Waitrose updates popular hot drink loyalty perk — but shoppers face £3 fines

Waitrose is trialling a change to a popular loyalty scheme perk — but customers could face a charge if they don't follow the rules.
The middle-class supermarket offers its My Waitrose shoppers a free hot drink, without buying anything in store, as long they bring a reusable cup.
Now, in a bid to ensure everyone gets their caffeine fix, customers can borrow a cup if they've forgotten their own.
Sounds like a pretty great deal, but it comes with a catch. If shoppers don't bring the cup back to a designated collection point within seven days, they'll face a £3 penalty.
The 'Borrow a Free Cup' system aims to reduce plastic waste and is currently being tested at nine branches. It was first spotted in Waitrose's Newark store, according to The Grocer.
A Waitrose spokesperson said: 'We're currently conducting a reusable cup trial in nine of our branches – it kicked off this week and is available for MyWaitrose members to use when redeeming their free coffee, or for our cafe customers to use if purchasing one.'
Shoppers will need to tap their MyWaitrose card to redeem their free brew. Those who bring in a reusable cup will be able to enjoy the perk as normal.
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Waitrose first introduced its free hot drink offer in 2013. But in 2017, uproar ensued when the supermarket changed its terms to require members to make a purchase to get their free brew.
Then came heartbreak once more when the pandemic hit – the scheme was paused for two whole years. In 2022, it was reintroduced, but with the same terms that a purchase was necessary.
Since January this year though, Waitrose customers have been able to pour themselves a cup of Joe (or tea) without paying a penny for anything inside the store, as long as they bring their own cup.
Customers can enjoy an americano, cappuccino, latte or tea inside Waitrose and Little Waitrose stores. The drinks are made with Caffe Nero beans, and obviously, oat milk is included.
The only requirement to redeem the free perk is that the reusable cup fits under the nozzle of the self-service coffee machine. More Trending
When the return of free coffee was announced back in January, fans flocked to X to share their delight.
'Going to Waitrose and getting a free coffee is a form of therapy,' @harry_jrh wrote.
'Can there be anything more full of middle-class tension than a queue at the free coffee machine, with a frisson of fear it might be broken?' @PhilipGlanville said.
View More »
While @ruth_walshe joked that 'moving north to south is discovering the joy of buying a 30p banana from Waitrose and getting a free coffee.'
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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