It is officially everyone’s favorite holiday- National Coffee Day. In celebration of the holiday, all Dunkin Donuts are offering a free medium dark roast coffee to anyone who comes in to celebrate. Anything free is great, but free coffee, even better.

While National Coffee Day is great for anyone who needs a coffee today, it is also great for Dunkin Donuts. Through giving away free coffee, the company is getting more advertisement as people tell friends, family, or anyone near them that something is actually free. With social media so important these days, one person tweeting about free coffee can lead to ten people going to Dunkin Donuts. With the influx of freeloaders to Dunkin, they are more likely buy a donut, sandwich, muffin, or munchkins to complement their coffee. The free coffee also makes them feel obligated to buy from the company and buy more than they would regularly. This is also a tradition at Dunkin Donuts, so people know that each year they can pick up a free coffee on September 29th.

While everyone who picked up one, or ten, free coffees on National Coffee Day wins, Dunkin Donuts is really winning more. The company is gaining customers, free advertisement, and better appeals to coffee lovers.

Starbucks, another major coffeehouse, is also celebrating the program, but not by giving away a freebie. They are starting a program, One Tree For Every Bag Commitment that will continue over the next year. Each time someone buys a bag of coffee at a Starbucks Store, Starbucks will plant a tree in a community in need.

Anyways, go and celebrate. Buy a coffee (or go to Dunkin and get one for free), make some coffee, buy a new mug, and so on. And remember, National Coffee Day only comes once a year.