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The Starbucks Rewards Program is Changing on February 13

The Starbucks Rewards Program is Changing on February 13

By Ambia Staley

You'll soon need even more Stars to get free items at Starbucks, because the company is set to make changes to their Rewards program in Canada starting on February 13, 2023.

The Starbucks Rewards program is a great option for frequent patrons that allows you to earn Stars on purchases and redeem them for free product once you're earned a certain amount. However, starting next week, you'll need to earn even more Stars in some cases to get your freebies.

Here's a look at the changes:

  • 25 Stars can be redeemed for a free beverage modifier (such as an added espresso shot, added syrup or dairy alternative) [unchanged from current requirement]
  • 100 Stars can be redeemed for a hot coffee or tea, iced coffee or tea, bakery item, packaged snack, or Siren-logo plastic cups [previously 50 Stars]
  • 200 Stars can be redeemed for a handcrafted beverage or hot breakfast item [previously 150 Stars and included snack boxes]
  • 300 Stars can be redeemed for a lunch sandwich, packaged protein box, or packaged coffee item [previously 250 Stars]
  • 400 Stars can be redeemed for select merchandise valued up to $20.00 [unchanged from current requirement]

Other features of the Rewards program, including a freebie on your birthday and free refills on iced or hot coffee and tea remain unchanged. You'll also still be earning 1 Star for every $1.00 you spend using dash, credit/debit cards or mobile wallets and 2 Stars per $1.00 with a Starbucks Card in the app.

These changes will take effect on February 13, 2023. Click here to learn more details about the upcoming changes to the Starbucks Rewards program.

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  • CALITSLA
    • Seems there’s no way to get misto for 50 was reading Reddit forums. On all
    • Report Post
  • cardle
    • its always been an extra charge, did they raise it?
      It has been for drinks that use a lot of milk eg. latte.

      It hasn't been for drinks like an iced coffee for many years
    • Report Post
  • TorontoWest91
    • They sneakily started to charge for dairy free milk today. Now I am going to have to take my own milk and add it instead of paying 80c.
      its always been an extra charge, did they raise it?
    • Report Post
  • cardle
    • They sneakily started to charge for dairy free milk today. Now I am going to have to take my own milk and add it instead of paying 80c.
    • Report Post
  • WDArmstrong
    • HIDDEN INFLATION continues in the fast food and restaurant industry. While cash prices are not rising, all of these companies are changing their loyalty programs so that it costs a LOT MORE redemption points to purchase the same product. Ex. Competitor Tim Hortons program changes Feb21. At the moment, a breakfast sandwich costs 210 points. Starting the 21st the same sandwich will be 1100 points. SB is doing the same thing. WATCH OUT FOLKS! IF YOU HAVE POINTS, USE THEM NOW BEFORE the changes!
    • Report Post
  • kirashi
    • Just tried the following unsuccessfully using a BC, Canada Starbucks location from the iOS App on my iPad:
      (the Android app is STILL broken on my Android phone after 6+ months)

      1. Add 1x Featured Dark Roast to order
      2. Add 1x Misto to order
      3. Tap 100 star redeem on Dark Roast
      4. Remove Dark Roast from order
      5. App says "couldn't apply the reward"
      6. App only offers 200 star redeem for Misto

