Coffee inflation: Starbucks Rewards announces upcoming changes to its redemption rates

If you're a coffee lover, chances are you use your credit card frequently at Starbucks.

It is possible to stack credit card rewards and Starbucks rewards on each purchase in order to ease the pain of premium prices.

It will take more than a cup of coffee to get a free dessert at Starbucks. Starbucks has made changes to its redemption rates.

New requirements are here.

• 100 Stars: Redeem for any size brewed coffee or tea (hot or iced), a bakery item, a packaged snack, a 24-ounce cold Siren logo plastic to-go cup or a 16-ounce Siren logo plastic hot cup.
• 200 Stars: Any handcrafted beverage or hot breakfast item.
• 300 Stars: Any lunch sandwich, salad, protein box or packaged coffee item (such as whole bean coffee).

The requirements were in effect until Feb 13.

• 25 Stars: Drink modifications (such as an extra shot)
• 50 Stars: Any size hot coffee, tea or a bakery item
• 150 Stars: Handcrafted beverages (including iced coffee), oatmeal or a breakfast sandwich
• 200 Stars: Lunch sandwiches, salads or protein boxes
• 400 Stars: Packaged coffee or a single merchandise item up to $20

If you prefer to redeem your Stars for bakery items, most beverage options, lunch sandwiches, etc., then the new redemption rates are not great. Iced coffee drinkers who were punished for their love of ice with the 150 Star category may get a break this time as it appears that the award price of the drink has dropped from 150 to 100 Stars.

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You can redeem your Stars at the current rates if you don't like the upcoming changes. Coffee drinkers may want to keep their Stars for a boost once the changes are in place. If you don't use your Stars within six months, they won't last.

Make sure you're getting the best value from your Starbucks purchases. You can earn 2 Stars per dollar by paying with either a physical or digital Starbucks gift card, so load your account with the best credit card to make your Starbucks purchase and then pay with your Starbucks credit.

You'll want to make sure you've linked your accounts. If you spend at least one Delta mile on eligible Starbucks purchases, you'll earn at least one Delta mile.

You can still earn different types of rewards with each coffee purchase. We're going to drink to that.