Krispy Kreme is betting that coffee belongs inside the doughnut, not just beside it, launching a limited-run Original Glazed Coffee Flavored Doughnut with a $5 dozen deal that runs through National Coffee Day on Sept. 29.
The chain announced the new product on Sept. 23, describing it as a twist on its signature Original Glazed that delivers a "smooth, creamy coffee flavor that is subtly bold and perfectly sweet." The doughnut will be available from Sept. 26 through Sept. 29 at Krispy Kreme locations nationwide.
The deal works like this: buy a dozen doughnuts at regular price, and a second dozen of the coffee-flavored variety costs $5. In-shop and drive-thru customers can grab up to two dozen at the promotional price. Orders placed through the Krispy Kreme mobile app, using promo code "COFFEE", are capped at one dozen per customer for pickup or delivery.
On National Coffee Day itself, Krispy Kreme is also giving away a free small or medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase. That offer is limited to one per guest.
The coffee-doughnut launch caps a busy stretch of new product announcements from the chain. Krispy Kreme unveiled its fall Autumn Seasonal Collection back on Aug. 7 and followed up on Sept. 21 with Churro Doughnut Dots, bite-sized pieces of the company's signature dough tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with a dulce de leche dipping sauce. Each order comes with eight dots and one small cup of the sauce. Krispy Kreme called the dots a "poppable, shareable treat."
The flurry of limited-time items comes as Krispy Kreme pushes to expand its footprint. The Washington Examiner reported that McDonald's struck a national partnership with Krispy Kreme to sell three varieties of the chain's doughnuts at all U.S. McDonald's locations by the end of 2026. Under that deal, McDonald's restaurants will carry the doughnuts throughout the day until supplies run out, giving Krispy Kreme access to thousands of additional points of sale without building a single new store.
Krispy Kreme has leaned hard on the limited-time-offer model. Seasonal collections, holiday-themed glazes, and promotional pricing tied to calendar events keep the brand in the news cycle and give customers a reason to visit before the window closes. The coffee-flavored doughnut fits that pattern, available for just four days, timed to a food holiday that already drives traffic to coffee shops and fast-casual chains.
Whether the coffee-flavored doughnut earns a permanent spot on the menu remains to be seen. For now, customers looking to try one can use the chain's store locator at krispykreme.com to find their nearest location.
In a market where every chain is fighting for the same morning dollar, Krispy Kreme is making a straightforward bet: give people what they already want, coffee and doughnuts, and put them in the same bite.