      Doesn't seem to matter what order I add/remove items or star redeems in - if there ever was a bug, they seem to have fixed it.
    • Report Post
  • TorontoEh
    • i find if you add a brewed coffee and then a misto..you can redeem the misto for 100 stars after you remove the brewed coffee. no doubt a bug but works for now.
      Have you tried it yet, I'm just wondering b/c if you say misto its 200 stars auto, unless i say coffee and half steamed milk...but I suppose no more shots though
    • Report Post
  • ricedion
    • Whoa! I thought they hiked it to 100 stars from 50, that's bad devalue... Got 600 stars that I couldn't use rigt away. Now the cold coffee it is 100 stars that someone gave some nice ideas to use on.
      I would order the ice coffee trenta size with milk. Add shot. That's 100 stars. No more misto
    • Report Post
  • TorontoEh
    • Cafe misto is now a 200 stars items. Up from 50. 300% increase. Ridiculous!
      Whoa! I thought they hiked it to 100 stars from 50, that's bad devalue... Got 600 stars that I couldn't use rigt away. Now the cold coffee it is 100 stars that someone gave some nice ideas to use on.
    • Report Post
  • ricedion
    • i find if you add a brewed coffee and then a misto..you can redeem the misto for 100 stars after you remove the brewed coffee. no doubt a bug but works for now.
      I don't have any stars to test your method. If that works, then it's good news. Or else I will just order venti brew and add espresso shot without oat milk
    • Report Post
  • StatsGuy
    • Cafe misto is now a 200 stars items. Up from 50. 300% increase. Ridiculous!
      i find if you add a brewed coffee and then a misto..you can redeem the misto for 100 stars after you remove the brewed coffee. no doubt a bug but works for now.
    • Report Post
  • ricedion
    • It's 50 stars now (counts as regular coffee) , I'm assuming after the change it'll be 100 and still considered a coffee
      Cafe misto is now a 200 stars items. Up from 50. 300% increase. Ridiculous!
    • Report Post
  • AndrewT5406
    • Managed to redeem all my remaining stars and have a balance of 0 stars. Moving forward I will only go to Starbucks if there’s a free item coupon or bonus stars for purchase of only one item and of course birthday drink
    • Report Post
  • EddySaver
    • Did they purposely devalue it right before Valentine's Day?
      My guess is that they are hoping that people get distracted (drunk) by the Super Bowl and wake up on Monday to the new changes.

      My Starbucks was very busy for a 6pm on a Sunday as people scramble to get those last minute redemptions in.
    • Report Post
  • smartie
    • Did they purposely devalue it right before Valentine's Day?
    • Report Post
  • EddySaver
    • Last day to use up them stars before one of the biggest devaluation in rewards programs’ history (except for Iced brewed coffee/tea)!
    • Report Post
  • StatsGuy
    • how many stars is that above beverage, 50 now or 150 as in a latte?
      It's 50 stars now (counts as regular coffee) , I'm assuming after the change it'll be 100 and still considered a coffee
    • Report Post
  • TorontoEh
    • Glad there's a 100 star option for iced coffee now as I always didn't find the 150star for sweet cream cold brew worth it

      I have been using up more of my venti triple shot oat beverage with mocha sauce and sf vanilla syrup lately though

      I had 1600+ stars in December..down to 1049 now but still in middle of a challenge this week (3 bakery for 80 bonus stars...mini scone is $2 and cheapest and I actually like it as a snack lol)
      how many stars is that above beverage, 50 now or 150 as in a latte?
    • Report Post
  • Rxman
    • using up last of my stars on coffees, then bye bye!
    • Report Post
  • EddySaver
    • Sneaky, sneaky, devalue by 50% then immediately do 3 double stars days so people don’t notice the difference yet on newly earned stars.

      FF12DAD6-E0B6-459D-B18D-977EA2E1C251.jpeg
    • Report Post
  • mzmoney
    • 3 Venti Mistos x 50 stars = 150 stars

      Can customize to your liking ... sweeter with more toppings and stronger with more Espresso Shots!

