January 30

Caribou Coffee offers customers a free cup of decaf coffee in response to Starbucks’ decision to brew decaf in the afternoon only upon request.

February 17

Starbucks launches Via instant coffee in Seattle and Illinois stores.

February 22

Caribou Coffee launches More 'Bou for Your Buck, offering any bakery item for $1 with the purchase of a large coffee. The promotion runs through March 22.

March 3

Starbucks introduces value pairings: a tall (small) coffee with a baked good or a breakfast sandwich for $2.99 to $3.99.

April 21

Dunkin’ Donuts offers customers a small iced coffee for 50 cents and donates 5 cents for every small iced coffee purchased to Homes for Our Troops.

May 5

McDonald’s rolls out its McCafé line of espresso beverages nationwide.

June 30

Starbucks announces that all of its food items, as part of the new Real Food menu, are free of high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes and flavors. Starbucks also announces the return of the Treat Receipt, which offers any grande beverage for $2 after 2 p.m. for customers who bring in their receipt from that morning, through Sept. 28.

June 30

Corner Bakery introduces the Morning Rush bundle: a small coffee and a muffin or a bagel with cream cheese for $2.99 until 11 a.m.

July 16

Dunkin’ Donuts introduces the Frozen Cappuccino blended beverage.

July 21

Starbucks hosts Free Pastry Day, letting customers select the complimentary baked good of their choice before 10:30 a.m. (Two days later, Starbucks earned the title of Facebook's most popular brand, having tallied more than 3.6 million fans on the site, according to Inside Facebook--including nearly 200,000 who became fans in the week leading up to Free Pastry Day.)

July 21

McDonald’s debuts McCafé Mocha Monday, offering a free 8-ounce hot or iced mocha from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.