Octopus Energy Free Coffee has changed , And I Think It Is a Shame

Daily Octoplus Coffee Codes Are Moving to a Weekly Scratchcard Format

Octopus Energy has changed its Octoplus rewards scheme, with the familiar Octopus Energy free coffee offer moving into a new weekly Monday Scratchcard format.

Instead of opening the app and claiming a coffee code when one became available, customers will now scratch once each Monday for a chance to win coffee, snacks, discounts and other prizes.

Octopus says the new system gives more people an equal chance, but as someone who regularly used the coffee reward, I am not convinced it represents an improvement.

I have claimed 37 free coffees through Octoplus over the past 2 years, according to the email Octopus sent me about the change. That is not a life-changing financial savings, but it was a perk I genuinely used and looked forward to; it felt like a small weekly thank-you for remaining an Octopus Energy customer.

What is changing with the Octopus Energy free coffee reward?

The new Octoplus Monday Scratchcard became available on Monday 13th July 2026. Customers need to open the Octopus Energy app, visit the Octoplus section and scratch the digital card before midnight on Monday. Anyone who wins must claim the prize that day, although the reward can then be saved and used later.

Octopus says tens of thousands of rewards will be available each week. These may include free coffees, food treats, chocolate, delivery discounts and access to larger competitions. Customers who do not win on the scratchcard will also be eligible for a monthly prize draw.

The company says the change makes the process fairer because customers no longer need to open the app early and race to claim a limited coffee code. Everyone receives the same opportunity to scratch on Monday. That will suit customers who regularly missed the old reward because they checked the app too late. I was someone who knew to check earlier in the day to make sure I got my coffee, and there weren't many weeks I missed a coffee when I wanted one!

I tried the Monday Scratchcard and didn't win

Octopus gave some regular Octoplus users early access to the new scratchcard while continuing the existing coffee offer for one final week. This meant both rewards were available together during the launch period. The overlap gave customers a chance to try the new system without immediately losing their coffee reward.

I tried the scratchcard and did not win anything. I was still able to claim a free coffee through the existing offer, so I did not lose out during the first week. From Monday 20th July, that safety net disappears because the regular coffee drops are being withdrawn.

That first attempt sums up my concern about the change. Under the old system, I knew I had a reasonable chance of getting a coffee if I remembered to check the app and acted before the codes ran out. Under the new system, I have to remember, every Monday, to open the app on time and hope to get something, but I may still receive nothing. As it happens, a few weeks on, I have won a coffee and also two Lidl bakery items; none of which I've actually gone on to redeem as the coffee was from a coffee shop chain I dont have nearby and I don't go to Lidl very often and I would have had to go especially for a free bakery item, which isn't worth it, but that said, for other people, those prizes may have been appreciated.

The coffee was worth more than its cash value

I can already get a discounted £1 coffee through O2 Priority. I also receive a free weekly coffee as part of the rewards included with my Monzo Perks account, so losing the Octopus Energy free coffee doesn't mean I will suddenly have to pay full price every time I fancy one; in fact I won't, I dont buy coffee unless I'm desperate and thats super rare; its free, or I wait till I get home to have one!

That is not really the point; loyalty rewards work because they make customers feel that a company notices and values their continued business. The coffee was a small but useful benefit that arrived regularly, rather than a remote chance of winning something larger.

A free drink might only save a few pounds a month, but the feeling behind it carries more weight. Every time I used the reward, Octopus received another small reminder of why I had chosen to stay with them. It created goodwill, and goodwill matters when customers compare tariffs and decide whether to switch.

Is the Monday Scratchcard really fairer?

There is a reasonable argument in favour of the new system. Customers who could not check the app early may now have a better chance because the scratchcard remains available throughout Monday. Octopus is also increasing the overall number and variety of prizes rather than concentrating mainly on coffee codes.

The difficulty is that a greater number of prizes across the whole membership does not automatically mean better value for each individual customer. Someone who regularly claimed a coffee may now win less often, while another customer who never managed to secure one could receive something for the first time. Whether the change feels fair will depend heavily on how often people actually win.

This is the difference between a reward and a competition. A repeatable reward gives customers something they can plan to use. A scratchcard offers possibility, but it replaces a useful benefit with uncertainty.

