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I’m an award-winning Starbucks barista – my tips to save £343 a year on coffee including free refills
Barista Dee Bespalova shares her Starbucks top tips and secrets
SPLASHING out on a coffee pick-me-up doesn't need to cost as much as you think it does.
Dee Bespalova, named the best Starbucks barista in the UK, has shared her top tips on how to save money - including the secret to free refills.
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Star barista Dee was awarded after taking on her fellow Starbucks coffee connoisseurs from up and down the country.
She has now shared her top tips for saving money at Starbucks - and who better to get the inside information from?
Buying coffee on the go can be shockingly expensive when added up over time.
According to Wholesale Coffee Co, Brits spend on average £5.50 per week on coffee, which is £286 a year.
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And on average, people who buy a Starbucks three times a week spending approximately £54 a month, which is a whopping £648 annually.
At The Sun, we always recommend you make coffee from home to save money.
For example, with Tesco Clubcard prices you can buy 6 sachets of Costa Barista Creations in any flavour for £1.75 - that's 30p a coffee.
Meanwhile, a Starbucks can typically set you back around £4.50 for one drink, or up to £6.55 for special recipes.
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Starbucks prices change based on availability, and between locations.
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However, we also know that, sometimes, a DIY coffee from home isn't quite as exciting as a Starbucks on the go.
And with experts like Dee making the coffee, sometimes it's okay to spend a little extra on a hot drink you know you'll love.
For this reason, we put together Dee's top tips for enjoying a Starbucks the savvy way - so you don't have to miss out on that coffee catch up with friends.
By combining all of these tips across the year, a person who drinks three coffees a week and spends £648 annually will save £343.20.
The amount you save will vary depending on how much you typically spend of course.
GET FREE REFILLS - £271.20
One of the most exciting tips Dee whispered to The Sun was that filter coffee-drinkers are actually able to get refills for free.
She said: "Whilst lattes and flat whites are many people’s favourites, if your usual order is a black coffee, or a coffee with just a splash of milk, consider asking whether your local store offers filter coffee, which you can swap out for your americano and enjoy a free refill."
A filter coffee at Starbucks is easy on the wallet too, starting at just £1.95.
If you were to buy two americanos (£3.80 each), this would cost you £7.60.
If you did this once a week for a year, you would rack up a spending of £364.80.
Instead, you could save a total of £5.65 a visit by ordering a filter coffee and getting a free refill instead.
If you did this once a week for a year instead, you'd spend £93.60 a year - saving £271.20 across the year just by swapping for filter coffee.
Dee recommends going up and asking your barista if it offers filter coffees, as they are not in all stores and might not always be on the menu at the tills where you'll usually find the latest additions and seasonal drinks on show.
You'll need to purchase the first drink to have in to then qualify for a free tall refill.
SWAP SYRUPS - £72
When you fancy your coffee with a little twist, a syrup will usually do the trick - but if you are looking to save, there is a cheaper option.
You can swap out the dairy milk for an alternative to bring a different flavour to your drink.
According to Dee, dairy alternatives at Starbucks are offered at no extra charge.
Customers can request oat, soy, almond or coconut milk.
"But if you’re a bit stuck for where to start, choose a drink with a dairy alternative as standard", she told The Sun.
"For example, the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso is designed to work best with the delicious roast nutty flavours of oat dairy alternative."
Starbucks is one of very few chains which offers completely free milk alternatives.
In Costa for instance, soya is the only non-dairy milk you can buy free of charge. For oat or coconut, the customer must spend 45p.
5 things you didn't know about Starbucks
The name was inspired by a book
Co-founders Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zev Siegl opened the first Starbucks in Seattle on March 30, 1971. The name was inspired by author Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby-Dick - Starbuck was the name of the first mate on the ship, the Pequod.
It has its own coffee farm
Purchased in 2013, Hacienda Alsacia is a 240-hectare coffee farm located in Costa Rica. Customers can't visit, but they can take a virtual tour.
Different apron colours
Did you ever notice some of the Starbucks staff wearing different colour aprons? Green, Black, Red and there's also a few special editions.
Before there were Sharpie pens
Starbucks is known for writing your name on your drink cup, but before this idea came to fruition, the position of a cup on the bar would tell the barista how to make the beverage. Upside down for decaf!
Millions of fans, millions of drinks
US Starbucks stores will sell around 5 million drinks daily in 2024, and the top-selling of which is currently Caramel Macchiato.
A shot of syrup at Starbucks typically costs 50p, so you can save £1.50 a week based on having three drinks a week on average - that's £6 a month, and £72 a year.
Of course, keep in mind that out calculations are based three coffees a week - the amount you save will vary based on how much you usually spend on coffee.
GET FREEBIES WITH STARBUCKS REWARDS - £72
Regular Starbucks customers can download the Starbucks app and collect points, which can be used to gain free rewards.
Dee said: "It pays to be loyal and Starbucks Rewards is quick and easy to use."
Customers can collect three stars for every £1 spent, and when you reach 150 stars, you’ll get a free drink of any size.
If customers reach 450 stars, they will be rewarded with Gold status.
This means extra shots of espresso, selected syrups and whipped cream are all on the house.
Each of these extras usually cost 50p, meaning you could save £s off a single purchase.
If you cashed in on these extras three times a week, you'd save £1.50 - that's £6 a month, and £72 a year.
To begin collecting rewards, download the Starbucks app and sign up with your email address.
However, keep in mind that with all schemes such as these, the goal of the company is to get you spending more money.
If you become a rewards member, be sure to use it as a perk, and not an excuse to buy more coffees when you're out of the house - otherwise you will lose money rather than saving it.
Also remember that having apps and email notifications from businesses like Starbucks may subconsciously encourage you to spend more money, so be mindful of marketing influences.
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In moderation, rewards are much more enjoyable.
To find the nearest Starbucks near you, visit their website.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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