Starbucks is changing the number of reward stars needed for free drinks in February
“The Claman Countdown” features Joth Ricci discussing the company’s growth trajectory as inflation has pushed coffee prices to higher levels.
The number of “stars” that Starbucks customers in the US and Canada will need to get certain food and drinks for free through the company’s rewards program is set to increase in February.
When members of Starbucks’ rewards program spend at the coffeehouse chain, they can earn stars, including two for every $1 with a Starbucks card and one for every $1[ads1] with a credit or debit card. They can put these stars toward redeeming rewards like free drinks and merchandise, depending on how many they have.
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The update to the Starbucks Rewards program, detailed on the company’s website, involves increasing the number of “stars” needed to redeem items for three tiers. Starbucks is also changing the levels through which certain food, beverage and other products can be redeemed.
The “Siren” logo hangs outside a Starbucks location in Boston on July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa/AP Newsroom)
The changes, first reported Tuesday by Insider, will take effect on February 13. U.S. and Canadian rewards members were notified of the upcoming changes, according to Starbucks.
Under the February changes, customers must have earned 100 stars to get:
- A hot brewed coffee
- A hot steeped tea
- An iced coffee
- An iced tea
- A bakery item
- A packaged snack
- A 24-ounce Cold Siren Logo Plastic To-Go Cup
- A 16-ounce Siren Logo Plastic Hot Cup
For hot brewed coffee, hot tea and baked goods, it will mark an increase of 50 stars from the 50 currently required to redeem these. Meanwhile, the number of stars to get a free iced coffee, iced tea and packaged snacks decreases by 50 stars.
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The to-go cups are also new to the team.
Starbucks has more than 15,000 locations in 50 countries. (iStock/iStock)
The following items can be redeemed for 200 stars:
- A handcrafted drink
- A hot breakfast item
Customers can currently get a handcrafted drink like a latte or a hot breakfast item like oatmeal for 150 stars.
Here’s what customers can get for 300 stars in February:
- A packed salad or lunch sandwich
- A packaged protein box
- A packaged coffee item
The packaged food that will be 300 stars is currently redeemable for 200 stars. However, the packaged coffee has dropped down a level from 400 stars.
The lowest and highest reward tiers will not see the point requirements change, staying at 25 and 400 stars respectively.
The number of “stars” that Starbucks customers in the US and Canada will need to get certain food and drinks for free through the company’s rewards program is set to increase in February. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File/AP Newsroom)
Through the 25-star level, customers can redeem a drink modifier, such as an extra shot of espresso or a syrup. They’ll also still be able to get a “select Starbucks item valued up to $20” by redeeming 400 stars in February.
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Other aspects of the Starbucks Rewards program — such as its free birthday reward and its Reusable Cup Benefit — and how members can earn their Star Points also remain the same, according to Starbucks.
In early November, Starbucks reported that its total active Starbucks Rewards members in the US for the fourth quarter were 28.7 million, an increase of 16% from the same time last year.
| Ticker | Safety | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEX | STARBUCKS CORP. | 99.77 | +1.17 | +1.19% |
It also said at the time that it generated $8.414 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, up from $8.147 billion in last year’s fourth quarter. Quarterly net income decreased from $1.764 billion to $878.3 million.
