If you love Starbucks but hate paying those high prices, we have some secret hacks that will save you money every time you visit your favourite Starbucks.
By taking advantage of rewards programs and promotions, you can get great discounts and even free Starbucks coffee and food. I’ve also got all the details on how you can get your favourite beverages for less with some tips for ordering as well as the lowdown on how you can get free and discounted Starbucks gift cards.
If you like to save money at Starbucks, you’ll also want to know how to get free Krispy Kreme doughnuts, free coffee on National Coffee Day, free doughnuts on National Donut Day, and how to get free food at hundreds of restaurants just for joining their programs. rewards.
Join Starbucks Rewards for free food and drinks
The fastest way to save money at Starbucks is to join the Starbucks Rewards program. You can get free drinks and food, discounts, free refills, birthday gifts, exclusive offers, the ability to pre-order and pay with the mobile app, and even your personalized gold card.
To get started, you’ll need to get a gift card and then register it on their website or through their mobile app. You also have the option to sign up through their mobile app by purchasing a digital gift card. Use it at checkout to collect the stars you earn from purchases.
You’ll also want to use the Starbucks app, there are frequent discounts and free offers available.
Celebrate your birthday with free food and drink from Starbucks
As part of the Starbucks Rewards program, you’ll automatically earn a free birthday gift that you can redeem with the Starbucks app.
You will receive an email a few days before your birthday reminding you to redeem your birthday gift. Ask your barista to scan your app, then redeem your reward. You must be a member 30 days before her birthday.
The best part of this birthday gift is that you can get any size of drink or any food item for free. The only items excluded are slices of bread, bar sets, and Starbucks Evening menu items.
Order your drink in Starbucks’ secret cup size
Take a look at the Starbucks menu and you’ll see three sizes available: Tall 12 oz., Large 16 oz. And Venti 20 oz. Starbucks has a secret cup size that will save you some money.
Order your drink as a Short and you’ll get an 8 oz serving for less than a Tall.
During certain promotions, Starbucks also sells beverages in a mini size, which is 10 oz. And it will also give you a nice price cut.
Bring a competitor reusable cup or paper cup and get a discount
Bring a reusable cup from home and you’ll get $.10 off your drink.
You can use any reusable cup you like to get the discount, it does not have to be a reusable cup from Starbucks. You can’t use one of Starbuck’s “over here” cups to get the discount.
You can also bring in a competitor’s paper cup and you’ll get the discount, as well as your drink, poured into a new Starbucks paper cup.
Save with Starbucks promotions
Starbucks offers a variety of promotions throughout the year that will save you money.
In the past, they’ve had events like candy receipts, happy hours, and holiday promotions that will give you discounted drinks. I think the easiest way to stay on top of promotions is to follow Starbucks on Facebook.
If you’re a Target shopper, be sure to keep an eye out for coupons you spit out while checking out, you can get BOGO drink deal coupons for Starbucks inside Target.
Enjoy free refills on brewed coffee and tea
You can get a free refill on hot, iced, or cold brewed coffee, as well as hot, iced, or smoothie teas during your visit to your local Starbucks.
To get the free refills, you must pay with a Starbucks card or through your mobile app for your initial purchase. You will need to show that payment method again to get your free recharge.
This offer is invalid through drive-through service and you will need to remain in the store with the beverage you purchased before you can refill it.
The good news is that your purchased drink can be any drink you like and you can still get a refill or a brewed coffee or tea.
Make your own iced latte with the help of the condiment bar
Another way to save money at Starbucks is by making your own iced latte.
You’ll need to order a triple espresso on the rocks in a Venti cup and then head to the condiment bar and fill the rest with the complimentary milk.
Split a Venti Frappucino and save
A Venti Frappucino costs 24 ounces, and ordering one is cheaper than getting two Tall Frappucinos at 12 ounces each.
You will need to order the Venti Frappucino and two tall mugs. You’ll need to split it yourself to get the savings.
Order coffee for a group in a French press
You can order a French press coffee at Starbucks and you’ll get about 32 ounces of coffee that you can split between the two of you.
Do the math and you’ll get your coffee for about half the price by ordering this way instead of as individual cups.
Get your drink tall in a big mug
Often when you order a tall coffee, the barista will ask if you want to leave room for milk or cream. While this is helpful, it also means less coffee.
You can avoid this by ordering your Tall coffee in a Large mug. Then you’ll get all the coffee you paid for, but you’ll have plenty of room for milk or cream.
Order your iced tea without water
The iced tea that comes from the pitcher at Starbucks is doubled and then watered down when it’s served to you.
Order their iced tea “without water” and you’ll get the double-strength tea which you can then make into two drinks.
Make Your Own Chai Tea Latte
If you love Chai Tea Latte then this Starbucks hack is just for you.
Instead of ordering the expensive drink, order a cup of hot water and a Tazo Chai tea bag. Brew your tea, then head over to the condiment bar to add your own milk.
Not only will you save some money, you’ll also cut out some sugar and calories.
Avoid bottled water
Starbucks sells expensive bottled water, but there is an easy way around this, order a cup of ice cold water from the barista.
The Starbucks water they use for coffee is triple filtered and that’s the same water you can get for free. The standard size is Tall and you can get it with or without ice.
Request less ice and milk
It is common procedure at Starbucks to fill your cup with ice and milk and then add the coffee.
You can ask for “easy on the ice” or “light on the milk” and you’ll get more coffee and less ice or milk.
Get a free treat for your puppy
Your dogs can get a free treat at Starbucks too! Order a Puppuccino and you’ll get a free cup of espresso filled with whipped cream.
This is just one of the items on Starbucks’ secret menu, but this is the only one you can get for free.