Melburnians who download the PayPal mobile payments app will be able to buy a coffee for a cent next Monday and Tuesday – and participate in the great digital payments race.

With Apple now tipped to launch its Apple Pay in the US later this month, a grab is underway to seize control of people's mobile payment habits and guarantee loyalty.

Fancy a one cent coffee?

PayPal's latest campaign, which runs over the two days next week, offers anyone using its payments app to buy coffee from 14 Melbourne cafes for a cent a cup in a bid to entice people to download the app and give it a go.

It ran a similar campaign in Sydney in May – when coffee was given away.