      Last day on Sunday before devaluation on Monday; we have 50 stars to go!
    • Report Post
  • StatsGuy
    • Glad there's a 100 star option for iced coffee now as I always didn't find the 150star for sweet cream cold brew worth it

      I have been using up more of my venti triple shot oat beverage with mocha sauce and sf vanilla syrup lately though

      I had 1600+ stars in December..down to 1049 now but still in middle of a challenge this week (3 bakery for 80 bonus stars...mini scone is $2 and cheapest and I actually like it as a snack lol)
    • Report Post
  • AsianXL
    • Weird. I just ordered one yesterday with 4 shot, added cold foam, toppings, and syrup. It’s was a $13 drink for 50 points.
      I can confirm that it worked today as well.
      I still have 100 pts to kill. I'm gonna use it all up this week.
    • Report Post
  • emvobov
    • Weird. I just ordered one yesterday with 4 shot, added cold foam, toppings, and syrup. It’s was a $13 drink for 50 points.
      Good to know we are able to customize again.
      It was about 3 weeks since I posted it, Starbucks might have changed it back?
    • Report Post
  • Macx2mommy
    • It seems Starbucks removed most of the customize options for cafe misto after announcing the changes. (at least for me in BC)
      You can only customize for milk. Topping, syrup and expresso shots are no longer available for cafe misto.
      Weird. I just ordered one yesterday with 4 shot, added cold foam, toppings, and syrup. It’s was a $13 drink for 50 points.
    • Report Post
  • Macx2mommy
    • Nothing special! If you're going for a replicated handcrafted experience, take a look at what's in the default cold brew drink and add it to your 100-star iced coffee. The following examples reflect default menu levels. With enough practice, you'll learn what you like and begin customizing with your eyes closed!

      For Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 6 pumps of Vanilla Syrup
      + Splash of Sweet Cream
      + (milk of choice)

      Chocolate Cream Cold Brew, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 3 pumps of Vanilla Syrup
      + Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
      + (milk of choice)

      Iced Caffe Latte, try:
      Grande Iced Coffee
      + Venti Cup
      + Extra (milk of choice)
      + 3 shots
      + No room

      Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 6 pumps Brown Sugar Syrup
      + Cinnamon Powder
      + Oat Beverage
      + 4 shots
      + shake it yourself? lol

      *(this has been my favourite as of late, let me try to convert it into an ice coffee)*
      Iced Sugar Cookie Shaken Espresso, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 3 pumps Sugar Cookie Syrup
      + Extra (milk of choice)
      + 4 shots
      + Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

      I know these will come no where close to the original drink, since the base is iced coffee. The absolute gamechanger would be if they will allow us to add unlimited shots. (Assuming anything goes when redeeming stars, I don't see why not.) Then we can turn a cup of diluted iced coffee into a caffeine bullet haha. And feel free to treat yourself to extra drizzles and toppings!
      right now you can add unlimited shots. I add 4 shots Expresso into my cafe misto for 50 points.

      With the new points program, I will switch to and iced coffee and do the same. I wonder if they will double an iced coffee to make it a frap.
    • Report Post
  • mzmoney
    • hey folks i have 173 stars, what is the best way to use it up? recommendations?
      3 Venti Mistos x 50 stars = 150 stars

      Can customize to your liking ... sweeter with more toppings and stronger with more Espresso Shots!
    • Report Post
  • lightspeed
    • hey folks i have 173 stars, what is the best way to use it up? recommendations?
    • Report Post
  • smartie
    • Remember to use up your points (unless you are redeeming for Iced brewed coffee/tea) because massive devaluation coming in <2 weeks.
      Just used all stars today. Thanks!
    • Report Post
  • TorontoEh
    • It seems Starbucks removed most of the customize options for cafe misto after announcing the changes. (at least for me in BC)
      You can only customize for milk. Topping, syrup and expresso shots are no longer available for cafe misto.
      Seriously? Wow, I wonder if their analytics were keen and they saw folks being creative with those. i even heard a barrista at my local SB (USA) saying to a new traine its basically a latte, when I was ordering with a shot of espresso lol
    • Report Post
  • TorontoEh
    • Remember to use up your points (unless you are redeeming for Iced brewed coffee/tea) because massive devaluation coming in <2 weeks.
      Oh jeez I thought it happened feb1, I'm gonna use up them 500 pts soon. I only use for Cafe misto anyways but it will get expensive.
    • Report Post
  • EddySaver
    • Remember to use up your points (unless you are redeeming for Iced brewed coffee/tea) because massive devaluation coming in <2 weeks.
    • Report Post
  • AsianXL
    • I doubt this will happen in Starbucks and they knew it

