15 Clever Starbucks Hacks to Save BIG (Free Drinks and More!)

If insanely high prices have you questioning your Starbucks habit and searching for Starbucks hacks to save money, you’re not alone. The price of a standard cup of coffee has increased by 23% in the past six years. And don’t get me started on the price of specialty drinks. But instead of cutting my caffeine habit entirely, I’ve gotten more strategic with what and how I order. These tips have saved me more than a few pennies in the past year, and hopefully, they’ll help you save too.

While Starbucks offers and promotions, like Starbucks BOGO and half-off drinks, happen more frequently, it’s still costly to visit this coffee chain on the regular. 

Here are my fave ways to cut down on regular Starbucks menu prices — from discounts at Starbucks with a personal cup to the best things to order with your Starbucks Rewards points. 

For more Starbucks deals and savings hacks, text HACKS to 57299, and be sure to download The Krazy Coupon Lady app.

Order a FREE pup cup for the kiddos.

Next time you visit Starbucks and need something cheap to keep the kiddos happy, ask for the free pup cup (or puppuccino)! This mini cup (3-ounce) is filled with whipped cream your kid can eat (or play with). All you have to do is purchase any beverage and ask your barista for the free pup cup. And, make sure to have some napkins or wipes around.

Earn 100 Stars with Starbucks Rewards for a free drink.

Download the free Starbucks app — available for iOS or Android — or visit starbucks.com/rewards to sign up for Starbucks Rewards. Once you have an account, you scan your unique bar code every visit to earn Stars.

The 100 Star tier gets you a free hot or iced coffee or tea, and it’s the best rewards tier because you can get the highest return on your initial purchase. If you pay with a Starbucks gift card in your app, you’ll earn 100 Stars when you spend $50.

And then you can go wild with your drink when you redeem those Stars to get the most back. In fact, with 100 Stars you could get a Trenta iced coffee with vanilla syrup, a shot of espresso, and salted caramel cold foam (regularly $7.65) for FREE. That’s 15% back on your initial spend of $50.

Stick around awhile to get drip coffee and tea refills.

Rewards members who pay with their app can get a free refill at Starbucks when they stay in the store. Just order any drink to enjoy, and as long as it’s the same day and in the same cafe, you can use your app to get a free refill of iced or hot coffee or tea. 

Expert Tip: You can get free refills at Target Starbucks locations. Grab a drink, do your shopping, and get your free refill on your way back out.

Get a free Starbucks drink on your birthday every year.

You’ll get a free Starbucks birthday drink every year on your birthday. To qualify for the birthday reward, you need to join Starbucks Rewards at least seven days before your birthday and be sure to add your birth date to your account information.

Save over a dollar (and get more caffeine) with shaken espresso drinks. 

The Shaken Espresso might be my favorite Starbucks menu hack. The traditional recipe comes with three shots of espresso, four pumps of Classic Syrup, and a splash of 2% milk. It costs $4.45 for a grande.

An iced grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte has only two shots of espresso, four pumps of Cinnamon Dolce Syrup, and 2% milk. It costs $5.75 for a grande. If you order the Shaken Espresso and substitute Cinnamon Dolce for the Classic (free), add whipped cream (free), and top with cinnamon sprinkles (free), you’ve created the same drink with an EXTRA shot of espresso for $1.30 less. 

Try this with some of your favorite iced espresso drinks, and you’ll be surprised how much you can save!

Consider an Iced Honey Almondmilk Flat White instead of an Iced Honey Latte to save over $2. 

Another Starbucks drink hack, the Iced Honey Almondmilk Flat White is much cheaper to order than a doctored-up Iced Latte. A grande comes with three shots of Blonde espresso, four pumps of Honey Blend sweetener, and almond milk. It costs $5.95.

Alternatively, ordering a grande Iced Latte with four pumps of Honey Blend, an extra shot, and almond milk rings in at $8. Ordering the Flat White — which you can customize with any sweeteners or milks — gets you the same drink for $2.05 less. 

Use Venti cold cups to save — split a venti Frappuccino to save 44%.

You’ll find slightly different Starbucks sizes for cold cups. Their venti cold cup is 24 ounces, while the venti hot cup is 20 ounces. Since a tall cup (both hot and cold) is 12 ounces, a venti cold drink is perfect for sharing. Split a 24-ounce Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino between two people, paying $3.23 each. That’s 44% less than a 12-ounce tall for yourself. 

