Tag: Starbucks

Starbucks opens 2015 with a bang — espresso beverages, food items, Starbucks cards, and promos

Posted on by jane

Starbucks is indeed beginning the new year with a loud bang as they have so many new things in the offing for all of us.

Read all the way to the end because they have ongoing and upcoming promos that you won’t want to miss.

WHOLE BEAN COFFEE VARIANTS (Jan. 9-Feb. 23, 2015)

Two new whole bean coffee variants are being offered for the period indicated.

South of the Clouds, PhP 495

South of the Clouds comes in the nick of time and appropriate for the upcoming Chinese New Year. It’s a blend that includes coffee from China’s Yunnan province in the Baoshan region. I have this variant and can’t wait to have the barista grind this just in time to ring in the Chinese New Year.

Continue reading “Starbucks opens 2015 with a bang — espresso beverages, food items, Starbucks cards, and promos” →

The 2015 Starbucks planners, Christmas Starbucks cards and Christmas merchandise are here!

Posted on by jane

It’s that time of the year again when Starbucks goes all out for the Christmas season and the new year!!! (Note: This will be a looooong post with lots of Starbucks goodness inside.)

The much awaited 2015 Starbucks Planners

It’s here!!! I know you are all waiting with bated breath to find out what the 2015 Starbucks planners look like. This is the 12th edition of the planners since it began. You’re getting first dibs before it comes out next week. Take your first glimpse!

Presenting the 2015 Starbucks planners with matching Starbucks double-sided pens!

Each planner is wrapped in a water-resistant apron cloth cover (green, black, red and brown). Just imagine that each planner cover has the exact same apron cloth that Starbucks baristas actually use. The planner also comes with a name tag bookmark, a coffee pin bookmark and a chalk pen with highlighter. One end of the pen has a chalk nib so you can write your name on the name tag bookmark to personalize it. The other end is a thick highlighter nib which smells like coffee. Really nice touch!

My favorite of the 4 – an embroidered version of the Starbucks siren

World Map of the Coffee Belt

A page spread for memories, complete with stickers

Monthly summary page

15 coupons to make you enjoy even more Starbucks goodness

How to get your 2015 Starbucks planner:

1. Get your Starbucks Christmas Traditions promo card from Nov. 3, 2014 to Jan. 8, 2015.
2. 18 stickers (9 Christmas beverages, 9 core handcrafted beverages) are needed to redeem one 2015 Starbucks planner.
3. A shortcut way to redeem it without filling up the promo card with stickers is through a single-purchase receipt worth PhP 7,000 of Starbucks merchandise, whole beans or VIA latte. (Note: This is a change from last year. Starting this year, you can’t get the planner via bulk purchases of gift certificates or Starbucks card load/reload.)
4. Redemption of the 2015 Starbucks planner is from Nov. 3, 2014 to March 8, 2015 at Starbucks stores within the Philippines only.

The first Starbucks Mini Card and 2 Christmas Starbucks cards

The Starbucks Mini Card (center) beside the two 2014 Starbucks cards



A first in the Philippines is a Starbucks mini card that has all the features of the regular-sized cards. This is a true collectible because only a limited number of such cards are going to be available. It comes with a tiny strap allowing many ways of carrying it, including as a mobile phone hanging decor. The mini card is available at a slightly higher consumable load of PhP 500 because of limited supply and the expected demand for it as a collectible. I’m sure this isn’t a problem for regular Starbucks lovers.

Available at an initial consumable load of PhP 500

The two regular-sized Christmas Starbucks cards feature a holiday tree and a snowman. These are similar to last year’s Christmas themed Starbucks card but redrawn in a different way.

The two Christmas 2014 Starbucks cards, available at initial consumable load of PhP 300

Starbucks Card Activation Promo (Nov. 3-5, 2014)

Here are the mechanics from Starbucks:

1. NOTE: This promo runs only from November 3 to 5, 2014 in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines.

2. Customers who activate a new Starbucks Card within this promo period with at least PhP 1,500 gets an additional PhP 300 load.

3. This promo applies only to newly activated Starbucks Cards (any design, including mini card). Reloaded Starbucks Cards are NOT included.

