- TikTokers are hacking Starbucks’ mobile app to buy drinks at steep discounts.
- Many hacks start with purchasing iced espresso and customizing it.
- “I feel like it’s illegal that I bought this coffee for $3,” said one TikToker.
Smart TikTokers looking to save more than a penny on their favorite Starbucks drinks are teaching coffee lovers how to hack the Starbucks app to save money on premium drinks like Pumpkin Spice Lattes .
One TikToker said a mobile app hack knocked out about 50% of his iced coffee.
“I feel like it’s illegal that I bought this coffee for $3,” said a TikToker with the handle @sophiacelentano48.
In this video, a University of Virginia student demonstrates how to hack the Starbucks app to make a large iced latte at Starbucks for half the price, or less than $4. This hack starts by ordering an iced triple espresso. He costs $3.35 and you can also choose creamer. And for $1.25, you can customize your drink by adding cold foam, she said.
“Typically, this drink ends up being less than $5,” she said.
Here’s another hack for loyalty members.
“But if you have 25 stars in your account, which is actually not that hard to get, you can customize your drink for free, so cold foam is free and creamer is included in your espresso shot. “This drink costs less than $4, but you usually end up spending at least twice that,” she said.
Insiders looked into whether the hack was legal. In Orange, California, we found that a venti iced latte with cold foam costs about $6.70. We followed her instructions and she was able to get us the same drink for $3.60.
Another TikToker named @jadeleasy showed his followers how to get an iced pumpkin spice latte for under $4. While she buys lattes for about $8, “I buy mine for $3.75 up to $4,” she said. “This is what I do.”
Just like @sophiacelentano48, Jade starts with an iced espresso drink. She ordered a double espresso shot, which came with “3 to 4 ounces of milk for free.”
“Then you order a pumpkin sweet cream cold foam and it tastes exactly like a pumpkin spice latte. And you probably spent $3.50 or $3.75,” she said.
Some Starbucks menu hacks aren’t all that complicated. Check out this hack by @taylormakesvideos.
She explains how you can save more by ordering iced drinks without ice. She then offers to ask for a free large ice cube in passing.
“This is a money-saving hack that Starbucks doesn’t want you to know about,” she said. “If you want an iced drink, buy a smaller version of that drink without ice and order a venti with just ice. They give it to you for free. You get more than just one drink. ”For the same price you pay for a small cup of coffee, you get a whole venti’s worth of coffee. ”
Maybe Starbucks knows about the no-ice trick. It’s been around for at least a few years.
Starbucks said these customizations, known as hacks, are part of the brand experience.
“Our customers and partners are constantly coming up with creative customizations and sharing them on social media,” the company said.
The chain also allows you to add “up to 4 ounces of dairy or non-dairy milk” to any hot or iced brewed coffee or tea, cold brew coffee, or Americano beverage for free. Ta.
However, the chain disputed a TikToker’s suggestion that the pumpkin spice latte could cost around $8. “Prices for PSLs vary by market. In U.S. stores operated by the company, Grande PSLs range from $5.75 to $6.75 and Venti PSLs range from $6.25 to $7.25,” the company said.
Starbucks isn’t the only chain whose customers are turning to digital apps for cheaper food and drinks. Chipotle cracked down on expensive burrito hacks on its menu last year. Customers would order tacos for $3 for him and one and add unlimited toppings, or buy tortillas for 40 cents and make him a $9 burrito.
Once the chain learned of the hack, it removed tacos from its digital ordering channel.
Are you a Starbucks barista and know about these hacks? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Contact Nancy Luna via the encrypted messaging app Signal at 714-875-6218 or by email. nluna@insider.com
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