SEATTLE - Heads up for regular Starbucks customers. The number of "stars" needed to get certain food and drinks for free in the U.S.
and Canada as part of the coffee giant’s rewards program officially changes on Monday. When members of Starbucks’ rewards program spend money via their online account, they can earn stars, including two for every $1 with a Starbucks card and one for every $1 with a credit or debit card.
They can put those stars toward redeeming rewards like free drinks and merchandise, depending on how many they have.RELATED: Family shocked by $4,444 charge after Starbucks runAn update to the Starbucks rewards program, announced in December, involves increasing the number of stars needed to redeem things in three different tiers.
The changes take effect on Feb. 13. FILE - A Starbucks coffee cup sits on a table on June 11, 2021, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Under these changes, customers need to earn 100 stars to get: For hot brewed coffee, hot steeped tea, and a bakery item, only 50 stars have been required to redeem those in the past.