The Ultimate Guide To Starbucks Rewards
/Starbucks Rewards in the UK sees you earning Starbucks Stars which are redeemable for free Starbucks drinks. Here’s my full guide, looking at everything from earning and redeeming Stars to point value.
Related: Boots Advantage | Co-Op Rewards | Costa Club | LEGO VIP | M&S Sparks | Microsoft Rewards | My Morrisons | Nandos Rewards | Nectar Points | Subway Rewards | Tesco Clubcard
Earning Starbucks Stars
You earn 3 Stars Per £1 Pound Spent (pennies included) at Starbucks with your Starbucks balance (which you need to top up yourself).
How To Top Up A Starbucks Card
Here’s how to top up your Starbucks card balance, which you’ll need to pay with if you want to earn Starbucks Stars.
Starbucks App > Pay > Add Money
Having to top up your Starbucks card to earn points separates Starbucks from other loyalty schemes which allow you to pay with your method of choice. Why do Starbucks have this requirement? Simply put, Starbucks are accessing an interest-free line of credit.
When you top up your Starbucks card, you’re giving Starbucks money for a future coffee purchase. Starbucks report the total balance of Starbucks cards globally in their fiscal reports. According to the 2021 Q3 Starbucks Fiscal Report, the total balance of Starbucks cards globally, reported as “stored value card liability and current portion of deferred revenue” was over $1.6 billion.
Redeeming Starbucks Stars
You only have one redemption option with Starbucks Stars. You can redeem 150 Stars for 1 free drink.
Since you earn 3 Stars Per £1 spent, that means you’ll need to spend £50 to get a free drink.
What Do You Earn Starbucks Stars On?
You earn Starbucks Stars when you spend on drinks, food, coffee at home products and merchandise with your Starbucks card balance (which you’ll need to top up).
You can earn Stars on some international spending (USA, Canada and Republic of Ireland only) but you’ll need to use a physical Starbucks card since the app only works in the UK.
You still need to top up your Starbucks account balance (either in-store or on the app). You’ll only earn Stars when you spend using your Starbucks card or Mobile Order using the app.
To sign up, download the app, create an account and add money to your Starbucks balance.
Starbucks Gold - Becoming A Member + Benefits
To reach Gold status at Starbucks, you have to earn 450 Stars in one year. Since you earn 3 Stars per £1 spent, that means you’ll need to spend £150 per year. You need to reach 450 points each year to qualify for Gold status the following year.
Starbucks Gold Benefits:
Extra Espresso shots
Dairy alternatives
Selected Syrups
Whipped Cream
Free Birthday Drink
Can You Lose Starbucks Stars?
Starbucks Stars do expire if there’s no activity on your account for 2 years. ‘Activity’ counts as earning or spending Stars.
Starbucks Rewards: Is It Worth It?
Starbucks Reward Stars are only really worth it if you’re an enthusiastic Starbucks fan and you plan on using it regularly.
The requirement to top up a Starbucks card before making a purchase is a significant downside. Most loyalty programmes don’t require you to keep a balance, you just earn points on your spend using whatever payment method you choose. For that reason, I’d only recommend joining Starbucks Rewards if you’re a frequent Starbucks customer.
Competition is fierce too, with the Costa (Referral Bonus: Get 6 Beans Free), Caffe Nero (Referral Bonus: Get 1 Free Drink) and Pret alternatives. It’s worth looking into Pret’s subscription service, MyPret Barista, and comparing costs to see if switching loyalty may be a good idea for you.
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Related: Boots Advantage | Co-Op Rewards | Costa Club | LEGO VIP | M&S Sparks | Microsoft Rewards | My Morrisons | Nandos Rewards | Nectar Points | Subway Rewards | Tesco Clubcard
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