When it comes to coffee, we don’t joke. It’s legit the reason we’re out of bed in the morning. Well, that and work. If you’re part of the 12.36 million households in America who visited a Starbucks at some point in 2018 (before work, probs), you might want to buckle up. Here are just a few ways to hack the Starbucks system to ensure you get an exceptionally good—and cheaper—cup. *Sips coffee*
Sign up for Starbucks Rewards
Chances are you’ve been gifted a Starbucks gift card at least once. Hold on to it! That card is a door that can lead you to a whole new world. If you register a gift card, you’ll rack up points (a.k.a stars) every time you make a Starbucks purchase with the Rewards program. That goes for food, drink, and merchandise purchases. When you get a certain number of stars, you’ll get free drinks or food.
Keep an eye out for promos
Sign up for promo emails (don't worry, they’re not annoyingly spammy) or check the Starbucks app. There you’ll find Happy Hour specials (like 50 percent off), extra star rewards based on your purchase, and just good old BOGO offers. So, yes, you can have your cake (pop) and eat it too.
Bring a reusable cup...and save 10 cents
Every time you bring a reusable cup from home, you’ll save 10 cents on your drink. If you don’t have a reusable one from Starbucks, that's cool too! Bring in whatever you have. If you bring a competitor’s paper cup, though, it’ll be replaced with a Starbucks paper cup...and you’ll still get 10 cents off.
Get discounted refills
After you’re done with your drink, you can get a refill of brewed coffee or tea for just 50 cents, regardless of what your first drink was. The only thing is you have to stay inside the store to get a refill. Once you leave, you can’t take advantage of the deal.
Ask for an iced tea with no water
I know this sounds strange, but hear me out. Starbucks' iced tea is made strong, but when it’s time to be served, it's watered down. If you ask for your iced tea with no water, you’re essentially getting more of the tea (and the caffeine that comes along with it).
Make your own latte at the condiment bar
This is a wakeup call for me, considering my usual drink is an iced latte with sweetener! After much research, I’ve found that if you order a three shots of espresso (hot or iced), you can just add the free milk from the condiment bar to make your own version. There’s whole milk, half and half, and nonfat milk available. Look at you saving money on a drink you practically made yourself.
Ask for a cup of water
Sure, Starbucks sells bottles of water, but why purchase one when you can get an iced cup of water for free? I rest my case.
Head to a Starbucks on your birthday
Need another reason to sign up for the Starbucks Rewards program? When your birthday rolls around, you’ll get a birthday gift in the form of a free drink or food item. My favorite is the Birthday Cake Pop, for obvious reasons!
Purchase a “Short” drink
Although this size is not on the menu you know so well, it exists. The Short is the smallest size at 8 ounces. It’s only available for hot drinks, but you can save a little money since Short is a smaller size. Duh!
Hold the ice
To avoid not getting as much coffee or tea as humanly possible, ask the barista to hold the ice in your drink. You can also ask for the ice to be put on the side. That way, you can add in as much or as little ice as you want without the risk of watering down your drink.
Make your coffee or tea at home
Guess what? It’s cheaper to purchase a pound of coffee at a Starbucks store and just brew the coffee it home. That way, you’ll keep a little extra cash in your pocket and won’t lose any of the Starbucks taste. Plus, you’ll be able to earn stars for your purchase. Win, win, win!
