Personal cup users get free coffee at Starbucks on Thursday

Your taxes will (should) be finished by then -- and you'll get a free cup of coffee! A great day. Starbucks' release says: "This [free coffee in a tumbler] effort is just one of the ways Starbucks is collaborating with customers to reduce environmental impacts." || "Starbucks asks customers to use tumblers"

Comments

[Brandon]

Can I bring in the 64 oz. mug I got at Speedway and get it filled?

[Sheik]

^ I knew lardo's like him would ask that question...

[Doppio conkarma]

Omg! Need free!
While I like the idea behind the giveaway, incentivizing reusable tumblers. These days always seem to bring out the worst in people.
Just glad I'm not working on Thursday

[Insoluble]

Guess who works 6am-2pm on free coffee day?? This guy. :(

[Natertots]

I feel lucky to have worked free pastry day and earned free coffee day off ;) I do remember the "vote for coffee" thing though, and it was awfully fun to offer "patriot joe" to people!

[DF]

I bought a cold venti personal cup last year. What's the policy about how much of a discount I'm entitled to when I get an iced coffee?

[spence]

DF, Any personal cup will get you a 10cent discount. It doesn't even have to be a Starbucks cup. heck, it could say Duncan Donuts.

[me myself and I]

The fineprint says: "April 15th offer good up to 20oz. while supplies last."
Sorry, no 64oz coffee. But I'm sure if it is slightly larger than 20oz. we would just say yes. I know I would. But I'm not working that day. Lucky me.

[tired]

Read the Q&A's part of the package (which was hopefully posted on your barista-need-to-know board); that should answer all your questions regarding Thursday.

[formermanager]

I can only imagine the vessels that will be brought in, as well as the, "I didn't know, can I still get a free one in YOUR cup?"

[mornbecomes]

any brewed coffee- meaning regular drip brewed coffee or iced coffee- is eligible.

[Stephanie]

Yall should check out http://www.wholebeancoffee.org/

[Excited!]

I'm excited for this! Thank you Starbucks! Seriously, anyone who tries to go and stir problems by either demanding a free cup of coffee despite the fact that they have NO mug/tumbler or bring in a huge cup and demand for it to be filled up should be ashamed of themselves! Come on, Starbucks is giving you up to 20oz. of coffee for free! Who doesn't love a free cup of coffee just for bringing in a mug or a tumbler? I know I do! Once again, thank you Starbucks, this will totally get me into my local Starbucks for coffee and a treat! :-)

[javagirl666]

I thought it was iced coffee, too, but read on the website this morning free "drip" coffee.

[ash_sk8s]

Can someone confirm if it includes or does NOT include iced coffee? We've got conflicting statements in this thread!

[icedisdrip]

iced coffee IS drip coffee

[OlyBrewer]

oh, god, i hope it does not include iced coffee... Our brewers are already going to be running on overtime AND we have to sneak in a batch of iced coffee every hour?! FML...

[Venti Urnex Latte]

The cups may be recyclable, but they are never recycled. So this is all a bunch of feel-good talk.

Our store wastes so many plastic trash bags it is unbelievable. We typically double-bag the trash. Except for peak hours, the trash is usually thrown out when it is 1/4 full. 2 bags x 10 trashcans = 20 extra trash bags thrown out every few hours.

For years I have been unable to get people to empty the trash appropriately.

[hearbutloud]

Iced coffee is drip.

Just say yes.

Offer Americanos if you run out of iced coffee to quickly.

It's like none of you have ever worked at the 'bucks!

[tired]

Yes it includes Iced Coffee!! It is tea that is NOT included. (unless...just say yes, grrrr!)

[Some people are just geniuses.]

oh, god, i hope it does not include iced coffee... Our brewers are already going to be running on overtime AND we have to sneak in a batch of iced coffee every hour?! FML...

Okay, so if you know this is happening regularly or is going to happen on this particular day, why would you not brew it ahead of time so you don't have to "sneak in a batch every hour"? Prep. is common sense.

[SPORK]

can't wait!

just be glad it's not free frappucino day...

