Starbucks Rewards is one of the most popular coffee rewards programs in Canada, giving you up to 1.7 Stars for every $1 you spend and letting you redeem your points for as little as 25 Stars.
Although Starbucks faced criticism for devaluing its rewards program in 2023, it hopes to make things right with the changes it's making this spring. In addition to a 3-tiered membership that allows you to earn Stars at an accelerated rate, you'll also see an additional reward opportunity.
This article covers everything you need to know about earning Stars, from the best ways to redeem them to stacking other rewards on top of your purchases, and even more.
Key Takeaways
- Starting March 10, 2026, Starbucks operates a 3-tiered membership program that’s free to join.
- Earn Starbucks Stars faster by gaining status within the program or digitally reloading your Starbucks Rewards Card.
- To maximize the value of your Stars, cash them in for a bag of coffee to take home.
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How to earn Starbucks Rewards
Every Starbucks purchase you make earns you Starbucks Stars, which can be redeemed for free rewards. You earn Stars by ordering through the app or simply scanning your app or card when making a purchase in-store.
In the past, Starbucks awarded Stars based on your payment method, but the program is changing, so the rate at which you earn Stars depends on your reward membership level:
- Green member: 1 Star per $1 spent
- Gold member: 1.5 Stars per $1 spent
- Reserve member: 1.7 Stars per $1 spent
Note that all earnings are on the pre-tax amount, and your Stars expire 6 calendar months after you earn them unless you keep your account active by making a purchase. However, Gold and Reserve members never have to worry about their Stars expiring.
Adding funds to your Starbucks account
To load your Starbucks card, add value in-store, online, or over the phone. You can also add funds through the app, typically with a $5 minimum. You can enable auto-reload to add a set amount when your balance runs low, but watch that you're not keeping more money sitting in your account than necessary.
You can also move over any leftover gift card funds to your Starbucks account. For example, if you only have $3 leftover on one gift card and $8 on another, you can consolidate both cards together to have $11 available – enough for the fancy drink you really want.
The app lets you add and save a debit or credit card for quick payments, but you'll only earn bonus Stars if you load funds onto your Starbucks card/account using a digital method, rather than in-store.
How to redeem Starbucks Rewards in Canada
You can redeem Starbucks Rewards for almost anything on the menu, from a simple extra espresso shot to an expensive branded travel mug.
There are a few ways to redeem your rewards, depending on how you place your order. If ordering in-store or via the drive-thru, inform the barista what you'd like to redeem your rewards for, then scan your card or app. If ordering on your mobile device, log in to the app, add your order, and select "Use Stars" at checkout.
Here's a comprehensive look at all the redemption details:
| Redemption level | What's included | Maximum savings | Average cents per point value (CPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Stars | Drink customization (like a shot of espresso, syrup, or foam) | $1 | 4 CPP |
| 60 Stars | Up to $2 off any item | $2 | 3.33 CPP |
| 100 Stars | * Hot or cold coffee * Hot or cold tea * Bakery items * Packaged snacks | $6 | 6 CPP |
| 200 Stars | * Handcrafted beverages (cold brew, latte, etc.) * Hot breakfast item (like egg bites or a breakfast sandwich) | $10 | 5 CPP |
| 300 Stars | * Lunch sandwich * Bag of coffee (ground or whole bean) | N/A | 6.65 CPP (assuming $19.95 bag of coffee was selected) |
| 400 Stars | * Select merchandise items (up to $20 value) | $20 | 5 CPP |
Further details on what's accepted for each tier can be found in the Starbucks Rewards Terms of Use. It doesn't go into extreme detail, though, so it may be easiest to play around on the app to see what you can redeem.
How to maximize your Starbucks spending
Getting a few Stars per visit is nice, but you'll definitely want to amp up those earnings to reach your next reward quicker. And since you likely already know Starbucks is an expensive treat, you may also want to top up with extra rewards to earn even more back on every $1 you spend.
As you can see from the previous table, if you really want to get the most value from each Star you earn, pay attention to the CPP and go for redemption options with higher CPP values.
- Preload your Starbucks card: If you're serious about maximizing Starbucks Stars, digitally preloading your card is essential, as it maximizes your earn rate. Yes, it's a strategy to get you to commit more money upfront, but the extra rewards easily justify having a few dollars parked on your card.
- Pay attention to Bonus Star offers: Starbucks regularly sends Bonus Star offers through the app. They typically take the form of challenges to make a certain number of orders within a timeframe. It also runs Double Star Days, allowing you to earn up to 4 Stars per dollar spent.
- Take advantage of credit card discounts for topping up: On top of earning as many Starbucks Rewards Stars as possible, you should also make sure you're stacking your credit card rewards on top. This is an extra step you can take to ensure you're extracting as much value as possible.
For example, the best card on the Canadian market right now is the American Express Cobalt® Card – it gives you 5 points for every eligible $1 spent at restaurants (as well as bars and grocery stores). With each point being worth up to 2 cents when you redeem for flights through Aeroplan, that's up to a 10% return on your Starbucks purchases.
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What's the Starbucks birthday reward?
The Starbucks birthday reward gives you one free handcrafted drink (of any size), food, or bottled drink every year on your birthday if you're a Green member. Gold members have up to 7 days to redeem their birthday reward, while Reserve members have up to 30 days to celebrate.
What's the Starbucks Rewards Card?
The Starbucks Rewards Card is a reloadable digital gift card in the Starbucks app. You can load the card with as little as $5 and use it to pay for your Starbucks orders. You have the opportunity to earn extra Stars when you digitally reload the card.
What were the recent Starbucks Rewards changes?
Starbucks notoriously devalued its program in 2023, but it recently announced an update to how you earn and redeem Stars. In March 2026, Starbucks launched a 3-tier membership program with an accelerated earn rate. It also added a redemption tier, so you can now redeem 60 Stars for a reward.
Do Starbucks Rewards expire?
Yes, Starbucks Rewards Stars expire 6 calendar months after you earn them if you're a Green member. You can keep your account active by making a purchase. Gold and Reserve members never have to worry about their points expiring.
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