Saturday, Sept. 29, is National Coffee Day, and we've been up since 4:30 a.m., sipping joe and plotting our next caffeine jolt. 2018 has been the year of the coffee shop for Dallas-Fort Worth, with dozens of indie shops popping up in nearly every suburb.
It's not just a Starbucks world here -- though you can find plenty of those, too. Here's a look at some of our most perk-tinent coffee stories (can we have that one?), in honor of National Coffee Day.
And keep reading ... and sipping that coffee, mmm ... and you'll find Coffee Day deals at the bottom.
This is Dallas' biggest coffee success story.
Read: How one small company is fueling Dallas-Fort Worth's indie coffee boom
There's (good) coffee inside Walmart!?
There sure is. Check out a story about LiftOff, a cool coffee shop popping up inside Walmarts in certain cities.
Fact: Not every coffee shop wants you to work there ALL day.
Read: The buzz about LDU Coffee, a new shop in Dallas serving Australian food and drinks. It'll make you think twice about parking yourself at a coffee shop while you "work from home."
Did you know the largest espresso machine in Texas is in Plano?
Yup. Cafe Intermezzo in Plano can pull 8 shots of espresso at once. Sexy!
The playlist at a coffee shop matters.
Read: 5 D-FW coffee shops with excellent playlists
Coffee, then wine. Or coffee, then beer. It's a thing.
Plenty of coffee shops are starting to serve more than just coffee. At Halcyon Coffee Bar and Lounge on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, they make Long Island Iced Coffee. (Sounds serious.) Two new shops just opened: Civil Pour in Dallas serves beer; and Pearl Cup Sip in Plano specializes in wine.
Check out these coffee shops in the suburbs.
Read: Bike shops in McKinney and Keller transform into one-of-a-kind coffeehouses
Want to see a list of all the notable indie coffee shops in Dallas?
Dallas is brimming with independent coffee shops. Check out our ultimate D-FW coffee shop guide and pick a great place close to you.
Where to find free (or cheap) coffee in North Texas on National Coffee Day
7-Eleven customers can pick their Coffee Day deal: Either download the 7-Eleven app, which gives you 800 free points and can be redeemed for a medium hot coffee; or buy a breakfast sandwich for $2 or more and get a coffee for free on Sept. 29. Find a 7-Eleven here.
Barnes & Noble shoppers can help themselves to a free cup of hot or iced coffee inside its bookstores, which are located in Dallas, Plano, Arlington, Denton, Fort Worth and more. Find a Barnes & Noble here.
Dunkin' Donuts is selling buy one, get one free hot coffees, sizes medium or larger. Find a Dunkin' Donuts here.
Kolache Factory is handing out free 12-ounce cups of Katz Coffee on Sept. 29. The catch: Go to kolachefactory.com and join the email club. Print off the free coffee coupon or show it to the cashier on your phone. Find Kolache Factory shops in Plano, Frisco and Murphy. (Note that a new Kolache Factory in Richardson, at 2051 N. Central Expressway, won't be open in time for free coffee. It's opening next week.)
Krispy Kreme is selling coffee-glazed doughnuts all week, from Sept. 24 through Sept. 30. In addition, anyone can come in and get a cup of free coffee on Sept. 29. Those who are rewards members get a free doughnut on that special day, too. Find a Krispy Kreme here.
Magnolias Sous Le Pont, a coffee shop in the Harwood District in Dallas, will be selling $1 drip coffee starting at 7 a.m. Sept. 29. The shop will also host classes starting at 1 p.m. that will teach patrons more about the art of coffee. Also at 1 p.m., aspiring dancers will be paired with professional dancers in a partnership between PowerPointe and Brown Girls Do Ballet. Magnolias Sous Le Pont is located at 2727 N. Harwood S., Dallas.
McDonald's in Dallas-Fort Worth are selling $1 brewed coffee, any size, and $1 Sausage McMuffins and Sausage Biscuits. These deals aren't only on Sept. 29, so look out for cheap coffee and breakfast on other days, too. Find a McDonald's here.
Pilot Flying J gas stations are handing out free Pilot coffees, any size, on Sept. 28 and 29. (Note: That's a day earlier than most!) Download the myPilot app and find the coupon in myOffers. Find a Pilot Flying J here.
Sprinkles, the cupcake shop, is handing out free cans of High Brew Coffee while supplies last on Sept. 29. They even have recommended cupcake pairings: the red velvet cupcake goes with the double espresso High Brew, they say; the dark chocolate cupcake pairs with the Mexican vanilla High Brew. All Sprinkles in Texas are participating, which include the D-FW locations in Preston Center in Dallas and at Legacy West in Plano.
Know of a National Coffee Day deal in Dallas-Fort Worth we didn't mention? Email sblaskovich@dallasnews.com.
