Money Saving Expert (MSE) Martin Lewis has shared a list of big named brands offering free tea and coffee deals. The money guru shared a list, which includes supermarkets and high street chains found in many a city – including here in Bristol – on the official MSE website.
On his blog, he writes: “Though a free cuppa is a great way to cut down on those little unnecessary costs, for some people a hot drink could really change the course of their day. Why not use your free drink offer to give it to someone more in need – something that will cost you nothing, but a gesture that could mean a lot.”
Here’s the list of offers from Money Saving Expert, as well as how often you can claim one, and what you need to do to get it…
Free Caffe Nero or Greggs drink
Who is it for: For Octopus Energy customers with a smart meter
What: If you’re a member of Octoplus Rewards, you can claim one free drink each week, in-store from either Caffe Nero or Greggs.
How:Octoplus Rewards is free to join for Octopus Energy customers with a smart meter. If you’re eligible, you can sign up via its website or app.
Once signed in you’ll be able to choose between a free drink offer from either Caffè Nero or Greggs. You’ll only be able to redeem one of them, so choose wisely.
When you arrive at either Caffè Nero (find your nearest) or Greggs (find your nearest), select ‘reveal offer’ in the Octoplus tab of the Octopus app. When you’re ready to pay, select ‘activate offer’ and show the staff member your QR code.
You’ll need to use your code in the same week you claim it on your account. Codes expire every Sunday at 11.59pm. When you click ‘activate offer’ you’ll only have a limited time to redeem it, so make sure staff at the till are ready before you activate it.
Caffè Nero lets you choose selected hot or cold drinks, whereas the Greggs freebie must be a ‘regular’ size hot drink. For exclusions, see more info here.
Free tea or filter coffee at Ikea
Who is it for: Ikea shoppers with an Ikea Family card
What: When you shop in store at Ikea on weekdays, you can get a free cup of tea or filter coffee, which is normally £1, when you swipe an Ikea Family card at the in-store restaurant. Ikea Family is the free loyalty scheme, and you can sign up online or in store.
How: You can get a free hot drink Monday to Friday at all stores except Hammersmith, Aberdeen Order & Collection Point and Plan & Order Points. Ikea says you’ll only need one Ikea Family card to get free drinks for everyone you’re with. Find out more here.
‘Free’ tea or coffee at Waitrose
Who is it for: Loyalty card holders when you make a purchase and bring your own cup
What: If you sign up for a myWaitrose loyalty card you can get a free regular-sized tea or coffee in-store every day from the self-serve machine, when you make a purchase and use your own reusable cup. You can choose from americano, cappuccino, latte or tea.
Some purchases are excluded, such as carrier bags (see ‘More info’ below for the full list), but a 20p banana should do it if all you’re really after is a MoneySaving brew.
How: If you haven’t got one already, you’ll receive your physical myWaitrose loyalty card within five weeks of signing up via the link above. Alternatively, you can download a myWaitrose card via the app (free in the App Store or Google Play).
Simply make a purchase and swipe your card at the till – you can then go and get your free drink using your reusable cup. In some Waitrose stores, you need to scan your loyalty card in order to use the machine.
Waitrose used to hand out disposable coffee cups for this freebie, but in 2018 it stopped this for environmental reasons.
Morrisons Cafe free unlimited hot drink refills when you buy a £1.85 hot drink
Who is it for: Morrisons customers who buy a £1.85 hot drink
What: If you’re visiting a Morrisons Café (find your nearest), you can get unlimited free refills on hot drinks including lattes, cappuccinos, fruit teas and hot chocolates.
How: There’s no code or voucher needed, Morrisons says the free refills will be available across all self-serve hot drinks including lattes, cappuccinos, fruit teas and hot chocolates – see a full list of participating stores. You’ll just need to buy one hot drink to begin with (from £1.85) at the till, then you can refill as many times as you like.
This offer runs all day from café opening time until closing, every day of the week and includes alternative milks. There’s currently no end date to the offer, and Morrisons told Money Saving Expert it’ll be ongoing during the winter months. This is a dine-in offer only.
Wetherspoon free unlimited hot drink refills when you buy a £1.56 hot drink
Who is it for: Wetherspoon customers who buy a £1.56 hot drink.
What: If you’re visiting pub chain Wetherspoon (find your nearest), you can get unlimited free refills on hot drinks including coffee, tea and hot chocolates.
How: There’s no code or voucher needed, Wetherspoons says the free refills will be available across all self-serve hot drinks. You’ll just need to buy one hot drink to begin with (in most pubs these cost £1.56, though prices differ depending on location) at the bar, then you can refill as many times as you like.
In some High Street pubs, hot drinks are £1.04, but at airports and the NEC Birmingham they’re £3.40. This offer runs all day from pub opening time until closing, every day of the week. Take-away cups are also available for any hot drink, so you can take a refill to go with you as well.
Greggs free hot drink
Who is it for: Greggs customers who sign up to the Greggs app
What: If you download and sign up to the Greggs app, you can get a totally free regular-sized hot drink (including tea, latte, cappuccino and more) – you don’t need to buy anything, this is a total freebie.
How: The free hot drink will appear automatically in the ‘Wallet’ section of the app once signed in, and you’ll have 31 days to redeem it in-store. If you give Greggs your date of birth when signing up, you’ll also get a free sweet treat (such as a doughnut or cupcake) during your birthday month.
£1 barista-made hot or cold drink at Caffe Nero
Who is it for: Three mobile customers
What: While not a freebie, MSE has included this in its list as it says “we still think £1 for a barista-made drink at a big coffee chain is a good deal worth sharing”. If you’re a Three pay monthly or pay-as-you-go mobile customer, download the Three+ app (free at the App store or Google Play) to get a barista-made hot or cold drink for £1 at Caffè Nero (find your nearest).
How: You can claim the £1 drink once a week on any day of the week, from café opening to close – see ‘More info’ below for the full list of included beverages. There’s no minimum spend and this applies to any size hot or cold drink prepared by a barista (excludes bottled drinks, cartons and cans).
To get your caffeine fix for a quid, you’ll need to go to the Three+ app and select the offer. This will display a QR code which you can then show at the till. A new code will be generated each week.
While prices of drinks vary on the Caffè Nero menu, some can cost up to £4.15 (for example, a frappe with cream and marshmallows), so you could save up to £3.15 with this deal. You can’t use the Caffè Nero rewards app when claiming this drink. The deal isn’t valid for click and collect or delivery, and it can’t be used alongside any other offer.