4. Customers cannot use a Starbucks Card or Gift Certificate to activate a Starbucks Card.

5. There is no limit to the number of Starbucks Cards a customer can activate.

6. The additional PhP 300 load must be loaded on the same Starbucks Card activated.

7. If a customer would like to activate a Starbucks Card with PhP 10,000, the customer should only shoulder the cost of PhP 9,700; the PhP 300 balance will be complimentary.

8. This promo cannot be availed in conjunction with other promotions.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3670 Series of 2014

Starbucks Card Gift Pack (Dec. 1-3, 2014)

Do your Christmas shopping from December 1 to 3, 2014 in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines!

Starbucks cards now come in gift packs of six (6), each loaded with PhP 300 and selling at a special price of PhP 1,500 within the promo period. Each pack of 6 includes the following designs:

  • Holiday Tree Card
  • Snowman Card
  • Philippine Eagle Card
  • Cold Cups Card
  • Coffee Cups Card (2 pcs)

Starbucks Cards within a gift pack cannot be sold individually or interchanged with other designs. A Starbucks Card or Gift Certificate also cannot be used to purchase a gift pack.

To load a higher amount on each Starbucks Card, the gift pack must be purchased first, then reloaded in a separate transaction. This promo cannot be availed of with other promotions or discounts. (Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3668 Series of 2014)

Starbucks Christmas Merchandise

From November 10 to December 7, 2014, select Christmas merchandise will be featured with different offers each week. Time your Christmas shopping to take advantage of the promos and discounts.

See the table below for the different weekly promos:

Note that this promo can’t be combined with other offers or discounts and are only valid in Starbucks stores in the Philippines. (Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3672 Series of 2014)

Enjoy Starbucks Latte Mmm-oments (with a raffle!)

Posted on by jane

Before anything else, new seasonal lattes are here again! Hot or cold, these 2 lattes are sure to be enjoyable so I’m trying them next time I go to Starbucks.

French Vanilla Latte

The French Vanilla Latte is the first one I want to try because vanilla has always been a favorite flavor of mine. Just imagine the Espresso Roast complemented by steamed milk and creamy French Vanilla sauce with mild custard notes. The beverage is topped with whipped cream, vanilla bean specks and dark chocolate curls.

Dark Caramel Latte

The Dark Caramel Latte is espresso, steamed milk, and creamy dark caramel sauce topped with whipped cream and a custardy caramel flan drizzle.

And there’s more! How would you like a chance to win 30 days of Starbucks Mmm-oments?

How to join: Just purchase a pack of Starbucks VIA® Latte with your registered Starbucks Card and earn a chance to win a one month treat of your favorite handcrafted beverage. You have 3 flavor options:

Mechanics:

  • The Starbucks VIA® Latte Raffle Promo will run from October 15 to 31, 2014. 
  • To join the promo, customers must purchase any 4-pack Starbucks VIA® Latte using a registered Starbucks Card within the promo period. 
  • Every valid purchase of a 4-pack Starbucks VIA® Latte will automatically earn one (1) raffle entry. 
  • There is no limit to the number of raffle entries a customer can earn. 
  • There will be ten (10) winners in the raffle draw. Each winner will receive thirty (30) Tall beverage coupons applicable on any handcrafted beverage. 
  • Customers can only win once in the raffle draw. 
  • The raffle draw will be done electronically through a random generator program. The raffle draw will be held on November 3, 2014 in the Rustan Coffee Corporation’s Head Office in Makati City at 5pm. 
  • The winners will be notified through registered mail declaring him/her as a winner. Name of winners will be announced in the Starbucks Philippine Facebook fanpage at https://www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines.
  • All employees of Rustan Coffee Corporation and Rustan Group of Companies including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion.

How winners claim prize:

Mega-Manila winners

Winners must visit Rustan Coffee Corporation (G/F Urban Bldg. 405 Sen.Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City) and look for Ms. Jamie Silva to claim their prize.

Provincial winners

Prizes of provincial winners will be sent through courier.

