Where to Get Free Coffee for National Coffee Day 2012

If the first words out of your mouth every morning are, "I'll have a large coffee"-or if you can't even speak until after you've had your java fix-there's a national holiday created especially for you.

America will put staunch tea drinkers to shame on National Coffee Day on Sept. 29, when coffee fiends can rejoice and celebrate their beloved coffee bean with free brew from national chains.

Coffee was first brought to America in the mid-1600s in a shipment en route to "New Amsterdam," now known as New York, according to the National Coffee Association. We have that shipment and the Boston Tea Party to thank for turning the nation into coffee drinkers.

Many local cafes and businesses are participating in the national celebration. Visit them to check out specials offered on Saturday.

Your local Cups of Joe include:

• Java Dawg (The Java Dawg bus will also be at the Sarasota Farmers Market)
• The Local Bean (Formerly Local Coffee + Tea)
• The Coffee Loft
• Pastry Art
• LeLu Coffee Lounge

National coffee chains will also be giving out free cups of coffee during the week of Sept. 23.

McDonald's restaurants along the East Coast will be giving away free 12-ounce coffees every day from Sept. 23 through Sept. 29. No purchase is necessary, and coffee will be available in the drive-thru or in the restaurants.

It's CofFREE Day at 7-Eleven, which means a free large coffee for anyone who stops by a participating 7-Eleven store between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sept. 28.

If you'll find yourself in Tampa, Palm Harbor or Brandon on Saturday, Krispy Kreme is offering one free 12-ounce House Blend Coffee per customer at participating stores on Sept. 29, with no purchase necessary. The company is also holding a contest in conjunction with their 75th anniversary. Participants will have a chance to win two free bags of coffee per month for the next year.

From: sarasota.patch.com