Waitrose brings back free coffee with no purchase needed – here's how to get yours

If you're a new or existing My Waitrose loyalty scheme member, you can now claim a free hot drink every day without having to make a purchase. The only catch is that you'll need to bring your own reusable cup in most cases.
Waitrose's free hot drink offer was launched in 2014, but it changed its terms in 2017 to require members to buy something before claiming their beverage. During the pandemic, the supermarket paused the scheme entirely before bringing it back in 2022 with a purchase required.
Here's how to get a free tea or coffee at Waitrose
From Monday 27 January, you can get a regular americano, cappuccino, latte or tea for free at stand-alone Waitrose and Little Waitrose stores. To avoid missing out (and to help the planet), remember to bring in your own reusable cup, as Waitrose will only provide cups "in some cases" subject to availability.
You'll need to claim your freebie from a Waitrose-branded self-serve coffee machine – you can't get a free coffee from any of the Waitrose cafés. Simply scan your physical My Waitrose card, or the barcode on your digital card, at the coffee machine and select your drink. The deal includes dairy alternatives, such as oat milk.
You can't claim the offer at Waitrose petrol stations, including Shell garages or Welcome Break branches that have Waitrose stores inside. However, at some of these branches you can claim a hot drink at no extra cost if you spend a minimum of £40 on fuel – see the list of stores.
Not a My Waitrose member? You can sign up for free to benefit
Join online for free and you'll get a digital card to use straight away. You can then access it through the Waitrose app on iOS and Android.
If you want a physical card, you'll be able to order one three days after joining by selecting 'Order plastic card' in your online account.
For more ways to nab a free or cheap hot drink, see our Free tea & coffee deals.