Important reminders for claiming

  • To claim the prize, the winner must present a valid ID and the verification letter. Claiming period is within 60 days from receipt of registered notice. 
  • Unclaimed Tall beverage coupons after the claiming period will be forfeited. 
  • Redemption period of Tall beverage coupon is valid in all Starbucks stores nationwide from November 4, 2014 to December 31, 2015. 

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit #3224, Series of 2014.

Starbucks Food and Beverages beginning July 29, 2014

Posted on by jane

Starting July 29, 2014, Starbucks is introducing a new set of food items, lunch sandwiches and beverages.

For starters, lets check out the lunch sandwiches.

Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom on Ciabatta Bread (PhP 165)

This warm sandwich is made of juicy chicken breast fillet tossed with pesto mayo sauce, Shiitake mushroom and melted Emmenthal and cheddar cheese in between Ciabatta bread.

Ratatouille on Cheese Semolina Bread (PhP 160)

Vegetarians, this is for you!

This warm, crusty multigrain bread is stuffed with cheese, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, Shiitake, and portobello mushrooms, garlic and onions.

Tuna Melt on Dark Multi-Grain Bread (PhP 175)

My personal favorite! I would really recommend that you try this one. Inside the toasted dark wheat bread is healthy classic tuna dill salad (tuna is also called “brain food”), slices of hard-boiled egg, and creamy melted cheese.

Sausage and Peppers Caserole on Cornmeal Bread (PhP 170)

Sliced sausages and bell peppers cooked in tomato Italian sauce is topped with cheddar cheese and spread inside cornmeal bread.

Ham and Egg Salad on Challah Bread (PhP 175)

Inside this Challah bread topped with sesame seeds are juicy slices of ham, tomatoes and creamy, tangy egg salad. I love egg salad so next to the Tuna Melt, this is my sandwich of choice.

Grilled Ham and Three Cheese on Whole Wheat Bread (PhP 175)

A returning favorite, those who missed this will welcome back this grilled cheese sandwich containing 3 different kinds of cheeses: Emmenthal, Mozzarella and Cheddar Cheese) and juicy sliced ham. Italian herbed butter subtly seasons the whole wheat bread.

Now, let’s see the new dessert concoctions and food items…

Mango Coconut Sans Rival Cake (Slice – PhP 125; Whole – PhP 1,150)

The combination of sweet and smooth mango butter cream icing is combined with toasted coconut shards and three layers of crunchy and chewy meringue wafer.

Double Chocolate Salted Caramel Cookie (PhP 60)

A must try as far as I’m concerned, this dessert is made of chewy chocolate cookie liberally studded with roasted walnuts, chunks of dark and milk chocolate, gooey caramel squares and finished with a dash of sea salt.  This is a perfect snack any time of the day.

Bacon Parmesan Stromboli (PhP 120)

This is a golden brown, crispy, flaky and buttery pastry crust filled with bacon, tomato, parmesan and mozzarella cheese and topped with chopped parsley.

Chicken Tex-Mex Wrap (PhP 170)

Enjoy a warm, soft tortilla filled with chicken breast fillet, roasted squash, corn, red beans, and finished with pimiento dressing and freshly chopped cilantro.

And of course, there are the new beverages (till September 15, 2014 only!)…

Tiramisu Frappuccino

Tall – PhP 180; Grande – PhP 190; Venti – PhP 200



This frappe features blended coffee flavored with Tiramisu sauce then topped with bits of biscuits, cheesecake-inspired whipped cream, Tiramisu sauce drizzle and a dusting of cocoa powder.


Banana Raspberry Frappuccino

Grande – PhP 170; Venti – PhP 180

This got me at “FRUITS!!!” The Banana Raspberry frappe Raspberry Blackcurrant juice with milk and a freshly peeled banana. Just the right beverage for one like me who chooses healthy.


Get this Starbucks Collectible – The First Edition Philippine Starbucks Card

Posted on by jane

This is one you would not want to miss at all!

Mark the date – July 29, 2014!

In celebration of the Starbucks card’s 1st anniversary, the Philippines is issuing its FIRST EDITION Philippine Starbucks card! Yup, this is our very own country Starbucks card which you won’t be able to get anywhere else in the world but HERE! It’s a real collectible especially for people like me who have began collecting the cards. In a way, it’s also historical, being the first ever Philippine-issued card.

