10 Little-Known Starbucks Hacks from a Barista

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I was a barista at Starbucks for two years. Let me tell you, I learned some very valuable money-saving Starbucks hacks and secrets that I still use when I visit!

I now often give my friends and family tips on how to get more for their money at Starbucks, too, and I even got my mom and Ryan hooked on the healthier frappuccino recipe I discovered (which you can find at the end of this post.) Rather than keep all these tips and tricks to myself, I decided to share my best Starbucks hacks with you all in this post!

Here is my list of 10 little-known secrets and ways to get more for your money at Starbucks!

Note: At Starbucks, the sizes are called short (extra-small), tall (small), grande (medium), venti (large), and trenta (extra-large and only available for iced drinks).

1. Love iced tea or iced coffee?

Made to standard, with either of these drinks half your cup will be taken up with ice. Ask for light ice to get twice as much drink, or get it without ice if you’re taking it to-go and can put ice in it yourself. The cost will be the same and you’ll get way more for your money!

2. Love whipped cream?

Adding whipped cream to any drink is free. You can even ask for extra whipped cream and for your drink to be put in the next cup size bigger. For example: “I’d like a tall iced coffee with extra whipped cream in a grande cup.” You’ll only be charged for a tall iced coffee!

3. Wish your iced tea was stronger?

Baristas normally add water to the tea to dilute it when mixing it for you. If you want it stronger, ask for no added water!

4. Want a splash of flavor in your tea or lemonade without adding syrup?

Ask for a splash of strawberry acai refresher or berry hibiscus refresher for a lightly sweetened taste with no extra charge. (Refreshers are lightly caffeinated juice.)

5. Bringing your dog with you?

Ask for a puppuccino – it’s a cup of whipped cream for your dog to enjoy, also free!

6. Like your coffee extra hot?

Instead of asking for room, ask for your cream or milk to be steamed and added to your coffee! No extra charge.

Scott Feldstein on Flickr, CC-BY-2.0

7. Hate pouring out your coffee to add cream?

Ask for the size coffee you want but in the next cup size bigger. For example: “I’d like a tall coffee in a grande size cup with room for cream.” You’d only be charged for a tall but would have plenty of extra room for cream or milk without having to dump any out.

8. Going to sit and stay awhile?

For coffee, iced coffee, iced tea, and hot tea, unlimited refills are just 50 cents each. Here’s the secret: you don’t have to get the same drink for your refill that you bought originally! For example, if you started with an iced coffee you can get a hot passion tea for your refill.

Also, if you’re a Starbucks Gold Card Member then unlimited refills are free!

9. Have kids with you?

You can ask for a venti size drink to be split into two tall cups and save a dollar or two from what it would cost to buy two tall drinks.

Also, there may be more kids’ options than you think. Lemonade, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, apple juice, steamed apple juice, and steamers (steamed milk with any flavor of syrup) are all available, and you can ask for hot drinks to be done at kids’ temperature to prevent burning their mouths.

10. Hate seeing the barista dump the rest of your frappuccino down the drain because it didn’t fit in your cup?

The frappuccino recipe almost always makes more than will fit in the given cup size! When you order, ask for your frappuccino to be put in the next bigger cup size and they’ll give you the extra. For example: “I’d like a grande mocha frappuccino in a venti cup.”

Bonus Starbucks hack: Healthier Frappuccino Recipe

I try not to have a lot of sugar (challenging at Starbucks!). So, my favorite drink whenever I get a free reward through the Starbucks Rewards app is a venti (large) espresso frappuccino with a banana instead of base syrup.

The base syrup is what gives the frappuccinos a blended rather than slushy texture, but a banana has the same effect without the added sugar! Adding a banana costs a dollar extra, so that’s why I personally only do this when using a free reward.

I get espresso because the usual coffee used in frappuccinos is made from powder. You can substitute espresso and/or a banana in any frappuccino flavor!

Starbucks is well-loved for having an extensive menu and consistency in delivering delicious drinks all over the world. But, frequent visits can also take a toll on the wallet. These Starbucks hacks help us get more for our money!

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