Collect Stars for every pound you spend with Starbucks UK Rewards which can then be redeemed for free drinks, food & merch!
The Starbucks UK Rewards app has been around since late 2011 and it remains one of the most popular reward schemes around. Members benefit from the in-app pre-order service, rewards system and members only perks.
What is the Starbucks UK Rewards Scheme?
The Starbucks UK Rewards scheme is super simple… collect stars based on how much you spend which you can then redeem in the form of drinks, food or merchandise.
It’s an app based rewards scheme which has a personalised QR code that you scan at the till when you pay.
How Can I Join?
It’s free to join the Starbucks UK rewards scheme and is as simple as downloading the app, available for both Apple and Android. Then creating an account directly in the app.
Once you’ve created an account, make sure to scan your app at the till or order directly through the app to collect your stars.
How Do I Earn Stars?
For every £1 spent, you’ll collect 10 stars. You collect stars on any purchase, so long as you’ve scanned your card at the till or ordered directly through the app. Keep an eye out for exclusive offers and promotions which may mean more stars per £1 spent.
You can earn stars at participating stores only across the UK so bear in mind that not all Starbucks will accept the loyalty card. The app features an app, on which you can see participating stores.
At a base level, every £1 is worth 10 stars but Starbucks don’t penalise pennies and still reward you if you’re in between two pounds. Here’s the reward chart direct from their T&Cs…
How Much Are Stars Worth?
Redemptions start from as little as 130 stars. Which is the equivalent of after you’ve spent £13. The rewards are tiered in that you need a certain amount of points to “unlock” the next award rather than being able to use the stars to reduce your cost of your coffee.
Let’s break down the current reward tiers…
| Stars | Reward | Value | Best Category Redemption |
| 130 | Basic Espresso Drinks, Filter Coffee, Hot Tea | £2.40-£4.80 | Iced Caffe Americano (£4.80) = 3.7p/star |
| 300 | Breakfast Pastry, Muffin | £3.60-£4.65 | Any Muffin (£4.65) = 1.6p/star |
| 500 | Any drink off the menu | £3.85-£8.40 | Iced Vanilla Protein Matcha Latte (£8.40) = 1.7p/star |
| 1000 | Merchandise (10oz Mug, 3oz Espresso Cup, Notebook) | £11.30 -£14.90 | 10oz Mug (£14.90) = 1.5p/star |
The best value redemption is an Iced Caffe Americano, because it comes in under the 130 Stars category but full price this drink is £4.80. If black coffee isn’t your thing (I’m with ya!), don’t worry, Starbucks lets you add a “splash of milk or cream” for no additional charge. If you wanted to add a syrup that would be 65p extra or £1 extra for some cold foam on top.
Even with some add ons, the Iced Caffe Americano is the best value use of your Starbucks Stars. Instead of waiting to get to 500 Stars to redeem any drink, you could get almost 4 of these instead.
How Do I Redeem My Rewards?
You can redeem your rewards via the app. Either by making an order through the app or in-store by scanning your code.
You can see your progress towards your next reward on the app and see which menu items you have enough Stars to redeem.
Any Tiered Benefits?
Yes! The Starbucks UK Rewards scheme is split into two different status tiers. Green and gold. All members start on Green and once members earn 2500 Stars they progress to being a Gold member.
You need to earn the 2500 Stars within 12 months of signing up for the program. To maintain Gold level status, you need to earn at least 2500 Star every 12 month period.
Gold members benefit from additional perks such as free syrups, extra shots and toppings. As a Gold member you will also get a free drink on your birthday.
Is The Starbucks UK Reward Scheme Worth Joining?
Yes! Compared to other coffee shop reward schemes in the UK, Starbucks rewards are easier to get.
For example, with Starbucks you only need 130 Stars to claim your first free drink. This is the equivalent of spending £13 at Starbucks which nowadays is only 1-2 drinks to get 1 back.
Comparatively, with the Costa Club you need to collect 10 beans, which means buying 10 drinks, or 5 if you use a reusable cup to get 1 free one back.
That’s almost double the amounts of rewards back for the same amount of drinks purchased. Winner!
So if you have a Starbucks nearby which is a participating store and you enjoy free coffees, you need to download the Starbucks UK Rewards app.
FAQs
Let me answer some frequently asked questions about the Starbucks UK Rewards scheme…
Do Stars expire?
Yes! Each individual Star you collect has a 2-year expiration date. So you need to redeem them within 2-years of collecting them or they’ll expire.
Do I have to redeem the free birthday drink on my birthday?
No. You have up to 30 days after the birthday drink voucher has been issued to claim it.
Can I collect/spend Stars from Starbucks outside the UK?
You can only collect/spend Stars from this program within the UK and the Republic of Ireland.