National Coffee Day: Where to Get Your Free Cup O' Joe
Today is National Coffee Day, which is not an actual holiday, but it is a perfect excuse to scoop up a free cup of caffeinated goodness at a discounted price from your local Dunkin' Donuts, 7-Eleven, McDonald’s or from any of the dozens of other chains participating in the event.
Krispy Kreme is giving away 12-ounce cups of the House Blend all day. Dunkin' Donuts has announced it has reduced the price of its medium coffees by 50 cents, today only, in support of the holiday.
National chain 7-Eleven is giving away free medium cups of coffee today, but only until 11 a.m.
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McDonald's is also giving customers a free 12-ounce Premium Roast Coffee between 5 a.m. and midnight.
According to a Facebook page dedicated to National Coffee Day, there are dozens of other local and national stores participating, with many offering more than just coffee for free or at a reduced price.
According to the National Coffee Association, Americans love their coffee. In its 2011 study, the NCA found that 40 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds drink coffee every day, a marked increase from the 31 percent who reported daily consumption in 2010. Also, 54 percent of adults between the ages of 25 and 39 said they drink coffee daily, up from 44 percent who reported the same habit in 2010.
Twitter users have been very excited about National Coffee Day, as discussion of the event has pushed the phrase to the number three spot on Twitter's Trend list.
Many users on the popular social media website have expressed disappointment that Starbucks has decided against participating in this year's National Coffee Day event.
Ethiopian ancestors of today's Oromo people were believed to have been the first to recognize the energizing effect of the coffee bean plant, according to The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of The World's Most Popular Drug, by Alan Bennett and Bonnie K. Bealer. However, no direct evidence has been found indicating where in Africa coffee grew or who among the natives might have used it as a stimulant or even known about it, earlier than the 17th century.
