Coffee lovers have two back-to-back occasions to celebrate their love for coffee.
National Coffee Day falls on September 29, while International Coffee Day is observed globally on October 1.
National Coffee Day
National Coffee Day is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Australia, Ethiopia, India, the Philippines, South Africa, and Taiwan, among others. The unofficial observance gained major traction in the U.S. around 2009, popularized by events like the New Orleans Coffee Festival, though various forms of the holiday date back to 2005.
It is mainly driven by brands, retailers, and coffee chains offering freebies and discounts to customers.
This year, Dunkin’ rewards members can grab a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase, while Starbucks is offering 100 bonus stars on any hot or iced coffee. Krispy Kreme launched a limited-edition original glazed coffee-flavoured doughnut, and 7-Eleven is selling large coffees for $1.49. Circle K, Wawa, QuickChek, Tim Hortons, and Sheetz are also running rewards-based promotions.
International Coffee Day
Whether you’re grabbing a free brew or reflecting on the journey from bean to mug, coffee fans have plenty to raise a cup to this week.
International Coffee Day, on the other hand, is sponsored by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and takes place annually on October 1. Unlike the former, which focuses on consumer discounts, International Coffee Day raises awareness of the coffee industry’s social and economic importance and promotes fair trade and sustainability.
Why the confusion?
Because the two holidays fall consecutively and some brands run deals on both days, there is usually a lot of confusion about why. While National Coffee Day emphasizes fun and caffeine-related bonuses, International Coffee Day emphasizes the purpose of it all.
2026-09-29 18:05:00
