Starbucks announced three US membership levels on 29 January 2026, with introduction planned for 10 March.
The announced benefits
- Green: birthday rewards, personalised offers and a free monthly beverage modification; monthly activity could preserve Stars.
- Gold: Green benefits, faster earning and Stars without expiry.
- Reserve: additional merchandise and experiences, with faster earning.
The company described earning based on spending rather than payment type. The launch was still planned.
Earlier changes to the same programme
In March 2019, Starbucks announced that members would be able to earn and redeem rewards immediately after joining from 16 April. Its redesign replaced a single redemption option with several categories, covering additions to drinks, prepared beverages, food and selected merchandise or packaged coffee. Those categories described what accumulated Stars could obtain. The redemption options applied only at participating locations.
Payment options expanded in 2020
The company's October 2020 results recorded a September expansion of ways to earn Stars. In company-operated stores in the United States and Canada, new and existing members could pay with cash, credit or debit cards and selected mobile wallets. They no longer had to preload a Starbucks Card within the app to participate in earning.
Trading figures before the proposed change
Results published on 28 January 2026 covered the thirteen-week fiscal first quarter ending 28 December 2025. US comparable-store sales increased 4%, comprising a 3% increase in transactions and a 1% rise in average ticket. The comparison includes company-operated stores open for at least thirteen months. These figures describe trading before the proposed programme change; they cannot establish its effect on purchasing. The reporting period and the future introduction date therefore refer to separate stages of the company's business.
Company and media contact
Starbucks. Global media telephone: +1 206 318 7100. Company website: https://www.starbucks.com/. Media contact page: https://about.starbucks.com/contact/.