This has been a difficult year for everyone, and while some people are lucky enough to work from home and minimize their risk of getting COVID-19, other people who we now refer to as essential workers, have gone to work every day. These delivery drivers, grocery store employees and healthcare workers (just to name a few) have truly been essential this year more than ever before.

Back when the pandemic started, Starbucks decided to thank front line workers like doctors, nurses and police officers by offering them each a free cup of coffee. Now, Starbucks has decided to bring back that offer.

In a statement on December 1, 2020, Starbucks announced that front-line responders would be able to get a free cup of hot or iced coffee through the month of December. This offer is Starbucks’ way of showing how much the coffee giant appreciates the hard work these front-line workers are doing to protect communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virginia Tenpenny, Starbucks vice president, Global Social Impact, explained, “It has been an extraordinarily difficult year, especially for the front-line responders who are serving our communities. We want to show our deep gratitude for those who support and protect us every day with a small gesture of kindness and a cup of coffee.”

According to the announcement from Starbucks, the following front-line workers are eligible for the free hot or iced coffee: “doctors, nurses, public health workers, pharmacists, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, dentists and dental hygienists, mental health workers (therapist, psychologist, social worker, counselor, etc.), hospital staff such as janitor/housekeeping/security, and active-duty military.”

The offer is available from December 1 through December 31, 2020. In order to get the free coffee, an eligible front-line worker just needs to go to a participating Starbucks location and identify as a front-line worker. “The offer can be redeemed at Starbucks U.S. company-operated locations and select licensed stores.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Starbucks has given front-line workers over 2 million free cups of coffee. They have also given gift cards to thousands of front-line workers, and they have given 110 pallets of K-cup pods to military units and hospitals.

If you know someone who is a front-line worker, be sure to let them know about this generous offer from Starbucks.

Are you a front-line worker? Which would you choose, a free hot coffee or a free iced coffee?