Tip: If you’re worried about sharing the whipped cream, ask for extra. It’s a free modifier.

Use 400 Starbucks Stars to get free Starbucks cups — a $20 savings.

You can use 400 Starbucks Stars to redeem Starbucks merch. It's valid on any cups or tumblers up to $20. If the cup you want is over $20, you’ll just pay the difference.

This even works on the Stanley x Starbucks Tumblers. They're regularly $54.95, but you can get one for $34.95 with 400 Stars (if you can get your hands on one before they sell out, that is). 

Expert Tip: Since 400 Stars = $20, you should get a cup as close to $20 as possible because you use all 400 Stars no matter the price of the cup. It’s not worth your Stars to use them on a $12.95 cup; always use them on the $19.99 cups for the best value.

Ask for the second tea bag to-go; it’s free.

Grande and venti-sized teas at Starbucks come with two tea bags. Ask your barista if you can have the second tea bag to-go (in its packaging) and use it to enjoy a second tea later. 

Don’t order a Cafe Misto in store — save 19% when you order coffee with steamed milk instead.

This hack can only be done easily if you’re ordering in person. Instead of ordering a Cafe Misto (regularly $3.65), you can save $0.70, or 19%, by ordering a brewed coffee (regularly $2.95) with steamed milk. Most Starbucks typically add up to four ounces of milk to a coffee at no cost.

Bring your own cup to save $0.10 and get 25 Bonus Stars.

Starbucks allows customers to get any drink on the Starbucks menu in any personal cup from home to score a $0.10 discount and 25 bonus Stars. Free hot or iced coffee or tea requires 100 Stars. That means, by bringing your cup, you’ll get free Starbucks coffee every fourth visit.

Sip your drip coffee in a larger cup.

If you add cream to your coffee but want every last drop of caffeine that you paid for, consider asking for it in a larger cup. Order a tall coffee with room for cream and you’re likely walking out with 10 ounces instead of 12. But if you order a tall coffee in a grande cup, you’ll get all 12 ounces of coffee with plenty of room for milk.

Treat your pup to a free Pup Cup.

Make your pup’s day for free with a pup cup. Ask your barista for one when you get your drinks in the drive-thru. Most baristas I’ve asked are more than happy to do it — especially if they get to watch the pup snarf it down.

Consider two Starbucks Rewards accounts. 

Okay, hear me out. I’ve done a few little surveys with the Starbucks app users at The Krazy Coupon Lady, and I’ve realized that the Starbucks offers that vary by account seem to be based on your order frequency and how much you spend. Those who order less often get better discounts. We’re talking deals for $3 grande drinks in some cases, while the rest of us are getting 25 measly bonus Stars for visiting four times a week. 

My advice: Get a second Starbucks Rewards account — use your work email address or create one specifically for this. Order on your regular account, as usual, to rack up Starbucks Stars, but then check your second account for better deals during Monday Deal Drops or other promo periods.

Opt for whipped cream instead of cold foam. 

If you’re a cold foam fan, consider getting your drink with whipped cream instead. Cold foam will cost you an additional $1.45 on any drink. Starbucks whipped cream is free and made with heavy cream and vanilla syrup. You’ll still get a creamy, sweet topper for your drink at no extra cost to you — even if you order your drink with extra whip.

Note: This only works for drinks where you add the cold foam; if it already comes with cold foam, you'll pay the set price no matter what. 

Bonus Hacks: customize your drink with free modifiers

Substitute syrup flavors for free.

A grande drink at Starbucks comes with four pumps of flavored syrup. You can substitute the flavor at no cost — or even do half and half, perfect for a vanilla hazelnut latte.

Ask for cinnamon powder for free.

Cinnamon powder can be added to any drink for free. Have the barista sprinkle it on top or even mix it into the drink for added flavor at no additional cost.

Sweeten with sweetener packets for free.

The following sweetener packets are completely free to add to your drinks:

• Sugar

• Sugar In The Raw

• Stevia In The Raw

• Honey

• Splenda

Blend whipped cream in for free.

If you’re ordering a frappuccino, ask your barista to blend a little whipped cream in for extra creaminess at no extra cost. Adding extra whipped cream to any drinks that already have it is also free.