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Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
also contributed to this story
February 19, 2024 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Starbucks Rewards members can earn Stars for purchases, which can be redeemed for drinks, food or merchandise, with Stars valued at around 4 cents each per TPG's valuations as of June 2024.
Using a payment method that offers a dining or mobile wallet category bonus can maximize rewards on Starbucks purchases, especially when reloading the Starbucks app or buying gift cards at select merchants.
Gift cards purchased at certain merchants, such as office supply or grocery stores, may qualify for higher rewards depending on your payment method's bonus categories.
The best payment method for Starbucks purchases can vary over time due to rotating promotions and limited-time offers.
What to consider
Starbucks Stars expire six months after they are earned, so timely redemption is important.
Some payment methods offer higher rewards for purchases made via mobile wallets or at specific merchants where Starbucks gift cards are sold.
Certain promotional offers or rotating categories may temporarily increase rewards on Starbucks purchases.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of payment methods, including how to leverage gift card purchases and category bonuses, to maximize rewards at Starbucks.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
With over 30,000 locations and millions of rewards members, Starbucks is, without question, a worldwide phenomenon. So what's the best credit card for your next cup of joe, tea, Refresher (or even pup cup)?
Whether you want a cold brew or a morning snack, here’s how to get the most bang for your next Starbucks purchase by using one of these credit cards and maximizing the Starbucks Stars program.
How to earn and use Starbucks Stars
No matter what credit card (or gift card) you use to pay for Starbucks, if you load that money into your Starbucks app or pay from within the app, you earn 2 Starbucks Stars per dollar when you pay for most Starbucks menu items.
Since that is a constant at participating Starbucks, we’re going to largely ignore those earnings here, but be sure and earn those Stars, as they are worth about 4-5 cents each, depending on how you use them.
We’ll value them at 4 cents per point for our purposes to stay on the conservative side, but know that you can sometimes get a bit more value than that.
25 Stars: Drink modifications (such as an extra shot)
100 Stars: Brewed hot or iced coffee or tea, bakery item, packaged snack and more
200 Stars: Handcrafted drink or hot breakfast
300 Stars: Lunch sandwiches, protein box or a brew-at-home coffee
400 Stars: Select Starbucks merchandise item (up to $20)
Keep in mind that Starbucks Stars expire six months after they are earned, on the first day of that month. Make sure you use them or you'll lose them.
How to earn credit card rewards at Starbucks
Your first thought when deciding which credit card to use at Starbucks might have been the one that gives you the best bonus on dining, and that’s not a bad approach. However, it is not the only path to maximizing value at Starbucks.
Since you can reload your Starbucks balance from the mobile app (or even use a mobile wallet payment option like Apple Pay or Chase Pay to pay in the store), credit cards that give a mobile wallet bonus can work out well, too.
For example, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card awards 3 points per dollar for mobile wallet purchases.
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For example, you could earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar spent) by picking up a Starbucks gift card at an office supply store with your Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees). It may take a little extra effort, but you'll earn rewards that you can put toward statement credits and other purchases.
The Starbucks Visa card is no longer available
If you’re thinking, “Wait, isn’t there a Starbucks Visa and shouldn’t it be the best card for Starbucks?” Well, yes, there was a Starbucks Visa but it’s no longer available — and it actually wasn’t the most rewarding credit card for Starbucks purchases anyway.
The information for the Starbucks Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Accurately narrowing down the best way to pay for your Starbucks order is complicated since there are so many options, but we’ll highlight the best of the best to get you on the right track.
Category bonus
Value of rewards
Total earned per dollar
Annual fee
Welcome bonus
Notes
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
5 points at office supply stores (you can purchase Starbucks gift cards there)
Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
5 points per dollar spent on first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores, cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account year
4 points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
2 cents
8 cents
$325 (see rates and fees)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible to earn as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
3 points on dining
2.05 cents
6.15 cents
$795
Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
3 points on dining
2.05 cents
6.15 cents
$95
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
6% back at U.S. supermarkets; up to $6,000; then 1% (you can purchase Starbucks gift cards there).
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
2 cents
12 cents
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then, $95 (see rates and fees)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year; then 1%.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Bilt Mastercard®
Earn 3 Bilt Points per dollar on dining
2.05 cents
6.15 cents.
$0 annual fee
No welcome bonus
Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period.
Earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days
Must pay using mobile wallet option such as Apple Pay
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
7 points at U.S. restaurants
0.5 cents.
4.2 cents
$550 (see rates and fees)
Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
At U.S. restaurants only
Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card
3% cash back on dining
1 cent
3 cents
$0
Earn a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
Any Bank of America credit or debit card
2% cash back on qualifying Starbucks in-app purchases
1 cent
2 cents
Varies
Varies
Value of rewards based on TPG valuations, not the card issuers.
The information for the Citi Prestige and Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
STARBUCKS
As you can see, the American Express Gold Card is great if you want to directly load up your Starbucks account in the app or pay in a Starbucks store. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards are also solid options thanks to their earning power of 3 points per dollar on dining purchases.
You may also want to factor in any relevant Amex Offers or Chase Offers and a whole host of other stacking opportunities that can lead to savings if you're a Starbucks regular.
The best card for Starbucks can change over time
The best card in your wallet for Starbucks purchases will probably change as offers and special promos from various sources come into play. For example, TPG staffers have previously seen a Chase promotion that awarded up to 10 points per dollar at Starbucks across a variety of credit cards.
Additionally, if you have a card such as the Chase Freedom (no longer open to new applicants) or Chase Freedom Flex® where the bonus categories rotate, that card may sometimes take the top slot as it rotates in a mobile wallet depending on the current cash back promotional offer.
Bottom line
Are you on your second cup of coffee yet? We know this was a long answer to a simple question.
There isn’t a straightforward answer to which credit card is the best to use at Starbucks because there are several cards that can earn you solid rewards — in the form of Stars and/or cash back. The good news is that this gives you plenty of opportunities to maximize your earning power with every Starbucks purchase you make.
Unless you receive a promo offer that earns more than 4 points per dollar, we recommend using the Amex Gold Card for your Starbucks fix. You can also buy Starbucks gift cards to enjoy bonus rewards. Otherwise, the 3 points per dollar you can earn using the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Bilt Mastercard provides a good alternative option.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card, click here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