[shift misto]

i like it. this will be a good way brew out some of the left over bold bullets :)

[shift misto]

@SPORK
not ^yet^ anyway.. teeheehee

[Jeff in LOL, FL]

If it's free, it's for me! I am in and pass 2 on my way to work so guess I will be stopping at a couple of them, hee hee hee. I do pity those folks who have to work this day, been there, done that. How dare people get demanding when something is free, shame on them! That could ruin it for everyone else in the future. Get real and appreciate what is offered and not be a jerk. Just my morning 2 cents worth.

[Lulu]

I usually get lattes when I go to SBux but I might stop in to get a free coffee tomorrow. Could I ask for hazelnut or caramel syrup in my coffee, or is it just plain black coffee? (I don't want to create more work than necessary - I'm just curious).

I was at a SBux in Taiwan last week and was quite surprised to see everyone drinking out of ceramic cups. I know that you can ask "for here" and forgo the paper cup, but it seems like in the U.S., even the people who sit at SBux using their computers for hours all have paper cups. Is it just more "convenient" to give paper cups? That way, the barista can mark the cup with the drink order. And if you don't finish your drink, you can just take it with you... I ended up not finishing my latte and asked for a paper cup.

[dontmilkit]

you could PAY for a syrup...but it's sure not free

[SBUX Customer]

Lulu,
I believe syrups are $0.30 but free if you pay with your registered Starbucks card.
--
RE: ceramic cups

I'm in the USA and once in a while I'll order "for here" in the ceramic cups. I hate doing this because no one else does it and it feels like I'm creating more work for the barista (having to wash the cups afterwards). But I guess the baristas have to wash anyways because they have those ceramic plates for the pastry display. Any baristas here, do you hate it when customers order "for here"?

[me myself and I]

I can only talk for myself, but I don't hate it at all, if a customer orders a for here mug. For people I know they'd stay in the cafe I usually actively offer it.

[Coffee drinker]

I'd prefer to use a " for here" cup, but coffee cools in them immediately due to their wide openness. I've overcome my shyness re washing my old sbux travel cup ( probably one of the originals ) in the bathroom first.

Congrats to sb for promoting reusable mugs tomorrow. I do believe that if the mugs in their stores weren't half a day's wages for some, they'd sell more. Perhaps offer a plain less-tech alternative alongside the stylish.

Also: kudos on the Bold promotion. Have tried nes coffees. Komodo almost as bad as Pike; Estima up ther with Yukon. Well done!

[ash_sk8s]

Apparently in some districts it's ANY DRINK. I pity those poor baristas.

[SBUX Customer]

"Apparently in some districts it's ANY DRINK. I pity those poor baristas."

How is that possible?

[hearbutloud]

For Here Ware is rarely an inconvenience, especially if a store has a bus tray available on the condiment bar, but if you're doing your 10 minute spins (ha!), then there's no mess issue. Regarding their inability to keep drinks hot, I have two suggestions. 1) Make sure the barista preheats the cup (this should be automatic, but a lot of people are unaware of this rule - this applies to personal cups too!), and 2) Take a saucer and use it to cover your mug when you aren't drinking. This is their purpose. (This also signals to the barista that you are still drinking your drink if you leave your table for a moment.)

And to parnters -- really, if someone insists on getting a latte in their cup, what are you going to do? Say yes.

[Just a thought...]

I can understand people will want another beverage besides drip coffee or iced coffee. The thing is, it's being promoted at Starbucks as drip/iced coffee only but then again, we do have those customers who come in and KNOW that if they insist enough, they might be able to receive a latte of their choice. While this is going above and beyond and making a customer happy, we have to remember many of them know for a fact that they can do this anytime they want so basically they look for such opportunities as this to be a bit complicated. I know how because of them Starbucks partners receive a paycheck and they are also the reason why Starbucks is still running, but come on, if it's clearly written/stated that it's drip/iced coffee, why even argue something that is completely free? (of course, maybe taking your time to visit the store is not free, but you know what I mean.) Anyhow, while I do understand some people might have heard it incorrectly from someone, every store should have some sort of notice by their registers to show them it's either drip or iced coffee, not lattes/frappuccinos/espresso/specialty drinks, ect. It's all about consistency from store to store, just in case this same event takes place next year since people might remember and add "well,MY Starbucks gave me whichever drink I wanted!" I am familiar with the 'just say yes' policy but let's all try to make sense and know people shouldn't abuse something nice that Starbucks is giving away for free to millions. Once again, thank you Starbucks, I will definitely show up to your store tomorrow :-)

[kitty]

is this going on all day long?

