be offering for National Coffee Day, and keep reading to find out what Shore coffee shop owners love in their cup.

National Coffee Day deals

  • Almost Home Coffee, Sea Bright: One free any-size drip coffee with the purchase of a baked good. The same offer will be available at Almost Home General in Middletown.

  • Barnes & Noble: One free tall hot or iced coffee with the purchase of any baked item from a B&N Café. One cup per transaction.

  • California Cold Co., Manalapan: Buy one cold brew, get one free.

  • The Coffee Corral, Red Bank: One house blend coffee (C&C Blend in Red Bank, MMC Blend in Long Branch), any size, and a pastry or pre-made sandwich for $6. Online, use the code COFFEE4LIFE to get 15% from Thursday through Saturday.

  • Coffee Surf Co., Belmar: One free small hot coffee per customer.

  • Divi Tree Coffee, Point Pleasant Borough: One free any-size drip coffee, iced or hot. In-store only.

  • Duck Donuts, Middletown: One free medium hot coffee or cold brew with the purchase of a donut.

More: These Jersey Shore cafes are shaking up classic pumpkin spice

  • Dunkin': Perks Members receive a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase.

  • Eagle Specialty Coffee, Eatontown: Buy one pour-over coffee or espresso drink, get one free.

  • How You Brewin', Surf City: The coffee shop is giving away a three-month subscription (one bag per month) of its roasted beans. To enter, brew a cup of How You Brewin' coffee at home and share a post (photo, reel, etc.) on social media, tagging a friend. The most creative post will win. Submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, with the winner announced Thursday.

  • Lava Java, Lavallette: One free small coffee per customer.

  • Ocean Brew Coffee, Spring Lake: One free 12-ounce house blend coffee with the purchase of any food item.

  • Offshore Coffee Roasters, Long Branch: No deals, but a portion of the day's proceeds will benefit The Jordy Foundation, which provides iPads to children undergoing cancer treatment.

More: How COVID pandemic — and father's exterminating business — inspired Ocean Brew Coffee

  • Panera Bread: Unlimited Sip Club members will receive $2 off select beverages and smoothies. New members will receive two months free.

  • Prep Coffee Co., Red Bank and Matawan: Free 12-ounce coffee with the purchase of any pastry. Both locations also will be collecting donations for World Central Kitchen.

  • QuickChek: Free 20-ounce hot or iced coffee for first-time users who download the QuickChek app and join QuickChek Rewards.

A caramel iced latte at Ocean Brew Coffee in Spring Lake.
A caramel iced latte at Ocean Brew Coffee in Spring Lake.

  • Rook, multiple locations: The coffee company will randomly post a photo of a mystery box in front of its locations on social media, and the first person to arrive wins the box. Also, online coffee and merchandise orders will receive free ground shipping.

  • Shore Pour, Sea Girt: The first 30 customers get a free coffee of their choice.

More: Booskerdoo takes big step with this new Monmouth County coffee shop

  • The Union Market, Tuckerton: Bring a mug for a free refill of Offshore Coffee Roasters standard drip coffee; receive 25% off any espresso-based drink; tag a friend on the shop's social media post for a chance to win one free coffee for each of you every day through October; and randomly selected guests will win giveaways throughout the day.

  • Wawa: Wawa Rewards members receive one free cup of self-serve coffee up to 24 ounces.

Need a new drink? Here's what coffee shop owners love

Owner Courtlyn Crosson prepares a coffee at Coffee Corral in Red Bank. Her favorite coffee drink is iced coffee with oat meal.
Owner Courtlyn Crosson prepares a coffee at Coffee Corral in Red Bank. Her favorite coffee drink is iced coffee with oat meal.

  • "I do an oat milk chocolate milk with three shots of espresso and whipped cream on ice." Brook Adams, Lava Java in Lavallette

  • "My favorite drink is our reishi mocha, iced with oat milk. (Co-owner Kelly Staszczak's) favorite is our Americano." Christine Kedves, Batch in Manasquan

  • "I love my cold brew straight-up, just ice and delicious coffee. But my favorite latte is ... a caramel hot latte." Barry Petersen, Coffee Surf Co. in Belmar

  • "We’re loving a caramel apple latte for fall." Ashley Grimes, The Mermaid Room Coffee Bar in Ship Bottom

  • "My favorite drink is, hands down, a cortado. Traditional, perfect size. I like it because it's the best of both worlds (espresso and textured milk). I find the best way to assess a shop's espresso taste profile and milk-texturing skills is to get a cortado." Dan Malay, How You Brewin in Surf City

  • "Erich (Reulbach) claims it was his love of our Costa Rica that kept him coming back (before becoming an owner). My go-to drink is always a traditional iced coffee with oat milk." Courtlyn Crosson, Coffee Corral in Red Bank.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, and for more Jersey Shore food news, subscribe to our weekly Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: National Coffee Day 2022: Where to get a free cup