Inspired by our very own Filipino culture and designed just for us, the card features our very own Philippine eagle against a background that looks like our banig (native mat).

In addition, there is an available customized Starbucks tumbler with the very same matching design.

There are limited days to avail of special promos when you buy the Philippine Starbucks card, 1st edition or its matching tumbler, or both. Here goes:

* From July 29-31, 2014 (3 DAYS ONLY!), customers who activate a Philippine Starbucks card with at least PhP 1,500 will get an ADDITIONAL PhP 300 load.

* From July 29-Aug. 31, 2014, every purchase of a Philippine Starbucks Card tumbler (PhP 565) using a Philippine Starbucks card gets one free tall handcrafted beverage.

And here’s one more promo, just because it’s Starbucks Card’s 1st anniversary. On Aug. 7, 2014, all handcrafted beverages purchased using ANY Starbucks card get a complimentary UPSIZE!

Starbucks Reserve Coffee – my unique coffee experience

Posted on by jane
It’s not every day that I get to be treated to coffee tasting of a premier kind. I was very lucky to have been invited to this special coffee-tasting experience at one of the existing two Starbucks Reserve branches in the Metro.
At a blogger gathering at the Tomas Morato Starbucks Reserve store, we listened to the Starbucks team, headed by Keith Cole, tell us about these rare coffee beans.

In the Philippines, there are only 4 Starbucks Reserve blends and the coffee beans are extremely rare, limited, and hand-picked for the Reserve brand specifically for their distinctive flavors as well as unusual locales around the world.
Lucky us….we got to try each one of these four rare coffee blends together with special food items that can be found only at the Starbucks Reserve stores and go very well with each cup of Reserve coffee.

The Coffee Masters



Walk into a Starbucks Reserve store, order a cup of Reserve coffee and you’ll notice that the barista who will prepare it wears a black apron, unlike the other baristas who don green aprons. They are Starbucks’ Coffee Masters. Not all baristas of Starbucks are Coffee Masters. In order to carry the Coffee Master title and wear the black apron, I learned that they had to undergo special training and had to master knowledge of ALL things coffee — their history, types of beans, locations, varieties, taste, preparation, etc. Whew!

In order to get the most sensory experience from the Reserve blends, the Coffee Masters prepare each cup carefully only upon order. I watched them first place a #2 coffee filter on top of a ceramic brewer and mug set. The beans are ground only when about to be used so that they are fresh all the time. Even before pouring in the ground beans, the Coffee Master preps the filter by pouring hot water over it. I suppose it’s a good way to bring out the initial aroma of the coffee beans as these touch the hot, wet filter. Once the filter is wet, coffee beans good enough to make one cup of coffee are poured into the filter and once again, hot water is poured on the ground beans, allowing the liquid coffee to run down a tiny hole in the brewer and into the ceramic mug.

Here’s a quick tour of the 4 different Reserve blends and food items so you’d have some idea.

First, the Reserve Coffees

Globally, there are different Starbucks Reserve coffee blends but four of these were specifically chosen for the Philippine coffee lovers.

Starbucks Reserve Sumatra Blue Batak

My first sample came from Sumatra’s prized coffee-growing region on the southern shores of Lake Toba. This region is about 3,900-5200 feet high. The variety that the Batak tribe grow there is smooth and earthy with sweet herbal notes, a full body and low acidity. Tasting this one gives you a hint of cacao or dark chocolate.

Starbucks Reserve Zambia Peaberry Terranova Estate

The beans were grown on the rich soil of the Terranova Estate 4,000 feet above the sea. This medium‐bodied coffee with notes of apple and vanilla consists of smaller, handpicked peaberry beans, which are roasted to provide a medium body and acidity that pairs well with citrus, apples, and chocolate. For me, the Zambia Reserve coffee blend was the mildest of all the four blends so if you are looking for great coffee that is not too strong, this is it.

And…better try the Zambia blend soon. I also found out that it will be available for a very limited time only since the beans are now in limited supply. No worries though because another Reserve blend will be taking its place when that happens.

