Whether you love frappuccinos, cappuccinos, pink drinks, or just regular coffee, you know that Starbucks is one of the best coffee chains known to man. With talented baristas, great customer services, and delicious beverages, Starbucks boasts of high quality–and high prices compared to some other coffee shops.
Don’t let the price tag discourage you from treating yourself. With these 14 tips, you’ll find new ways to make the most out of every visit to Starbucks by saving money on your favorite items!
It’s important to note that the number one way to save money when it comes to coffee is to brew it at home. Cutting out those small but frequent expenses (like your morning and/or afternoon coffees) can save you a lot in the long run.
But if you can’t sacrifice your morning, afternoon, or evening Starbucks, don’t stress. These Starbucks savings hacks are about to help you save money without saying “no” to your favorite coffee chain.
1. Download the Starbucks App
If you’re shopping at Starbucks and not using the app, you’re missing out on the free rewards program, too. Even though you can join the rewards program (more on that below) without the app, the app gives you access to even more benefits.
Find downloads for the Starbucks App on Apple and Android here.
2. Join The Starbucks Rewards Program
The Starbucks Rewards Program is easy to use, completely free, and chock full of great rewards. The way it works is you get to earn stars by purchasing products (keep an eye out for double-star days!), completing bonus star challenges, and playing exciting games. Then, you can earn freebies of your choice in exchange for stars.
If you pay as you go, you’ll earn one star per dollar. When you preload funds to your card, you’ll earn twice as many stars. Since you can redeem items for as little as 25 stars, you could earn a free coffee every week if you buy Starbucks frequently.
Plus, you’ll get a free birthday present! Read this for more details on the terms and conditions, and sign up for your Rewards account here.
3. Take Advantage of Free Refills
This little known secret can save you lots of money if you drink more than one cup of coffee in a day. Rewards Members get free refills. If you stay in the store, drink your first cup, and ask for a refill, it’s completely free. If you’re not in a hurry, consider ordering a short or tall coffee instead of a grande or venti. Then, drink your first cup in-store, and order another for the road.
4. Sign Up for a Starbucks Visa Credit Card
Adding another credit card to your collection might not be at the top of your to-do list, but if you shop at Starbucks every day or multiple times a week, it might be worth it. You’ll earn three stars for every dollar you spend at Starbucks, plus 4,500 bonus stars if you spend $500 or more in the first three months from opening your account.
However, the card does have a $49 annual fee after the first year. Learn more about the Starbucks Visa Credit Card and apply online here.
5. Find Starbucks Coupons on Koopy.com
Koopy.com offers tons of coupons for everyone’s favorite shopping destinations–including Starbucks. Before you buy your coffee, check Koopy.com’s selection of Starbucks coupons.
Coupons range from a few dollars off your next select coffee purchase to over 20% off of your entire order when you spend a certain amount. You can also get great deals like 25% off of a breakfast item, 10% off of any order, and 20% off of drinkware! The savings don’t end there.
If you can save money with free and easily accessible Starbucks coupons, why wouldn’t you?
6. Bring Your Own Cup
You can save 10 cents every time you fill up your cup at Starbucks. You can opt for a reusable cup (Starbucks brand or otherwise) or even a paper cup from another coffee shop.
Although 10 cents might not seem like a whole lot of savings, it adds up just like your coffee expenses. If you decide to use a reusable cup, you can also help save the planet by establishing a more sustainable coffee practice! Learn more about Starbucks ’ cup policy here.
7. Don’t Buy Bottled Water
This next trick might not work for you if you’re particular about your water, but either way, you should consider how much money you can save by asking for a cup of free tap water instead of buying a bottle.
If you do prefer bottled water, you should consider the fact that it’s usually just tap water in a plastic container, and Starbucks’ water is adequately filtered. Business Insider calls bottled water “one of the biggest scams of the century.”
8. Ask for Light Ice and No Space
If you’ve ever ordered any of Starbucks’ cold drinks or iced coffees, you know the experience of finishing your beverage and ending up with a cup of ice.
Sometimes, the ice in your drink takes up so much space that you’re only getting about half a cup of the actual product. So, the solution to get more (and pay less) is to order a drink with light or no ice. Don’t worry, your drink will still be cold. If you’re adamant about your ice, you can also ask for it on the side.
To get even more bang for your buck, tell the barista you’d like “no space.” That means they’ll fill your drink up all the way to the lid. For example, if you order an 8oz short iced coffee this way, you’re getting about the same amount of coffee as a regular 16oz grande. With this trick, you could save up to 60 cents per drink!
9. Change Up Your Order
Although it’s easy to spend $6 or more on your regular go-to drink, you don’t have to break the bank for your Starbucks addiction. There are plenty of menu items under $4, and these options are all $3 or less:
Saving money at Starbucks is as easy as being adventurous and opting for a cheaper menu option.
10. Substitute the Americano
If you usually drink regular coffee, consider ordering the americano on your next Starbucks visit. It’s cheaper than the specialty drinks, and it has more caffeine. You can add your own milk, cream, sugar, and spices at the condiment bar.
11. Create a Custom Dirty Chai
In a similar vein, you can create a cheaper version of a dirty chai (a chai latte with espresso shots) by ordering a regular latte with a shot of chai flavored syrup. It’s a nearly identical beverage, but you’re saving on the extra shots of espresso.
12. Stop Drinking Caramel Macchiatos
Instead of ordering a caramel macchiato, you can save $2 by asking for an iced coffee with a caramel drizzle (and pumps of caramel if you really need your fix). When you can, avoid paying more for specialty drinks. Although it’ll be weaker, this cheaper version can save you money.
13. DIY Your Latte
If you’re not picky about your lattes, you can order two shots of espresso and add your own cream and sugar yourself at the condiment area. And if you’d like an iced latte, just ask for ice over your expresso. You can save $2 on every latte if you order this way.
This will save you a lot in the long run if you drink Starbucks lattes often, but beware, some baristas will look down on you for using this hack.
14. Get Tea for Less
There are a few different Starbucks hacks when it comes to ordering tea. First, Starbucks tea is ultra-concentrated, so the baristas water down your iced tea before you drink it. If you want to get more tea for less, just ask them not to water it down.
You could ask for an extra cup on the side, or you could request that they put a smaller size in a larger cup. Either way, water it down yourself and stop paying for that extra shot of tap water. Alternately, you could just drink the concentrated tea, which has more flavor and more caffeine.
If you’re going on a hot tea date with a friend, here’s another tip. Order a venti hot tea, which will come with two teabags. Then, ask for an extra cup of hot water. Those two teabags plus the extra hot ware should be enough for both of you. Ordering it this way is cheaper than ordering two tall hot teas.
Save More Money at Starbucks with These 14 Tricks
Now you know the best tips and tricks for saving your money when you shop at Starbucks.
Although some of these tricks (like using Koopy.com coupons and taking advantage of the rewards program) are common savings tips you can use almost anywhere, you should keep the more unique Starbucks tips in mind.
Be creative when it comes to customizing your drink in a way that saves a few dollars on steamed milk, espresso shots, or extra concentrated tea. Explore menu items and customize them in a way that satiates your Starbucks desires without splurging. Saving a dollar two every time you talk to the barista can add up to tons of money that you can spend elsewhere (or on even more Starbucks).
