When 64 percent of the country consumes one or more cups of coffee daily, every day could be considered coffee day in the United States. But, apparently, there is a real — or at least social-media real — National Coffee Day to celebrate this nation’s favorite morning beverage, and it’s Thursday.
Fake holiday or not, it is bringing you something lovely: the opportunity to get free and/or heavily discounted coffee. Take advantage of it at the spots below.
Baker & Nosh Head to this Uptown bakery to get a cup of its La Colombe coffee for $1 all day. The offer applies to both hot and iced coffee, but is limited to one 12-ounce cup per customer. 1303 W. Wilson Ave., 773-989-7393, www.bakerandnosh.com
Beatrix If you’re a nitro coffee fan, Beatrix will be featuring $2 nitros Thursday, so look alive. The restaurant will also sell its seasonal pumpkin cream nitros for $3. 519 N. Clark St., 312-284-1377; 671 N. St. Clair St., 312-642-0001, www.beatrixchicago.com
Bernie’s Lunch and Supper No coffee discounts here, but team your java craving with your penchant for happy hour with a cocktail created just for the day. Dubbed “Living la Vida Mocha” ($13), it mixes Sparrow Coffee’s nitro frappe with Mesh & Bone Arakku, creme de cacao, Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira, black walnut bitters and — wait for it — sea-salt caramel gelato. 660 N. Orleans St., 312-624-9892, www.bernieslunchandsupper.com
Blackwood BBQ At the Loop locations only, Blackwood is doling out a free cup of La Colombe coffee with any breakfast purchase 7:30-10:30 a.m. Multiple locations, www.blackwoodbbq.com
Boar’s Head Cafe Thursday doubles as National Coffee Day and a grand opening at the new Boar’s Head Cafe in the Loop. To celebrate both occasions, the cafe will be pouring a complimentary small La Colombe drip coffee for any customer who purchases a food item. 210 W. Lake St., 312-759-2233, www.boarsheadcafechicago.com
Bohemian House Bohemian House will not be doing any coffee discounts for National Coffee Day; rather, the restaurant has partnered with Dark Matter Coffee to brew a cocktail for the holiday. The “Double Buzz” ($10) features slivovitz (fruit brandy made from plums), coffee and warm whole milk, with a garnish of whipped cream, sweet paprika and smoked sea salt. 11 W. Illinois St., 312-955-0439, www.bohochicago.com
CC Ferns / Sawada Coffee / Doughnut Vault This collective of coffee shops will be offering a discount on its seasonal pumpkin caramel latte, with salted caramel and pumpkin flavors plus milk and whipped cream on top, if that’s your thing. Prices are $4 for 8 ounces, $4.50 for 12 ounces and $5 for 16 ounces.
Cochon Volant Brasserie Score a free hot coffee with any bakery purchase. The deal is valid all day. 100 W. Monroe St., 312-754-6560, www.cochonvolantchicago.com
Dunkin’ Donuts The national chain happens to be celebrating its 66th anniversary this year, so Dunkin’ will be offering medium hot coffees for 66 cents at participating Chicago locations, combining its birthday celebration with the coffee holiday. Multiple locations, www.dunkindonuts.com
Eataly Down in Caffe Lavazza on its first floor, Eataly will be giving away a free small drip coffee or espresso with the purchase of any other item. 43 E. Ohio St., www.eataly.com
Goddess and the Baker Goddess is going all out for the holiday, most notably with a raffle to give away free coffee for life. Anyone can enter, starting at 7 a.m. at all three locations. The trio of locations will each be offering a trio of special prices as well: $1 drip coffees, $2 lattes and $3 maple sage lattes. Multiple locations, www.goddessandthebaker.com
Hero Coffee Bar You can find discounts on both drip and iced coffee at Hero in the Loop: $1 for a 12-ounce hot coffee and $3 for a nitro cold brew. The coffee shop will also be cooking a coffee-rubbed pork belly sandwich all week for fans of the holiday who are also hungry. 439 S. Dearborn St.
The Kitchen Bistro The River North restaurant offers a special coffee cocktail with NOLA coffee liqueur, Licor 43, Carpano Antica and lemon zest. $12. 316 N. Clark St., www.thekitchen.com
Loba Pastry + Coffee Loba is tapping into your sweet side for the bitter bean’s holiday. The cafe will introduce two types of affogatos (each $5.50) to its dessert menu: a housemade dark chocolate ice cream topped with Sightglass Crown Point espresso, or Sightglass Cubito Caturra espresso poured over chai spice ice cream. Both items will be exclusively available on National Coffee Day. 3422 N. Lincoln Ave., www.lobapastry.com
Julius Meinl There won’t be any discounts at Julius Meinl for the holiday, but the specialty chain does plan to celebrate the day by donating 50 cents of each coffee sold at its Chicago locations to the Trio Animal Foundation, a charity that pays medical bills for homeless pets. Multiple locations, www.meinl.com
Krispy Kreme Unfortunately the only Krispy Kreme in the area is out in Elk Grove Village, but if you’re in the area or want to make a trip, you can get both a small coffee and Original Glazed doughnut for free. Multiple locations, www.krispykreme.com
Peet’s Peet’s plans to give away a free medium drip coffee Thursday to anyone who purchases a nonpackaged food item. Multiple locations, www.peets.com
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee Chicago’s popular donut shop will give away a free glazed donut to anyone purchasing any size Stumptown Nitro Coffee on Thursday. Multiple locations, www.stansdonutschicago.com
Whole Foods No coffee discounts from Whole Foods, but the grocery chain will donate $1 — up to $30,000 — from each coffee sale Thursday to the Whole Plant Foundation to benefit worldwide poverty alleviation programs. Multiple locations, www.wholefoodsmarket.com
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