Starbucks Reserve Finca Nuevo Mexico

High in Mexico’s Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range sits the El Triunfo Biosphere and Finca Nuevo Mexico family‐owned farm. While much of the lush area is a refuge for rare wildlife, the remaining area produces a bright, complex, uniquely flavored coffee bean.

Of the four blends, I found this blend to be the most acidic. There is a citric taste to it with a hint of the sweetness of brown sugar.

Starbucks Reserve Sun-Dried Ethiopia Yirgacheffe

The district of Yirgacheffe is located 6,000 feet above sea level, a perfect mix of sun, air and soil. We were told that coffee beans here were placed in between berries. No wonder when we tasted the coffee, there was indeed a hint of berries in it. This is my favorite of the four!!!

The Starbucks Reserve coffee blends are not only available within the Reserve stores. They are sold in packs so you can continue to enjoy the coffee experience of these rare coffee beans in the comfort of your own home if you have a coffee press.

What is Reserve Coffee without matching Reserve Food?

To pair off Starbucks Reserve coffee blends with equally great food, Starbucks created six (6) Reserve Exclusive Food to go with the four Reserve Coffee blends.

1. Carrot Muffin – Muffin loaded with carrots, walnuts, and crushed pineapples and topped with cream cheese.

2. Double Chocolate Muffin – Muffin with creamy chocolate truffle and topped with chocolate chunks

3. Granola Cheese Muffin – a muffin packed with crunchy granola and cream cheese filling

4. Blueberry Scone – a light, buttery and moist scone loaded with blueberries

5. Apple Cinnamon Scone – a delicious, moist and buttery scone packed with cinnamon apples

6. Black Pepper and Cheese Scone – a sweet and savory moist scone flavored with cheese and pepper to give it a spice touch.

Just my two cents: The scones are very dense and filling. Order them if you want something that will make you feel very full. Otherwise, if you want something light only, go for the muffins.

There are currently two Starbucks Reserve stores:
* Starbucks Reserve Tomas Morato
* Starbucks Reserve 8 Forbes Town

And more Starbucks Reserve stores are coming soon:
* Starbucks Reserve Keyland Centre
* Starbucks Reserve Central Square
* Starbucks Reserve Signa

Sneak Preview of the Starbucks 2014 Planners and the Christmas Starbucks Card

Posted on by jane
It’s that time of the year once more! Starbucks will be releasing its Limited Edition 2014 Starbucks Philippines Planners this coming November 2, 2013. This 11th edition set of 4 planners is truly one that you would not want to miss collecting.

This year’s theme is “Coffee Perfection” and many details incorporated into the planner echo the theme.

The 4 planners feature leather covers and come in yellow, brown, magenta and black. These 4 shades were specifically chosen as they correspond to Starbucks’ coffee blends.

The yellow planner was inspired by the Blonde Willow Blend; the brown planner was inspired by the Medium Colombia Blend; and the magenta planner was inspired by the Dark Komodo Dragon Blend. These three blends are already available in the Philippines.

The black planner was inspired by the blend called Starbucks Reserve (available so far in Thailand and Singapore only) and is in limited quantity for now. The beans are exotic, rare, specially picked and roasted.

Starbucks Reserve Coffee (screenshot from Starbucks website)

Look at the artwork in each of the coffee blends. Then turn each planner over and carefully look at the embossed back cover. You will spot the same artwork incorporated into the back cover’s design.

Size-wise, they are about the same as last year’s. A magnetic clasp keeps the planners closed.

What are some of the new or improved features of this planner aside from the roast profiles?

* Signature bookmarks – Each planner also comes with its own signature bookmark and stands for something connected to Starbucks — a coffee bean for the yellow, a house (House Blend) for the brown, a vinta (Kape Vinta) for magenta, and the Starbucks cup for the black.

Each colored planner with its own signature bookmark

* QR codes – Starbucks has gone digital. On some pages with pictures depicting Starbucks stories, you will find a QR code at a corner. Scan that with a scanning app and if you are online, you will be redirected to a Starbucks video that expounds on what the printed story is all about! I can’t wait to try that one out.

