Update: It looks like this coupon might be tied to specific accounts. If you have Starbucks Rewards check your email from last week and see if you got this coupon, otherwise you can try to use it but it might not work for everyone.
Here is another Starbucks coupon for 50% off a handcrafted espresso beverage of your choice through 3/19.
The catch is that you need to have a registered Starbucks card to redeem this coupon. You will need to actually pay with that registered card.
This is an awesome deal because we almost never see half off drinks. You will still get your star for buying a drink and it looks like you can purchase any time of day.
PS: There is a free printable coupon for a Starbucks Macchiato drink that is floating around the internet. You can find it by following the directions on this post. That “coupon” was actually a flyer someone received in store, uploaded it to the internet and now it is all over the place. I don’t think Starbucks intended for the coupon to be released but up to you if you want to try using it. 🙂
**********
And if you are not familiar with My Starbucks Rewards:
This is a totally free program and if you go to Starbucks at all it is something that I for sure recommend.
You will need a Starbucks gift card. You can get a gift card in any value you choose but you do need to spend money up front to get a gift card.
Once you have a Starbucks gift card, go online here and register the card for My Starbucks Rewards. Now you are done.
The big benefit to joining my Starbucks Rewards is that you can get a free drink on your birthday- anything you want!
You will also collect stars for every purchase. You must use that registered Starbucks card to pay so that your stars can track but each time you buy a drink you get a star. Once you collect 12 stars you can get a free drink or a free food item of your choice.
If you go to Starbucks regularly you might consider downloading the free app. You can keep your gift card balance right on your phone and just scan it at the register. It takes 24 hours for your purchases to be recorded but the free rewards will be available within a day of earning them and your birthday one will just pop up.
debbie says
The coupon for the free caramel or hazelnut beverage is on coupons.com, a legitimate site. I used 2 this evening with no problem at my Starbucks store.
Charlene says
Debbie,
That is an image uploaded. That is most definitely not a printable coupon released by Starbucks. You are 100% correct that the original coupon is legitimate- they had stacks of them handed out in stores to random customers. The quantity of coupons they actually handed out were limited. Someone took a coupon that was handed out to them in a store as a flyer and uploaded it to the internet. Just like if I printed a Huggies coupon off my computer and then scanned it into my computer- now I can print thousands and thousands of the coupons. The original coupon was legitimate. The scanned copy of the coupon is not. Apparently stores are taking the coupons or accepting the codes but I have not seen anywhere that Starbucks released this as a printable coupon.
Starbucks coupons are advertised and come from their social media or a page at Starbucks.com. You can see that from the 50% off coupon- it is from a Starbucks email directly and has a Starbucks.com URL. So while it is nice that stores are honoring the coupons, I don’t personally feel right about it.
Hopefully we see something from Starbucks directly promoting the coupon and not this same blurry, scanned image of the hard copy coupon someone received ;).
Charlene says
PS:
Starbucks posted about the new Hazelnut Macchiato drink on their Facebook page. If you follow the link and scroll down to the comments you will see someone asked about the free drink and this was the response:
“Stores received a limited number of Free Macchiato Cards to give to select espresso customers to invite them to experience our new Hazelnut Macchiato or Caramel Macchiato. To redeem the customer needs to give their barista the Macchiato Card. We have heard misinformation is circulating online, generating questions from customers like you. We apologize for the confusion.”
Alice says
We tried using the 50% off printable and it didn’t work. Barista said it’s tied to the email account.
Charlene says
Alice,
Did you use a rewards card?
Nicole Walker says
The code didn’t work for me either. My store knows me a little too well ;), so they actually gave me my drink for free. They said that the coupon has to be loaded onto the card, or something like that. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but I will and report back.
Charlene says
Hmm. Ok I’ll check it out and see. I have a feeling they are grumpy about that macchiato thing so maybe the stores are really going to crack down 🙁
Charlene says
Hey Nicole,
I got this exact same email on Thursday and the offer code is identical. It appears to be a coupon that can be shared but maybe check your account that is tied to your Rewards card?
Jill L says
I tired to use this today and it has to be tied directly to an account. because I am a “regular” at my local coffee house, they honored it.
Jill L says
Oh and yes I did use my Gold Card. Thanks for all the deals you post! 🙂
Charlene says
Oh well darn it! Starbucks is on to us ;). Thanks for letting me know!
finuala says
I also I tried to use this today with my registered card with no luck. The barista told me the coupon was only sent to select registered cards and doesn’t work on all registered cards. He was nice and gave me the discount anyway, but others’ experience might vary. Thanks!
Charlene says
You know, I wonder if this isn’t working for brand new rewards cards since those already got a $5 bonus? Maybe they only sent the coupon to people with existing Rewards cards?
Michelle says
I have an existing card and this one didn’t work for me:(