McDonald’s is making it easy to get a cup of coffee this week and it’s free.

In preparation for National Coffee Day this weekend, the fast-food giant is giving away small, 12-ounce cups of coffee anytime during operating hours through Saturday, said J.M. Owens, a metro Atlanta McDonald’s operator and former president of the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association. About 5,000 restaurants in the company’s east division from Florida to Maine are participating.

“We think this is a good investment in our loyal customer base,” Owens said. “You don’t have to have any coupons, just come on in.”

This is the second year that local operators have participated in the giveaway, Owens said. Despite the company’s deep advertising pockets, the promotion helps to keep the brand’s coffee product top of mind with consumers who may not always associate java with McDonald’s, he said.

“Even though you tell people a million times what you’ve got, there are still people who don’t know,” he said.

Local operators anticipate giving about 75,000 to 80,000 free cups of coffee for the week, Owens said. Nationally operators are estimating they’ll give away about 10 million cups of coffee.

“We looked at the results last year and decided it would be the thing to do again this year,” he said.

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