The QR code

How QR code looks on a story page

* Coffee stickers – A Starbucks survey showed that most planner users love stickers so they introduced coffee stickers reflecting the blends being featured.

* Coupons, coupons and more coupons – There are now 14 coupons you can use throughout the year to get Starbucks freebies. Last year there were only 13. That’s more than one a month!

How to Get the Starbucks 2014 Planner

If you’ve collected stickers for past planners, you more or less know how this goes. But if you’re a first-time collector of Starbucks stickers for the planner, here is how:

1. Get a promo card from any Starbucks branch.

Front

Back

2. You will need 18 stickers this time (9 Christmas beverages, 9 core beverages), except bottled drinks.

3. Promo is from Nov. 2, 2013-January 8, 2014.

Limited Christmas Starbucks Card Collectibles

Starbucks collectors, this one’s for you!

Starbucks has come up with 2 Christmas designs for its Starbucks card. It will only be available on a very limited basis but works exactly like the classic Starbucks card. One design is a snowman in a forest on a wintry day and the other design is a golden Christmas tree against a red backdrop.

Starbucks Leather Card Cases
For the first time also, leather card cases are available in colors matching the four 2014 planners. Mind you, these are not synthetic leather cases. I held them up to my nose and smelled REAL LEATHER!
Now, take note of this because it is only good for 3 DAYS!
From Nov. 4-6, 2013, just buy a Christmas Starbucks card and top it up with P1,500 and you get a FREE leather card case of your choice (subject to availability of color at the branch). For those who would rather not get the leather card case (but why won’t you???), you can get P300 FREE extra load on top of your P1,500. Remember, just these 3 days.

And here’s one more tip…

You get the most value if you use your Starbucks card when purchasing a beverage. Why? Because not only do you get a sticker towards the planner but you also earn a star towards a future free beverage once you accumulate the needed number of stars.

Happy collecting!!!

It’s not too late to catch this season’s Starbucks beverages and desserts!

Posted on by jane

I just realized that I only have till November 1, 2013 to catch this season’s beverages!

BEVERAGES (till Nov. 1, 2013)

Ristretto Bianco

Ristretto Blanco (Tall-PhP 145; Grande-PhP 160; Venti-PhP 170)
Ristretto Blanco is new in the espresso line-up. It’s a rich, smooth and velvety beverage. Ristretto shots are created by forcing less water through the coffee. This results in a fuller-bodied shot with a deep coffee flavor. Steamed whole milk creates the foam and it is poured in such a way that it ends with that white dot finish you see. 

Salted Caramel Mocha (Tall-PhP 150; Grande-PhP 165; Venti-PhP 175)

From salted caramel ice cream to salted caramel-flavored milk tea and now to Starbucks’ Salted Caramel Mocha, one enjoys this unique blend of sweet and salty. This concoction is made from a creamy mix of espresso with velvety steamed milk, blended with mocha sauce and toffee nut flavored syrup. It’s finished off with a topping of whipped cream, buttery caramel sauce, and a mixture of turbinado sugar as well as smoked sea salt. This description is enough for me to want to go out and get one. I just might do that in the coming days.

DESSERT CHOICES
What are beverages without matching dessert? Take your pick from these 3 returning favorite dessert items.
Blueberry-licious Cheesecake
Blueberry-licious Cheesecake (Slice-PhP 130; Whole-PhP 1,450)
Blueberry cheesecakes are one of my favorites. This Blueberry-licious Cheesecake is topped with sweet and tangy blueberries over a very light cheesecake.
Butterscotch Oat Fudge Bar

Butterscotch Oat Fudge Bar, PhP 60
The chewy Butterscotch Oat Fudge Bar is liberally sprinkled with walnut chunks and creamy chocolate ganache. 
Double Chocolate Fudge Bar

Double Chocolate Fudge Bar, PhP 50
Combine dark chocolate fudge bars coupled with chocolate chunks and you get the Double Chocolate Fudge Bar. For me, anything chocolate-y is always the perfect partner of hot coffee.

Get Your Starbucks Card: A Stored Value and Loyalty Card Rolled into One

Posted on by jane

(Updated Aug. 8, 2013)

IT”S HERE!

