Free refills at Starbucks? Yes, please.
The ubiquitous coffee chain is known for introducing sweet deals — like its Thursday BOGO offer in spring 2024, which meant customers could enjoy two of the new Spicy Lemonade Refreshers for the price of one. Although most deals at Starbucks are limited-time offers, its refill policy is a year-round treat.
Read on to learn more about the secret hack you'll want to use to get a "free-fill" at Starbucks.
Can I get a free refill at Starbucks?
The short answer is yes — however, there are some important things to know.
Suppose you're at Target and buy one of the drinks on its Starbucks menu and finish it while shopping around. Before you go, you can stop back at the counter for a free refill on a specific selection of drinks — but only with the Starbucks mobile app.
Starbucks barista and content creator Mariam explained the policy to her Instagram followers in March 2023, ensuring lovers of the chain that it's possible (and legitimate) to get free refills at one of its participating locations or those inside a Target.
"You can go to Target, get a drink when you get it, go shopping and come back before you leave and get a refill. Or you can go to a regular Starbucks, get a drink, study for like an hour or two, and then get a refill before you leave again," she said in a video shared on Instagram.
Mariam then explained no matter what drink you ordered before — be it a matcha or the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew — as long as you have the Starbucks app, you can get a refill.
What drinks are included in the Starbucks refill policy?
There's one catch to Starbucks' refill policy: The savvy deal will only get you an extra regular coffee or tea — not a second serving of your original drink order.
The Starbucks app includes a breakdown of how refills work.
"At participating stores, you can use your registered Starbucks Card or Starbucks app to purchase a beverage and then present that same Starbucks Card or Starbucks account in the app to get free refills of brewed coffee (hot, Iced Coffee, or Cold Brew), and tea (hot or iced) during the same store visit regardless of the original beverage," the app reads, per Inc.
Mariam confirmed that "you can only get, like, cream, sugar, Classic [syrup], that's it. No cold foam, no lemonade, no stuff like that."
How can I order a refill through the Starbucks app?
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As Mariam reiterated in the video, "The refill itself is free as long as you have the app."
To get a free brewed coffee or tea refill, simply show the Starbucks barista — at one of its participating locations or inside a Target store — that you have the Starbucks mobile app.
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"Remember to always be kind to your baristas, some might be new and not know of this yet, but as long as you have the app and scan it before ordering your first drink you can get a refill!" she captioned the Instagram video.
While refills aren't offered via the drive-thru, the company's official policy states that customers without a registered account can purchase a refill at a "reduced price of around 50 cents," Inc. reported.
