How To Get 3 Starbucks Drinks for $4 With This Simple Hack

If you're someone who thrives on a daily Starbucks run (virtual high-five) but also lives on a tight budget, you know the struggle. Those delectable Frappuccinos, refreshers, and cold brews can quickly stack up and burn a hole in your pocket.

But what if we told you there's a way to make your wallet and caffeine cravings happily co-exist? By following this Redditor's hack, you'll be able to get three Starbucks drinks for just $4 — or, as the user notes, you'll get to "enjoy Starbucks three days in a row for the price of one drink." 

Step 1: Order a Venti Iced Americano

To recreate the hack, start off by ordering a Venti (large) iced Americano, says the user. Though this espresso-based drink is cheaper than cold brew or iced coffee, it doesn't skimp on flavor or caffeine content. This way, you get to save money while still getting your caffeine fix. The most important part of this step, though, is to make sure you order this in-store. If you're thinking, "Yeah, no thanks, I only do the drive-thru," bear with us for a tad longer — we promise it's worth it.

Step 2: Leverage the Starbucks App

Now, this is where the Starbucks Rewards app comes into play. If you're not already using it, you're missing out on some neat benefits. The app allows you to rack up points with each purchase that can be used to redeem free drinks, food items, merchandise, and refills. Once you've finished your iced Americano, use the app to order a free refill. The user says their go-to is a cold brew without ice that typically costs around $5. (Note that refills are limited to iced coffee, cold brew, or hot coffee and tea.)

Step 3: Turn Your Home Into a Starbucks Cafe

Now for the cherry on top — or, should we say, the third cup of coffee. Take your Venti cold brew home and divide it into two servings to enjoy over the next two days. Add some ice (or whipped cream if you're extra fancy), and voila — you've just crafted your own DIY iced cold brew for much cheaper. 

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Other Tips To Keep in Mind

Most users were impressed with the hack, with one commenting, "Acceptable hack. You are paying for the drink you are getting and using your free refill appropriately." However, they also cautioned against exploiting the hack by "heavily modifying" it. "It's going to backfire on you," the Redditor warns. Judging from some of the other comments, you definitely do not want to be that customer who throws a hissy fit when they can't get a refill of just any drink. 

One user shared how they had to deal with a customer who was trying to exploit the hack by ordering "additional syrups from behind the bar." When the user said they couldn't do free refills of this kind, the customer got upset, demanding that "it should be free because the Starbucks up the road does it." Don't be that person. Fast-food and retail workers have it rough enough — and they can even get fired for breaking certain rules, one user points out. 

Another way to take advantage of refills? Just stay in the store, writes one Redditor. "You can sit in the lobby and buy any drink and get free refills with your app for as long as you drink all your coffee," the user, who works as a Starbucks barista, shared. "It's pretty simple. Just don't leave."

"Not enough people take advantage of the refill policy," writes another Redditor who works as a Starbucks' supervisor. "When I first started working at [Starbucks] almost 6 years ago, people would hang out in the cafe all day and get their refills. After 2020 that really diminished, at least in my area."

The Bottom Line

There you have it — another Starbucks hack to stretch your dollar and maximize your caffeine intake. "This is literally the first 'hack' that isn’t annoying," writes another barista, before giving us all the ultimate stamp of approval: "Good work." On behalf of all us who stress over making fast-food workers' lives harder, we'll be trying this hack out immediately.