Starbucks Customers Are Pissed About the New Rewards Program

People who drink brewed coffee now have to spend a lot more to get a free drink.

Starbucks announced big changes to its rewards program earlier this week, and some of the coffee giant's loyal customers are pissed.

Under the current program, members earn a star on each purchase regardless of how much is spent, and only twelve stars are needed to get a free drink. For fans of the more inexpensive drinks like simple brewed coffee, that means they can get a free drink for only spending around $25.

But beginning in April, customers will earn two stars per dollar spent, with 125 stars needed for a free drink, which translates to a minimum spend of $62.50 for a freebie. Starbucks insists that its new rewards program should only negatively impact a small percentage of customers, and it's true that folks who have a habit of drinking $5-plus venti lattes and other pricier drinks likely won't even notice the change. Nonetheless, many customers are pissed, as evidenced by the scores of angry tweets directed at @Starbucks:

@Starbucks punishing the black coffee drinker. Not going to spend more $, just going to spend it elsewhere. https://t.co/cAcdPgV4L5

— Jacob Rudolph (@jdreindeer) February 24, 2016

@starbucksgold 1 more reason to buy coffee maker @ work. New #StarbucksRewards sucks. Spend double now to get Reward drink. Not worth it.

— John Holbrook (@john_holbrook) February 24, 2016

@starbucksgold Really unhappy with the new program. You're letting down the regular day to day customer. #lostmyloyalty

— Valerie Garcia (@valgordongarcia) February 24, 2016

Hey @Starbucks The new #StarbucksRewards is fubar. No more weekly reloads on my gold card. I'm done.

— Jason (@jayallstreet) February 24, 2016

@Starbucks rewards, thanks for the coffee memories! My future as a Starbucks customer lies elsewhere.

— Martha Orellana (@Orellana13914) February 24, 2016

Comments from upset customers are flooding Starbucks' Facebook wall too, and there have also been more than 600 comments left on the official Starbucks blog post that announced the changes. "RlyNotaFan" put it succinctly: "So, let's see. Since I just stop for a cup of drip in the morning it will now take me 30-odd visits to earn a reward, not 12. Thanks a lot."

Starbucks isn't the only big chain that's facing a social media backlash from value-seeking customers this week: McDonald's fans are also raising a fuss on Twitter after the Big Mac slinger ditched its limited-time "McPick 2 for $2" combo in favor of a 2-for-$5 deal.

Of course, McDonald's and Starbucks are hawking two very different products: The former provides cheap sustenance for budget-conscious diners, while the latter sells $5 lattes that have become a symbol of wealth and status (see: the never-ending stream of papparazzi snaps featuring celebrities clutching those telltale white-and-green cups).

While McDonald's shift away from dollar menu bargain-basement pricing could alienate some customers, it seems unlikely that Starbucks' changes to its reward programs will have any significant effect on traffic to its stores. Then again, value-conscious coffee drinkers have plenty of other options, including Starbucks' arch-nemesis Dunkin Donuts.

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