Starbucks is increasing the number of points needed to claim free food & drink items as part of its rewards scheme.
The current scheme allows customers to earn 10 points for each £1 spent at participating locations. While this will not be changing, the number of points required to redeem free items will increase.
As of 3 September, Starbucks Rewards members will need 150 points or ‘stars’ to redeem a free filter coffee, americano or hot tea, up from the 130 stars currently required.
Under the scheme, customers must spend £13 to earn 130 stars, meaning that as of next month, £15 must be spent to redeem the same item under the new 150 stars requirement.
Other changes will see the amount of stars needed to redeem selected bakery items increasing from 300 to 350, while ‘handcrafted beverages’ including lattes, mochas, matcha and frappuccinos, will require 600 stars, up from the current 500.
The number of points needed to claim free merchandise, such as selected mugs and cups, will also rise from 1,000 stars to 1,150.
Starbucks said the updates would “help ensure the programme continued to deliver value for members over the long term”.
The coffee chain confirmed that there are “no changes to how members earn stars”, adding that it would “continue to invest in rewards and bring members more benefits in the future”.
Starbucks is not the first food-to-go chain to have made changes to its coffee rewards scheme as of late.
At the end of 2025, Leon put an end to its coffee subscription, Roast Rewards, as part of the chain’s turnaround plan. Co-founder and owner John Vincent said the business was “letting go of processes that make daily operations more difficult for its teams”.
Instead, Leon unveiled plans to reinvest in barista talent with a renewed focus on training. Vincent reinstated his barista wing tsun training, an ancient martial arts course he previously rolled out across the business, which the brand said “demonstrated faster and less stressful coffee preparation while lowering heart rates”.
Pret a Manger’s subscription model has also undergone numerous changes over the past few years. In September 2024, the food-to-go chain ended its free coffee subscription, which had entitled members to five free coffees per day as well as a 20% discount on food.
This was replaced with a new set of Club Pret perks in February 2025, giving subscribers 50% off up to five barista-made drinks a day, but no discounts on food.
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