Duluth’s Panera Bread Offering Unlimited Coffee Subscriptions

This is a really unique business model sure to make coffee lovers happy. Panera Bread announced this week that they will be offering an unlimited coffee subscription at all of their restaurants, including the Duluth location near the Miller Hill Mall.

The subscription, which launched on February 27, will cost $8.99 per month. It will offer unlimited hot coffee, iced coffee, or hot tea at all Panera restaurants across the country. While the subscription was announced on Thursday, it is being rolled out over the next week across the country to the company's over 2,000 locations.

Panera's CEO Niren Chaudhary told USA TODAY that they aim to disrupt the industry with this unique program, which has no limits. He explained to the newspaper "There are no ifs and buts, this is truly unlimited access to coffee for a monthly subscription of $8.99." The subscription is valid during normal business hours, and all cup sizes are included in the subscription.

Chaudhary told Business Insider that they may expand the subscription model to include more than coffee if it is successful. Imagine that - what if they expanded it to include unlimited cookies? Unlimited muffins? My mouth is watering already. He said that other subscriptions, if they come to fruition, would have different price points, depending on what is offered as part of the subscription.

In a release from Panera about the new subscription, they went on to cite a recent report from the financial company Acorns that states the average American spends about $1,100 on coffee each year. They point to their new subscription, which will cost just under $108 per year, as a much less expensive alternative with more options.

Customers who are part of Panera's "MyPanera Rewards" can sign up through the company's app as of Thursday (February 27) for the unlimited coffee subscription, while in-store sign ups will be available starting Monday, March 2.

The way it will work is subscribers can order coffee through Panera's app for pickup or delivery, or you will be able to order in a Panera restaurant through a kiosk or with a cashier.