Some days, when it is 90 degrees plus humidity in NYC, a caramel macchiato just won’t do it. Here are the best insider hacks and secret drinks that need to be leveraged for the next Starbucks run.
-Shivani Gonzalez
“The Cough Drop”
This is a great drink hack for fighting one of those awful summer colds. For the true Starbucks addict, it might be hard to stop coming even in sickness. If that is the case, Starbuck is still there to help. Most baristas will understand what it is but just in case they don’t: One Emperor’s cloud tea, jade citrus mint, steamed lemonade instead of water and an extra added pack of honey.
Christmas Anytime, Any Day
Starbucks has their magical holiday drinks but they are only featured for a short part of the year. This is the ideal way to celebrate the holidays, feel like it is Christmas time but still be able to wear a dress and sandals to work. A year-long staple on the Starbucks menu is hot chocolate and asking for hot chocolate with a peppermint shot will remind bring back thoughts of snow-covered roads and Christmas tree lights. If not with peppermint, toffee nut and caramel syrup can still achieve that Christmas vibe.
You Need To Download The App
With the app and the gold membership (just sign up for the app today for gold membership!), Starbucks gives two points per dollar spent. Download the app because points add up and there is no cost involved in using it. Think of it as the same sort of thing as cashing in credit card points for gift cards, miles or other rewards — just this time it is free drinks. Not getting points towards a free drink seems like a bit of a waste. Once there are 125 points, use it to get one drink or food item for free. This means that a venti caramel frappuccino with toffee nut syrup, an espresso shot and extra whip cream and extra caramel drizzle will get be free even though that drink would end up being about $10. Other perks include free drinks for birthdays, mobile ordering (meaning drinks can be ordered in advance and then quickly picked up at whichever store) and double star days where monthly there are double stars for each dollar spent.
Half Price Lattes
Lattes are many people’s early morning vice but at $4+ every day it can get a bit pricey. There is a way to get the same drink for only $2. That is five lattes a day for $10, even though that is not very advisable. Ask for a triple espresso over ice and then head over to the condiment section and add the milk of your choice. That will lower everyone’s weekly caffeine budget in no time!
$0.50 Refills
Planning on hunkering down at Starbucks with loads of work or a good book? This hack is perfect for that. When staying in the store, Starbucks offers $0.50 refills on hot/iced coffee and hot/iced tea infinitely. Where this hack is especially amazing is the fact people can still benefit from the $0.50 refills even if the first drink was not one of the ones listed above. This means it can start it off strong with a caramel macchiato or a chai tea latte and then keep the caffeine flowing with tea or coffee. With the Starbucks gold card, the refills are free in-store so leave those quarters at home.
Half Price Chai Latte
With this hack, chai latte addicts don’t need to continue paying $4.84 for a grande, there is a hack so that the drink will only cost you $2.75. What could be better than this favorite drink half priced? Order a cup of hot water with a Tazo chai tea bag and add milk from the condiment station. It has fewer calories and less sugar as an extra plus if for trying to keep that bikini body going through the fall!
10 Starbucks Hacks You Need To Leverage Now
Save On Bottled Water
Instead of buying a water bottle at Starbucks opt for their free tap water. Even though it is “tap”, it is triple filtered. Get it in any size and with or without ice for when there is no need to spend extra money.
Barnes and Noble 15% Off Any Starbucks
For Barnes and Noble members, when at Barnes and Noble, get everything at Starbucks 15% off. Just tell the barista the phone number associated with the account and it’s all set. What is better than strolling through stacks and stacks of books with your dicounted coffee?
Mermaid Frappuccino
Want to feel like you are on a tropical vacation when you are pushing past strangers on the NYC subway? Try out this mermaid Frappuccino by ordering a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino and asking for three scoops of blackberry inclusion, eight pumps of white mocha, three pumps of toasted coconut and three scoops of matcha powder. It will probably end up costing a decent amount but sometimes you have to treat yourself.
Starbucks in Shenzhen, China
Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
In the mood for something special? Add any sort of syrup to a vanilla bean Frappuccino. Syrups include strawberry sauce, vanilla hazelnut, caramel, toffee nut, cinnamon dolce, almond, hazelnut, raspberry, mint, chocolate, and white mocha. Skip the ice cream trips or boring old coffee run and instead head over to the world’s favorite coffee shop with a special and creative treat.
With all these hacks in mind, there will be a much larger range of drink options at Starbucks and save some money along the way. Just beware of too much caffeine.
-S.G.
