How I Get (Almost) Free Coffee

I’m a regular coffee drinker, but don’t want it to become an expensive habit. I drink it black, and most places charge around $2 to $3 for a large cup. I typically drink two or three cups per day. I’ve been cutting down on caffeine by doing a 50/50 mix of regular and decaf.

How do I get almost free coffee for the year? When I started living in my car last August, Panera offered two free months of their Unlimited Sip Club. Sip Club membership gives you access to over 20 of the chain’s beverage options, including any size of hot and iced coffees, teas, lemonade, and fountain drinks. I decided to try it out.

Panera has become my go-to spot to grab coffee and hang out in the morning. A typical day for me is going to the gym at 5 a.m. for a light workout and a shower. Panera opens at 6 a.m., so I walk there for my morning coffee. I’ll hang out there for about 45 minutes and use that time to check emails, social media accounts, my blog, and whatever else needs my attention. Then I’m off to work. It’s the same routine on weekends, minus work.  

An additional bonus regarding the Unlimited Sip Club is the inclusion of hot water. I can use it on occasion for my oatmeal in the morning.

After my two-month free trial period, I joined the Unlimited Sip Club for a discount of $99 instead of the regular $119 for one year. That’s my total coffee budget for 14 months. I’m enjoying unlimited coffee from Panera for only a little over $7 a month. It’s a pretty good deal.

There are nearly 2,200 Panera’s across the United States, so I can usually find one nearby whenever I travel for vacations or weekend road trips. Besides Panera, the office at my regular day job provides free coffee. Thanks to Panera and my office job, I save considerable money on coffee.