[hearbutloud]

@justathought.... That WOULD be SO nice. Starbucks has effectively cut off our collective you-know-whats by enforcing this policy.

[dirty chai]

As far as the convenience factor of for here cups v. paper cups goes, for me it's six of one/half a dozen of the other. In theory, we're supposed to have drink box post it notes for marking drinks in for here cups and personal cups, but I haven't seen any floating around in quite some time. That said, it's (normally, not tomorrow - haha) one drink that you're unable to mark. Most baristas can probably hold that information in their heads long enough to make the drink.

Also, @Coffee drinker - some of the personal cups that we sell in the stores are a little pricey, but the ones that I've noticed as more expensive are the double-walled stainless steel. I ADORE the double-walled stainless steel. It keeps your drink hot FAR longer than a plastic tumbler and, IMHO, is well worth the money. I can't speak highly enough of these.

[Coffee drinker]

@ hearbutloud thanks didn't know about the saucers. In the distant past when I occasionally ordered for here cup it was a huge wide mug. Coffee chilled quickly. As for warming the cup, all but the sm at my current bux rinse and pre- heat cup :). I will ask her nicely.

Big Question, the sm didn't " have any idea" re refills tomorrow. We pondered if it should be rung as a refill or a new coffee? My registered card gets me free refills. Since I'm a good customer ( nice, tip well) I imagine I'll get my usual refill.

I'm impressed with SBUX. Free pastries now free coffee.

However, I have at least 45 stars or points and still no drink coupons;)(

[Melody]

@justathought - I like the idea of a little sign by the register because then it is more clear. Though there maybe some customers who push because they think they'll get something for free, there are also a lot of genuinely confused customers too - Think about how piecemeal sometimes baristas get information, and the typical customer knows even less. I've been very surprised from comments I've seen other places that this promotion IS *ANY* coffee beverage, including espresso beverages, in some international markets. You could have a few sincerely confused customers.

[Nowheresville]

What about a Starbucks inside a Farmfresh grocery store?

[seattlelite]

@coffeedrinker However, I have at least 45 stars or points and still no drink coupons;)

Hey, I have 46 points, and although I didn't get any separate drink coupons, I did get the one that was under my gold card.

[CABarista]

I love when people order for here-it's our job to clean dishes

[CABarista]

btw, no offense, but how is $10 half a days wages? tumblers are not free anywhere...and from most places, they are nowhere near leak proof

[Excited for today's promotion!]

@Melody Yes, your right! Now that I've been reading more comments about this promotion, it seems that some districts/markets have been instructed by their District Managers to go ahead and serve ANY beverage for free. I do have to agree that in those markets this extra special perk will definitely bring more people in since this gives them the chance to order their favorite beverage, all on the house :-) I suppose every market is a bit different, so let's just leave it at that and be happy and excited for this promotion. As long as they get the message that bringing a ceramic mug or a tumbler helps to reduce waste, then I'm more than happy if customers are given the opportunity to choose whichever drink they love. I am definitely going to visit Starbucks today! :-)

[Wayne]

I stopped at my local Augusta, Georgia location and the guy working there would not honor the promotin. His coworker tried to talk him into it but he wouldn't budge.

[Coffee Drinker]

Have seen tumblers around $15. In some states waiters make $2.50 per hr plus tips. I'm considering also the poor and disabled and yes even the homeless I've on occasion bought coffee. However everyone who can afford a tumbler must get one and use ut!

Regardless 15 bucks is nearly 10 tall drip coffees. Easy to see why a person would stay with free cups.

I like my old sbux cup tho I imagine the newer keep it hotter. Many of the newer are also ugly, top heavy, or have fancy seal lids whose plastic absorbs coffee oils or releases toxins. Ymmv

[Coffee drinker]

$10 would be have day wage for a young person perhaps babsitting. My point is that sbux isn't only for the middle class.

Some people can't afford a car, a vacuum, a new coat. They may trattoria themselves to sbux but not a pricey mug.

[Coffee drinker]

"treattachreat themselves" iPhone autospell went wild up there ;)

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

What's the discount count code?

[Emme M.]

UG! I brought in my cup today to Starbucks and didn't get free coffee :( I didn't mention it because I thought maybe I had the wrong day -- but looking here it looks like you either have to ask for the free coffee -- or it actually isn't happening :(