How to get free coffee at your favourite cafes

Is there anything better than coffee?

Yes – free coffee.

Loyalty rewards cards have been around for years, but many are unaware of the other tips and tricks they can use to get free hot drinks from their favourite cafe chains and shops – including Waitrose and Caffe Nero.

You can sign up for a Starbucks membership for free in-store or via the Starbucks app.

To qualify for your birthday reward, you must join Starbucks Rewards at least seven days prior to your birthday, provide your birthday in your account information, and make at least one star-earning transaction prior to your birthday each year.

Caffe Nero

You can pick up a free hot drink from Caffe Nero through O2 Priority Moments.

The deal includes all standard hot drinks, plus iced lattes and iced americanos.

O2 customers can claim the reward on the free Priority Moments app.

However, people with other providers can still bag the freebie if they are willing to put in the extra effort.

All you need to do is order a free O2 Pay & Go SIM card, insert it into your smartphone, and then activate it.

After that step, you’ll have to connect to WiFi and download the free O2 Priority Moments app.

You will then need to top-up a minimum of £10 to keep the SIM active for six months.

If you use the SIM every six months (even just a text will do) then it’ll continue to be active, and so should your access to O2 Priority – if you don’t, the SIM will be cancelled and you’ll lose any credit.

Once you’re all set up, you can put your regular SIM card back in. You’ll just need to insert the SIM when you want to use the perk.

You can get a free drink in-store every Monday – Thursday. You just need to tap ‘USE NOW’ to reveal your code to the barista.

If you use a reusable cup, O2 will foot the bill on any additions such as syrups and marshmallows.

Under the YourPret Barista service, customers can get up to five drinks per day for a £20 monthly subscription.

You can sign up for the service for free in-store or online.

Just keep in mind you’ll automatically be charged the £20 fee each month after this unless you cancel before the first month is up.

However, Pret has received backlash for the subscription scheme.

Staff told the Guardian that they now have ‘more work, more effort, more stress’ due to the sudden increase of customers coming to Pret to claim their free drinks.

Pret was also criticised for offering the scheme to everyone, instead of just those who have disposable cups. Some social media users felt they should do more to protect the environment.

‘Great idea, but should be mandatory to use a reusable cup,’ said one, ‘but I realise that’s not too easy at the moment’.  

Greggs

The app is free to download from the Greggs website.

Once downloaded and signed up, customers will be able to find their freebie voucher on the app under the ‘Wallet’ tab.

Waitrose

Sign up for a free MyWaitrose card and you can get a free cup of tea or coffee every day – as long as you buy something in store.

There are some restrictions on what you need to buy – none of these items are eligible:

• 5p bag
• Tobacco
• Stamps
• Mobile or e-top up vouchers
• Lottery ticket
• Gift voucher

Once you have made your purchase, you just need to help yourself to a drink in the Waitrose cafe, take it to the till and hand over your MyWaitrose card to the cashier.

If you want something to read while you drink your victory, then MyWaitrose members can also get a free newspaper when they spend £10 in store.

John Lewis

Signing up to the free John Lewis rewards card scheme can get you not only free coffee – but free cake.

The department store, which is famous for its Christmas adverts, gives three vouchers for a free hot drink and a slice of cake at John Lewis cafes to members.

Sign up for your free card on the John Lewis website.

McDonald’s

To get the deal, all you need to do is download the free McDonald’s app onto your phone.

Head to the deals section of your app, where the offer should be after you’ve created a new account.

The offer is only available if you’re picking up your drink from a McDonald’s branch, either in-store or via drive-thru, not if you’re getting home delivery through Uber Eats or Just Eat.

You can find your nearest McDonald’s using the store locator or in the app when you order.

IKEA

An IKEA Family card enables customers to take advantage of monthly offers and exclusive discounts, as well as a free hot drink every time they visit on a weekday.

So just turn up and flash your card to get a free cup of coffee.

Wetherspoons

As if you needed another reason to go to spoons.

If you purchase a Lavazza filter coffee before 2pm (prices can vary per branch but usually 99p) you can get free refills.

Not completely free, but if you like your coffee in large doses, your cost-per-cup can be pretty impressive.

It’s worth noting that the deal excludes takeaway drinks, and you can only get your free coffee refills on the day of purchase.

MORE : When are the Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Costa festive drinks menus out and what’s new this year?

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