Starbucks launches more ways to pay and earn delicious rewards

Let’s face it: you can’t get enough of your Starbucks.

Whether you enjoy your PSL with extra pumpkin and oat beverage, or if you’re more of a Grande Blonde with two pumps of vanilla, or perhaps even a straight-up-however-it-comes kind of person, Starbucks is known for giving you choice. But when it came to the Starbucks Rewards program, there was only one choice: to preload your card on the app and earn Stars for every purchase you made.   

This month, the company announced some cool changes to the Starbucks Rewards program, giving you an option to pay as you go and still earn Stars. Now, Starbucks Rewards members are able to pay with credit or debit cards, cash, select mobile wallets, or their Starbucks card, all while earning Stars.

You’ll also be able to save your debit or credit card, or your PayPal account, to your Starbucks app account, meaning you can use the app to pay both in-store and when ordering ahead. We’re all about making things easier and more streamlined, especially when it comes to our caffeine.

With increased payment options comes increased Stars, too. When you preload a Starbucks card and use it for your Earl Grey Misto, you’ll get two Stars per dollar — same goes for paying with a gift card. The newest benefits include being able to earn one Star per dollar spent when using a card or PayPal account saved to your Starbucks app account, and earning one Star per dollar when you scan your Starbucks app account before paying however you’d like.

The brass tacks of it is this: more ways to pay, more Stars to be earned.

Connor Surdi/Starbucks

This week, Starbucks will also be celebrating its Rewards members by offering Star Days, available exclusively in the Starbucks app. Log in to your app account this week to peep all the exclusive offers, games — like the augmented reality game Starland, which could win you stuff like free coffee or breakfast — and other cool ways to earn more Stars. For example, for the first time ever, you can earn triple Stars on almost every order purchased at participating stores on Thursday, October 1.

The new and improved program comes from a long line of rewards programs, evolving from the concept of the quaint punch-card. The very first Rewards program had members register their gift cards online to earn benefits, like free drinks on their birthday.

Then, in 2009, Starbucks introduced the Stars program; the Starbucks Card Rewards program and the Starbucks Gold Membership program merged to create the singular Starbucks Rewards program — a much more straightforward approach to the whole “buy a coffee, get more coffee benefits” thing.

Connor Surdi/Starbucks

Soon, the app joined the crew, making it possible for you to pay for your drink through it instead. Not long after, in 2015, you were able to order and pay for your drink ahead of time through the app, too.

Count your lucky Stars (yes, pun intended) that there are now more ways than ever to collect those Stars, and to later turn them into coffee and at-home merchandise.

The tiered system starts at 25 Stars, which will let you customize your drink for free with extra espresso, dairy substitutes, or your favourite syrups. It goes all the way up to 400 Stars, which gets you the benefit of choosing at-home merchandise, like mugs or at-home coffee.

If you’re not a Starbucks Rewards Member yet, now is the perfect time to make it happen. For more information about the new payment options and how you can earn more Stars, visit Starbucks Stories.