• by Tanya Gazdik , June 28, 2010

Eight O'Clock Coffee is giving commuters in New York City a chance to win prizes if they phone a friend about the brand.

On June 28, commuters passing through Grand Central Terminal will have a unique opportunity to put in a good word about the great taste of Eight O'Clock Coffee -- and a chance to win one of eight iPads and other prizes throughout the day.

More than 13,000 cups of the coffee will be made available to travelers passing through the station, and those who phone a friend on the spot and tell them about the coffee's great taste will have the opportunity to appear online for the venerable brand.

The event, dubbed "People are Talking," will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Vanderbilt Hall, the iconic 42nd Street entrance to Grand Central. The FRESH 102.7 street team will also be on hand broadcasting music and distributing an array of prizes. About 125,000 commuters pass through the terminal every day.

The coffee brand sold over 436 million more cups of coffee last year than the year before.

Consumers can engage with the brand at www.EightOClock.com, on Twitter by following @8oclockcoffee and by becoming a fan at www.facebook.com/EightOClockCoffee.

The brand currently is running a promotion on its home page where consumers can upload a photo and explain why they love Eight O'Clock Coffee. Those selected to appear on the home page are awarded a free bag of coffee. The offer ends Sept. 30.