      No competition really with starbucks, Tim Hortons sort of
      1: walking distance to your office
      2: You can chat there with your friends
      3: You can even have 1:1 with your manager or even talk about business
      4: Decent coffee
      5: Large franchise that you can find anywhere
      I agree that Starbucks doesn't care.
      They are established in the high-end coffee chain segment.
      They don't have any competitors that they should be worried about.
      They've been closing locations more than they have opened in recent years cause they over expanded in the last 10-20 years. Some locations are non-profitable so they closed them to cope with their bottom line.

      However I disagree that TH is a Starbucks competitor. They don't even target the same customer segment.

      McCafe and Tim Horton's are closer competitors.
    • Report Post
  • smartie
    • These big corps , they sucker you in with their loyalty programs, then they pull the rug from out you with big devaluations, when it suits their bottom $. But when you piss off your customers in doing so, you will loose more $ in the long run.
      I doubt this will happen in Starbucks and they knew it

      No competition really with starbucks, Tim Hortons sort of
      1: walking distance to your office
      2: You can chat there with your friends
      3: You can even have 1:1 with your manager or even talk about business
      4: Decent coffee
      5: Large franchise that you can find anywhere
    • Report Post
  • Rxman
    • These big corps , they sucker you in with their loyalty programs, then they pull the rug from out you with big devaluations, when it suits their bottom $. But when you piss off your customers in doing so, you will loose more $ in the long run.
    • Report Post
  • emvobov
    • It seems Starbucks removed most of the customize options for cafe misto after announcing the changes. (at least for me in BC)
      You can only customize for milk. Topping, syrup and expresso shots are no longer available for cafe misto.
    • Report Post
  • TorontoWest91
    • So you could do the iced coffee with cold foam & espresso add ons for 100 stars... interesting
    • Report Post
  • virgonomic
    • The new changes have not come into effect yet. Per title, it starts Feb 13.
      YMMV, I got a bakery item for 50* today. Saving my coupon for another day.
    • Report Post
  • kyroshi
    • For some reason, this cost 150 stars for me to get it for free - not 100 stars.
      The new changes have not come into effect yet. Per title, it starts Feb 13.
    • Report Post
  • AsianXL
    • Nothing special! If you're going for a replicated handcrafted experience, take a look at what's in the default cold brew drink and add it to your 100-star iced coffee. The following examples reflect default menu levels. With enough practice, you'll learn what you like and begin customizing with your eyes closed!

      For Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 6 pumps of Vanilla Syrup
      + Splash of Sweet Cream
      + (milk of choice)

      Chocolate Cream Cold Brew, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 3 pumps of Vanilla Syrup
      + Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
      + (milk of choice)

      Iced Caffe Latte, try:
      Grande Iced Coffee
      + Venti Cup
      + Extra (milk of choice)
      + 3 shots
      + No room

      Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 6 pumps Brown Sugar Syrup
      + Cinnamon Powder
      + Oat Beverage
      + 4 shots
      + shake it yourself? lol

      *(this has been my favourite as of late, let me try to convert it into an ice coffee)*
      Iced Sugar Cookie Shaken Espresso, try:
      Venti Iced Coffee
      + 3 pumps Sugar Cookie Syrup
      + Extra (milk of choice)
      + 4 shots
      + Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

      I know these will come no where close to the original drink, since the base is iced coffee. The absolute gamechanger would be if they will allow us to add unlimited shots. (Assuming anything goes when redeeming stars, I don't see why not.) Then we can turn a cup of diluted iced coffee into a caffeine bullet haha. And feel free to treat yourself to extra drizzles and toppings!
      For some reason, this cost 150 stars for me to get it for free - not 100 stars.
    • Report Post