The Starbucks Card is finally here in the Philippines. Now you need not carry cash when buying beverages, food and Starbucks items because all that can be bought with the card. The Starbucks card is being introduced with a dual feature. It’s both a stored value card as well as a loyalty card which earns you rewards points every time you purchase a Starbucks handcrafted beverage, 250g of whole bean coffee, or 12-pack Starbucks VIA Ready Brew.

My Starbucks card

Here are answers to some of your questions:

How do I get the Starbucks Card?

Just go to any Starbucks branch nationwide. The card needs to have an initial load of P300 (cash, debit card, credit card) for it to be activated. Future reloads can be as low as P100 only and the card can have a maximum stored value of P10,000. Activation of the card can be done by visiting www.starbucks.ph/card.

Customers with activated cards immediately get a complimentary GRANDE handcrafted beverage (valid for 60 days from the time it is given) and will get a FREE slice of cake every year on their birthday AFTER the purchase of a handcrafted beverage (valid for 60 days from birth date).

How does it work as a loyalty card as well?

Stars are the “currency” of the Starbucks card. You earn 1 star with every purchase of any handcrafted beverage, 250g of whole bean coffee, or 12-pack Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. (Note: The type of star you earn depends on what you buy. If you purchase a beverage, you get a Beverage star; purchase whole bean coffee and get a Whole Bean star; and purchase Starbucks Via Ready Brew to get a Starbucks VIA star)

What can I redeem with my stars?

Here’s what you can redeem with your stars:

* 12 Beverage stars = Any Grande handcrafted beverage
* 10 Whole Bean stars = Any 250g of whole bean coffee
* 10 Starbucks Via stars = Any 12-pack Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew

Is there any expiration of my load or stars?

Your Starbucks card’s load has NO expiration because that represents your money; however, if the card maintains a ZERO balance for 3 years, the card will expire also after that period as it is presumed you no longer have any interest to top up the load. Stars expire every March 1 of the calendar year following the year when stars were earned. To illustrate, all stars earned from today, Aug. 7, 2013 till Dec. 31, 2013 expire March 1, 2014.

What happens if I lose my Starbucks card?

You are protected from card loss if you register your Starbucks card online. You can track your 90-day history, protect your balance and even register up to 10 Starbucks cards under 1 account. All pooled cards mean you only need to remember 1 amount for load and stars.

What else do I need to know?

I asked the Loyalty Manager of Starbucks if beverage purchases during the promo for the Christmas planners also count towards stars. The answer is YES!!!

One more thing. This Starbucks card is only good within the Philippines. Conversely, any Starbucks card you may own from another country CANNOT be used in the Philippines.

Promo from Aug. 7-9, 2013

Here’s good news for all those getting Starbucks cards. For 3 days (Aug. 7-9, 2013), load up your Starbucks card with P1,500 and you get a P1,800 value. That’s an EXTRA P300 value for you. Sulit!

Go get your Starbucks card now and find out how much more convenient it is to enjoy Starbucks food, beverages and items.

2013 Midyear Offerings at Starbucks — Beverages, Sandwiches, Desserts and Contests!

Posted on by jane

It’s the middle of 2013 already and it’s time once again for some things new from Starbucks.

This time, its more exciting because not only are they offering a new concoction of beverages and food items but there are exciting digital contests for Starbucks fans to join.

First, the yummy beverages.

Something’s different with these two frappuccinos you’ll get to try from July 16 to September 9, 2013. Starbucks has introduced a white chocolate pudding as a twist to the usual frappes. I tried both of them and the pudding has the texture of the pudding in the milk teas I’ve tried. But….this one’s white chocolate-y!!!

Dark Mocha (Tall- PhP 190; Grande – PhP 200; Venti – PhP 210)
Green Tea (Tall – PhP 180; Grande – PhP 190; Venti – PhP 200)

The Dark Mocha Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino combines the deep flavor of dark chocolate with the velvety smooth white chocolate pudding, the signature Frappuccino Roast coffee of Starbucks, chocolate chips, milk blended with ice topped with whipped cream and chocolate powder.

