The coffee day that matters most in the UK is International Coffee Day on 1 October, set by the International Coffee Organization. Most of the other "national" coffee days began in the US as unofficial days, but they're still a good excuse for a special cup.
Coffee days through the year
| Date | Coffee day | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 25 January | Irish Coffee Day | US, unofficial |
| 11 February | Latte Day | US, unofficial |
| 17 February | Café au Lait Day | US, unofficial |
| 15 March | Espresso Martini Day | Unofficial |
| 7 April | Coffee Cake Day | US, unofficial |
| 24 May | Brazil's national coffee day | Brazil |
| Second Friday in September | Costa Rica's national coffee day | Costa Rica |
| 29 September | National Coffee Day | US, unofficial |
| 1 October | International Coffee Day, and Japan's Coffee Day | International Coffee Organization; All Japan Coffee Association |
| 8 November | Cappuccino Day | US, unofficial |
| 23 November | Espresso Day | US, unofficial |
There's no official UK National Coffee Day. UK Coffee Week, which raised money for the clean water charity Project Waterfall, last ran in October 2025 and has been paused for 2026.
A note on Coffee Cake Day: in the US, "coffee cake" means a cake to eat with coffee rather than one flavoured with it. We think it's the perfect excuse to bake a coffee and walnut cake anyway.
Easy ways to celebrate a coffee day
Try a coffee from somewhere new
International Coffee Day is about the millions of farmers who grow coffee, so it's a good day to try an origin you've never had. Start with our guide to South American coffee.
Brew it a different way
If you always use a cafetière, try a pour-over, an AeroPress or a moka pot. Our five steps to better coffee work whichever brewer you use.
Bake something to go with it
A slice of cake and a good coffee is hard to beat. Bake a spare one for a neighbour who doesn't get out much.
Share a cup
Invite a friend round for a proper brew, or buy a coffee for the person behind you in the queue. In the 1600s and 1700s, England's coffee houses were nicknamed "penny universities": for the price of a coffee, you got a seat and a good conversation.
Make an Irish coffee on 25 January
Hot coffee, a spoonful of brown sugar and a measure of Irish whiskey, topped with lightly whipped cream poured over the back of a spoon. Use a coffee with chocolatey or caramel notes.
Give coffee as a gift
A coffee day is a good reason to treat a coffee lover. A coffee gift subscription brings them a new speciality coffee through the letterbox for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months.
Discover a new coffee every delivery
Get a different single-origin speciality coffee from the UK's top independent roasters, freshly roasted and 100% arabica. Choose whole beans or a grind for your brewer, including decaf. Free UK delivery, and you can skip a delivery, change your date or cancel anytime.
