It’s now simpler than ever to get your free tea or espresso.

For the previous couple of years, you wanted to make a purchase order to nab the free drink in Waitrose, however in mini scheme revamp, that’s now not the case.

Right here’s what it’s good to find out about getting your free drink.

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Learn how to get a free scorching drink at Waitrose

The supply has a handful of situations. First up it’s good to be a member of the free My Waitrose scheme. This additionally affords cash off coupons every week and reductions on cheese, meat and fish from the counters. Right here’s our full guide to the scheme.

Then when in retailer you’ll have to deliver your individual reusable cup. In the event you don’t have one, you’ll want to purchase one. Some places could be trialling a free recyclable cup.

And for the previous couple of years you’ve additionally needed to make a purchase order to get the drink at no cost. That may very well be something, even a 1p unfastened mushroom (if you happen to might discover one!). However that’s now modified.

From 27 January 2025 you don’t want to purchase something to qualify for the drink! So all it’s good to do is scan your My Waitrose card (you’ll discover this within the app) on the espresso machine.

What free drinks are you able to get?

Don’t anticipate a elaborate barista-made drink. These are all out of a self-service machine, not cafes.

The supply is just for the next drinks:

  • Americano
  • Latte
  • Cappuccino
  • Tea

Beforehand scorching chocolate was obtainable, nevertheless it’s not listed within the supply phrases any extra.

The milk is all free-range (as all Waitrose dairy is) and non-dairy alternate options can be obtainable. The beans are Rainforest Alliance licensed from the Nero Roasting Firm (a part of Caffe Nero however completely different beans – apparently). There’s no element as but on the teas on supply.

How typically are you able to get a free drink?

You’re restricted to only one free drink per day per membership. However if you happen to go daily, that’s seven free scorching drinks.

Technically, if in case you have somebody in your family or a good friend who can also be member of the scheme however doesn’t drink scorching drinks, you can add their membership card to your cellphone utilizing an app like StoCard, and scan that for a drink too . Nonetheless phrases say the cardholder should be current, so there’s a danger {that a} member of workers would possibly discover you profiting from the supply greater than as soon as a day.

The place to get your MyWaitrose scorching drink

The supply can be working in most shops, with a number of exceptions. You may declare a drink at any Welcome Break Waitrose or many of the ones connected to Shell garages.

There are a handful at Shell places the place you will get a drink if you happen to spend £40 on gasoline:

  • Bagshot Highway,
  • Battersea,
  • Broxbourne,
  • Burgh Heath,
  • Burnt Widespread,
  • Ealing,
  • Guildford,
  • Hazelmere,
  • Headington,
  • Horley,
  • Kensington Gardens,
  • Petts Wooden,
  • Roehampton,
  • Tubs Hill

Learn how to be part of My Waitrose

It’s free to get the Waitrose loyalty scheme. You may join by way of the Waitrose web site or app. Full particulars in our guide to My Waitrose.

How a lot cash might you save?

*I have to pop to a Waitrose to get the newest costs, however that is based mostly on 2022 prices*

Waitrose say the coffees start at £2.35 and teas at £2.25. Assuming you might be paying an identical quantity (£2.30) elsewhere, and purchase one as soon as every week and also you’re higher off by £119.60 over 12 months! Then double that for twice every week and so forth.

And if you happen to’re spending extra in your coffees proper now, then that saving can be even greater. Maybe saving one other one, two or three quid per drink (although clearly, it received’t be like for like).

So even if you happen to solely change one or two drinks every week, this supply is effectively price exploring for any caffeine addict.

Extra Waitrose and Cfdfe Nero affords

In the event you join your My Waitrose and Caffe Nero playing cards and make a purchase order in Nero, you’ll have the ability to get a number of barista espresso in any Caffe Nero. You’ll additionally get 25% off meals.

Archive: might you get your “free” drink for 1p?

The free drink was additionally free when it first launched. However that modified in 2017 when a minimal spend was launched. The article and video I produced in response are the closest went viral!

Right here in full is the story of when, for enjoyable, I went attempting to find the most affordable merchandise in my native Waitrose.

The 1p trick to get your “free” Waitrose tea or espresso

(Initially printed March 2017)

A lot to the anger of most of the people (OK, folks on Twitter), Waitrose has introduced it’s stopping the free tea and occasional in its shops.

Now, you’ll solely need to go any purchase one thing earlier than getting your complimentary scorching beverage. Purchase one thing! In a grocery store? Are they loopy?

I feel it’s truthful sufficient, however as social media demonstrated, some folks simply need to have their free drink.

So once I obtained the e-mail from Waitrose this morning detailing the plans I dropped every thing and ran to my nearest retailer. And by that I imply I ambled round slightly at residence earlier than happening a 30-minute stroll within the sunshine (sure, a complete hour there and again simply to deliver you this text).

My mission: To search out the most affordable doable merchandise you should buy in Waitrose in an effort to get your free tea or espresso.

At first, I assumed chocolate may very well be a winner, although we all know a Freddo is now not a budget choc it was once. Maybe the 5p service bag can be sufficient, however the phrases and situations explicitly state these baggage don’t rely. Stunning.

However as quickly as I entered the shop, it was immediately apparent the place I used to be going to search out the most affordable stuff. Fruit and veg. Unfastened fruit and veg to be precise.

First I picked up a unfastened “important” white onion. At 75p per kg I hunted for the smallest one I might discover. Utilizing the flamboyant digital scales I weighed the onion and slightly sticker was printed telling me it value 13p. Now, 13p for a free tea or espresso AND an onion appears fairly good.

But it surely bought higher.

Out of the nook of my eye I noticed shelf upon shelf of fairtrade bananas. These have been barely cheaper at 72p per kg so all I wanted to do was discover one of many identical weight or lower than the onion. And I did! A tiny 8p. Certainly that’s the reply for everybody? Purchase a banana and get a free drink?

However if you wish to go much more excessive in your quest to pay nearly nothing to get your caffeine, I discovered one thing even smaller. Unfastened brussels sprouts. Let’s face it, nobody desires these at Christmas not to mention within the spring, so maybe that is the best way to make use of up all the excess inventory. Although costlier in weight at £2 per kg, the very fact the sprout was so tiny meant it value me solely 3p.

Job performed. Nobody will discover one thing cheaper than that. EXCEPT I ONLY WENT AND DID JUST THAT.

Nonetheless within the veg part, I seen unfastened cup mushrooms. At £2.85 per kg they have been the costliest of all of the veg I weight, however I discovered a mushroom so small, and so mild the sticker printed out a 1p. Sure. Go to Waitrose and purchase your self one tiny mushroom and you will get your tea or espresso all for only a single penny.

Let’s hope there’s sufficient inventory left. I hope we don’t see a run on the ‘shrooms.