Changes to the Starbucks scheme means that you’ll need to earn more points to get the rewards
If you’ve got Starbucks Rewards, there are some big changes coming next month which means customers will have to spend more to get the freebies.
Plus, if you’ve already built up a stash of stars, you’ll want to use them before 3 September when the rewards thresholds increase.
Below, I’ll explain exactly what’s happening.
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What is Starbucks Rewards?
Starbucks Rewards is the Starbucks loyalty scheme. Customers can earn ‘stars’ with every purchase and then redeem them to get coffees, baked goods and merchandise.
For every £1 you spend you get 10 stars. At the moment, you can get a free filter coffee with 130 stars – so you’d need to spend £13 before you get the reward. But this is changing – along with other levels – which I’ll explain more about below.
Other rewards include extras you get when you earn 2,500 stars (£25 spend) which unlocks the ‘Gold Level’. This means you can claim free selected syrups, a free extra shot of espresso in your drink, a free whipped cream topping when you buy hot drinks plus a free beverage on your birthday. Once you unlock Gold Level you can get these freebies for 12 months. This isn’t changing.
At 1,000 stars you can get Starbucks merchandise, like mugs. This isn’t changing either.
What’s changing with Starbucks Rewards?
From September 3 you’ll need to earn more stars to get rewards – so you’ll need to spend more.
To get a free filter coffee you’ll have to earn 150 stars, instead of 130, and to get a pastry or other bakery item, the threshold is going up from 300 to 350. You can see the changes, plus how much more you’ll need to spend, in the table below.
| Reward | Current scheme | Changes from 3 September |
| Brewed coffee, Americano or hot tea | 130 Stars (£13 spend) | 150 Stars (£15 spend) |
| Selected bakery item (croissants, muffins, cookies, brownies etc) | 300 Stars (£30 spend) | 350 Stars (£35 spend) |
| Handcrafted beverage | 500 Stars (£50 spend) | 600 Stars (£60 spend) |
| Selected merchandise (mugs etc) | 1,000 Stars (£100 spend) | 1,150 Stars (£1,150 spend) |
Source: Starbucks
When the threshold increases, you’ll find the stars you already have won’t be as valuable – so it’s a good idea to spend them before 3 September, when the changes are introduced.
The stars are added to your account within 24 hours of you making a purchase at Starbucks and you’ve then got two years to use them.
What has Starbucks said about the changes?
Starbucks says since the rewards scheme was launched, the amount customers spend each time they visit has increased – so they earn stars more quickly than when the programme was originally set up.
They say: ‘Updating the redemption thresholds helps ensure Starbucks® Rewards continues to offer value for members over the long term while keeping the wider programme benefits unchanged.’
Is Starbucks Rewards still worth it?
With loyalty schemes, there’s no harm using them if you’re already a customer. It makes sense to be rewarded for your spend at Starbucks if that’s where you usually buy your coffee. But you don’t want to be buying Starbucks just for the sake of earning stars.
The change in the rewards scheme is a bit annoying though, especially if you’re a loyal customer – no one likes being told they need to now spend more to get the same rewards.
However, you’ll find it’s not going to take much to reach the new thresholds for most of the levels. This is a pro and a con as with Starbucks being so expensive, you’ll be able to spend that extra £5 or £10 by buying just one or two extra drinks. A flat white is £5.10 while a hot chocolate is £5.55.
But I’m not going to tell you to make your coffee at home and bring it out in a thermos – if you enjoy a Starbucks coffee and you can afford it, go for it. And do sign up for the rewards scheme so you can get the freebies.