Other Octoplus rewards are staying

Octopus has confirmed that several existing Octoplus offers will continue. These include discounted cinema tickets, free Rakuten movie rentals and other member deals. The company is also adding discounts involving brands such as Krispy Kreme, MUBI, Forest Bikes and Camp Bestival.

There are plans for larger competitions involving concert tickets, trips and other experiences. Those prizes will appeal to some customers, especially if the number of winners proves generous. A chance to win a weekend away still does not replace a coffee I could use during an ordinary week.

That is often where loyalty programmes lose sight of what customers value. Big prizes create eye-catching promotions, but small recurring benefits can have a greater effect on everyday spending. A customer may never win a holiday, yet they will remember the drink they collected every Friday.

Are loyalty schemes becoming less rewarding?

This change feels familiar because more loyalty schemes seem to be moving away from simple, dependable rewards. Regular benefits are increasingly being replaced by prize draws, games and offers that depend on timing or luck. Companies may say these systems spread rewards more widely, but they can also make the value of membership feel far less certain.

O2 is a good example. Its Blue Monday promotion used to run every week, and everyone received something. The prizes were not always huge, but that was not really the point. It was a regular customer benefit that made me feel appreciated and gave me another reason to stay with O2.

Earlier this year, O2 changed the offer to a more spin-and-win format. I still check it each week, but I now seem to win something around twice a month rather than receiving a reward every time. I am not expecting a freebie every week out of greed, but losing that dependable benefit has taken some of the shine off O2 for me.

That change has also made me look at my loyalty differently. I recently tried the free switching service Nous, which estimated that I could save around £300 a year by moving to a rival mobile provider. In the past, I would probably have dismissed the idea because I valued O2 Priority and the regular freebies that came with it.

Now I am considering the switch far more seriously. A £300 annual saving would buy a lot of coffee, and when a company starts removing the perks that helped build your loyalty in the first place, it becomes easier to look elsewhere. I tend to reward loyalty with loyalty, but that only works when the relationship still feels worthwhile from both sides.

Could this make me switch energy supplier?

I have been happy to remain with Octopus Energy, and the free coffee reward has played a small part in that. Energy prices and service will always matter more than a drink, but loyalty is often built from several smaller experiences rather than one large gesture; the coffee was one of those experiences.

When my current tariff comes up for review, I will look again at the wider market. Nous did suggest I'd pay less elsewhere, but I am under contract, so I can't up and leave right now; when my contract ends, so might my long-standing relationship with Octopus Energy. Losing the coffee reward will not be the only factor, but it removes one reason to stay. If another supplier offers a competitive price and a better overall package, I will be more willing to consider moving.

I tend to reward loyalty with loyalty; when a company gives me a useful benefit and treats me like a valued customer, I am more inclined to remain with it. When that guaranteed value becomes a weekly gamble, the relationship starts to feel different.

Octopus may find that the Monday Scratchcard reaches more customers and creates more winners overall. I hope it does, because a poor chance of winning would make the change even harder to defend.

For me, the first week ended without a scratchcard prize, and from 20th July there will no longer be a separate coffee reward to fall back on, but we'll see what happens; other than this change, I've been happy with Octopus Energy, and people do ask me if I'd recommend it, and I do!

Even after losing a coffee or two, I still say it's worth joining. I've given out my Octopus referral link a few times recently, which gives both the new Octopus user and me £50 of energy credit. For now, I'll stick with what I know!

Frequently asked questions

Is Octopus Energy stopping its free coffee offer?

The regular coffee code drops are ending, but free coffees will remain among the prizes available through the Monday Scratchcard. This means customers may still win one, but they will no longer be able to claim the coffee as before.

When do the Octopus Energy free coffee codes end?

Octopus says the regular coffee drops will stop from Monday 20 July 2026. During the week beginning 13 July, selected customers could use both the usual coffee offer and the new scratchcard.

How does the Octoplus Monday Scratchcard work?

Open the Octopus Energy app on Monday and visit the Octoplus section. Scratch the digital card before midnight, then claim any prize you win that day and save it for later use.

What happens if I do not win on the scratchcard?

Customers whose scratchcard does not produce a prize will be eligible for a separate monthly prize draw. This provides another chance to win, but it does not guarantee that you will receive a reward.

Are the other Octoplus rewards ending?

Octopus says existing offers such as discounted cinema tickets and free Rakuten movie rentals will continue. New brand discounts and larger prize competitions are also being added to the scheme.