I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2014 before school and I was up at dawn just so I could get in the car with my my mother (who was a Laker fan by the way) so she could take my siblings and I to Valero. A free cup of coffee was waiting for us, tasting so much sweeter thanks to the San Antonio Spurs beating the Dallas Mavericks in game one, round one of the NBA playoffs. 

That same thing happened at least 15 more times before the Spurs held up the Larry O’Brien trophy that summer, and according to the Internet, I’m not the only one who remembers the feeling of being in line waiting for that free caffeine fix; chanting “Go Spurs Go” while everyone talked about the game the night before.

Free coffee or cappuccinos was a playoff staple in the 210 for years, which was sadly, and quietly, discontinued after the 2018 season. Odd timing, considering the next season would be the last season the Spurs made the playoffs in 2018-19. Coincidence? Who’s to say. But at the time, some Valero gas stations were converting to Circle K stores, and when the question was asked in 2019, Twitter/X users were not happy about it. And neither were Reddit users at the time. So much so, there’s some responses we can’t even share.

However, with the Spurs not only officially back in the playoffs, but being in second place in the Western Conference and feeling like a contender, those same folks are starting to post on social media how much it feels like those early coffee mornings again. And they’re flooding feeds to let it be known: Free coffee needs to make a comeback to truly have it feeling like the Spurs can win championship number six. They’ve only been talking about since the Spurs drafter Victor Wembanyama in 2023.

So, will stores in San Antonio bring back the promotion? Will somebody fill the void like Wemby and company have been this season? Time will tell. The question has been asked. Until then, Go Spurs Go. We’ll be patiently waiting with our cups.Â