Coffee Time 0.99 «No Sign-up»

Whether it’s a gas station brew, a promotional deal at a fast-food chain, or the signature offer at a local diner, the "99 Cent Coffee" is a relic of marketing genius that refuses to die. But what is actually happening during that "Coffee Time" at the $0.99 price point? Is it a loss leader, a social service, or just a very clever trick?