The Green Tea White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino, on the other hand, combines premium green tea with white chocolate pudding for a soft creamy texture, and tops it with whipped cream.

They’re both yummy, trust me. But if I had to recommend which one to try first, it would be the Green Tea variant!


Next come the new Sandwiches and Desserts.

Now that your appetite has been whet by the new beverages, it’s time to check out the food items.

The Spinach Artichoke and Mushroom on Herbed Multi-Grain Bread (PhP 160) is something vegetarians will go for. A warm artisam multi-grain rye bread is stuffed with a blend of cheese, spinach, artichoke, mushrooms, garlic and onions.

A super cheesy grilled sandwich with 6 different kinds of cheeses is in the Bacon and Cheese on Herbed Ciabatta Bread (PhP 165) . A combination of Gruyere, Emmenthal, Provolone, Mozzarella, Feta and Cheddar are mixed in with crispy bacon strips. This is finished off with a seasoning of creamy pesto sauce on herbed ciabatta bread.

A tuna lover? The Tuna and Cheese on Dark Ciabatta Bread (PhP 175) is for you. Inside is a hearty healthy classic tuna dill salad, slices of hardboiled egg and creamy melted cheese.

The Salami and Cheese on Marbled Rye Bread (PhP 165) is a soft and chewy bread, filled with slices of salami, provolone and cheddar cheese.

Available only in Metro Manila outlets is The Clubhouse (PhP 175). This popular sandwich is stuffed with roasted moist chicken breast and pickle relish mixed in mayo mustard dressing, tomatoes, slices of honey ham, bacon and cheese slices on country bread.

A returning favorite is the Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom on Flat Bread (PhP 165). You can’t have enough of chicken breast fillet tossed with pesto mayo sauce and Shiitake mushrooms. Melted Emmenthal and cheddar cheese serves as the topping and placed in between grilled flat bread.

The very colorful Outrageous Cheesecake (PhP 130/slice; PhP 1,450 whole) is actually a rich, creamy cheesecake filled with bits of mangoes, blueberries and strawberries. These fruits are also generously used to decorate the top of the cheesecake together with white chocolate snowflakes. It looks like an early Christmas dessert!

You know cookies. What about a cookie SANDWICH? Starbucks took two soft and chewy cookies and made them the sandwich ends with Belgian chocolate chunks and roasted marshmallow cream icing in between. That is what the Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich (PhP 80) is made of. Great with any Starbucks drink!

The Beef and Mushroom Pie (PhP 95) on the outside is a golden brown, flaky and buttery pastry crust (almost like a croissant). But on the inside there are tender beef strips, sliced mushrooms, carrots and creamy mashed potatoes. Biting into this is more like a surprise because you can’t seem to tell from the outside what it is you’ll discover upon eating it.

I’m a fan of warm, soft pita bread so the Greek Chicken Wrap (PhP 170) is something that appeals to me – filled with tender chicken breast fillet and flavored with roasted fresh zucchini, tomatoes, bell pepper, sliced black olives and drizzled with sour cream.

And there’s more! Here are 3 digital activities that can win you Starbucks items and merchandise! Read on…

#1: Facebook App: Snap of the Week

This runs from July 16 to August 8, 2013. Remember Starbucks’ Snap of the Week activity before? This time they’ll run it including the new beverages. Starbucks fans need to upload photos based on a weekly theme using the Facebook application. Chosen photos will be winners of various Starbucks items and merchandise.

#2: Instagram #StarbucksCoffeeJourney Photo Contest

From August 15-31, 2013, Instagram followers (Philippine residents only) can upload a photo of themselves with Starbucks’ featured beverages anywhere in the Philippines using the hashtag #StarbucksCoffeeJourney. Chosen photos will be awarded a Starbucks item.

#3: Blog Contest

All bloggers can join this one. All they need to do is write a blog post on the featured beverages. The chosen blogger will be featured in the Starbucks Facebook page and will be given Starbucks prizes he/she can use for his/her own contest. This contest will run from July 16-31, 2013. Four (4) winners will be chosen and featured each week. For more detailed mechanics, visit their Facebook page.