Primarily serving as a caffeine fix, Starbucks has become a brand many Singaporeans indulge in whether it be as an energy boost or a treat. But as delicious as it may be, paying six to eight dollars for a drink each time can add up to a pretty considerable amount at the end of the month. Here are nine clever ways to save some money without compromising your coffee craving. Try them out for yourself!

A cup of brewed coffee may not sound as exciting as a Vanilla Latte, but it is sure cheaper than one. Consider this. A tall cup of brewed coffee has more caffeine than a Venti-sized latte (about 250 mg to 170 mg) but at $8, the latte is almost twice the price of the coffee which costs $3.90. Plus, if you order brewed coffee, you will be able to get refills at $1.80 as long as you drink it in the store. This means that you can get two cups for coffee at just $2.85 per cup!
If you really love your lattes, try a cup of Caffe Misto instead. Half coffee and half steamed milk, it’s a cheaper alternative for a latte since the only difference between the two is that brewed coffee is used for the Caffe Misto instead of espresso. However, this item isn’t on the menu so you will have to order it directly from the barista.
Want a cheaper iced latte? Simply order a single shot or doppio (double) espresso over ice in a Grande or Venti cup and add your own milk and sugar at the condiments counter. Or you can skip the ice and ask for a cup of cold or hot water with the espresso. Mix them together and you will get a cheaper cup of Americano.
Not only will you be saving the earth, you will also be saving money. Bring your own tumbler or mug to any Starbucks store and you will receive a $0.50 discount on your drink. It may not sound like a lot but if you visit Starbucks often enough, ten drinks will save you $5, almost the price of a new drink! Do note that you will not be able to enjoy this perk together with other promotions such as the discounted coffee refills.
If you feel thirsty after enjoying a slice of cake or just need some hydration, don’t shell out the $3.50 for a bottle of Evian water. Instead, ask the baristas nicely for a cup of iced tap water. You can even ask them to refill your empty water bottle but refrain from doing that when they are busy with orders. If you order tea, you can also request for a free top up of hot water.
Yes, Starbucks does have short size for their hot beverages, but you will need to request it from the baristas as it’s not on the menu. The short size is 240 ml as compared to the tall size, which is 350 ml, but the amount of espresso in both sizes are the same and you will get to save a few cents off your order. There are no short sizes for iced beverages, but you can always order a short latte or mocha and ask for ice.
If you are buying Starbucks with a friend, it’s cheaper to split a Venti-sized drink than to buy two separate tall drinks. Take the drink Iced White Chocolate Mocha. The tall size (350 ml) costs $6.90 while the venti size (709 ml) costs $8. Ordering two tall sizes will set you back $13.80. However, if you buy one venti cup and split it into two tall cups, you will get the same amount of beverage for only $4 per cup. Both you and your friend will end up saving $2.90 each!
Simply purchase Starbucks coffee beans or ground coffee from any Starbucks store or supermarkets like NTUC and Cold Storage. You can also find coffee capsules, instant coffee versions and bottled versions of drinks like Vanilla Lattes or Frappuccinos. Not only do you get more bang for your buck with these more affordable ways to get your Starbucks fix (four sticks of instant vanilla latte cost $4.95 at NTUC), you also get to save more when there are special offers on the products at the supermarkets.
The Starbucks Rewards programme is highly popular and for good reason. There are plenty of perks and freebies for members. Upon signing up, you will get a 1-for-1 drink when you get your first five stars ($1 equals 1 star) and get a complimentary drink size upgrade in your birthday month. Move up to the Green and Gold tiers and you get to enjoy perks like free food or drinks, drink size upgrades and bonus stars. You will also get to enjoy member-only promotions. Since you are already spending the money at Starbucks, might as well make it worth your while right?
Although you don’t get any discounts or additional perks by ordering through the app, it’s a great way to track your spending and watch your budget. You can preload an amount that you want to spend at Starbucks and make sure you don’t exceed the allocated budget. You can also check the total amount before paying and edit your order if you think it’s too costly.
Read Next
Text: Valerie Toh/Cleo, Additional reporting: Cherrie Lim
- TAGS:
- coffee
- save money
- smart money
- Starbucks