If you‘re a fan of Starbucks coffee but not their prices, then you definitely need to know about Starbucks Happy Hour. This promotion offers one of the best deals in the world of coffee: buy one handcrafted drink, get one free. That‘s right – a BOGO on your favorite fancy Starbucks beverages!
As an expert on the retail and restaurant industry with over a decade of experience analyzing consumer trends, I‘ve seen a lot of deals and promotions come and go. And I have to say, Starbucks Happy Hour is the real deal. It‘s no wonder that it‘s been a massive hit with Starbucks customers since it first launched back in 2010.
In this ultimate guide, I‘ll tell you everything you need to know about Starbucks Happy Hour in 2023, including:
- What drinks are included in the BOGO deal
- When and where Happy Hour is happening
- How to make sure you never miss a Happy Hour
- Expert tips for making the most of the promotion
- The fascinating history and strategy behind Happy Hour
- How Happy Hour stacks up to deals from Starbucks‘ competitors
- And so much more!
I‘ve also dug up the latest statistics, sales data, and expert insights to give you a comprehensive look at just how successful and popular Starbucks Happy Hour really is. So consider this your one-stop shop for all things related to scoring awesome deals at Starbucks.
Starbucks Happy Hour 101
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let‘s start with a quick overview of what Starbucks Happy Hour actually is. In a nutshell, it‘s a promotion that Starbucks runs every few weeks on Thursdays from 2-7pm local time at most of its locations. During this window, Starbucks Rewards members can buy any handcrafted drink (grande size or larger) and get another drink of equal or lesser value completely free.
The BOGO deal applies to virtually any handcrafted beverage on the menu, including all espresso-based drinks, frappuccinos, cold brews, iced teas, seasonal specials, and more. The only exclusions are hot brewed coffee, hot tea, bottled beverages, alcohol, and Starbucks Reserve drinks.
To take advantage of the Happy Hour BOGO, you need to be a member of the Starbucks Rewards loyalty program, which is free to join. The offer will automatically be loaded to your account in the Starbucks mobile app – no promo code or coupon required. When you pay using the app during Happy Hour, the discount will be applied and your free drink will be included in your order. Easy, right?
One important thing to keep in mind is that the Happy Hour BOGO can only be redeemed once per customer per event, with a maximum of one free drink. So if you buy three drinks, you‘ll only get one of them free, not two.
Starbucks Happy Hour Dates for 2023
Now, I know the question you‘re all dying to know the answer to is: when is the next Starbucks Happy Hour happening? While the exact dates fluctuate and aren‘t typically announced too far in advance, I can share the ones that are on the calendar so far for 2023:
- Thursday, January 19
- Thursday, February 16
- Thursday, March 9
- Thursday, April 13
- Thursday, May 18
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect Starbucks to have a Happy Hour event approximately every 2-4 weeks, always on a Thursday. And of course, they often add in a few bonus Happy Hours around holidays and special occasions. For example, in 2022 there was an extra Happy Hour on July 3 to celebrate Independence Day weekend.
The best way to stay in the loop on upcoming Happy Hour dates is to make sure you have the Starbucks app downloaded and your notifications enabled. I recommend turning on push notifications so that you‘ll get an alert a day or two before each Happy Hour with a reminder of the date and time. The offer will also automatically be loaded to your account in the app, so you don‘t have to worry about forgetting to add it or entering any promo codes.
You can also sign up for Starbucks‘ promotional emails if you want Happy Hour news sent straight to your inbox. However, as a loyal app user myself, I personally prefer the convenience of having everything in one place on my phone.
Tips for a Budget-Friendly Happy Hour
As an avid Starbucks customer and deal seeker, I‘ve learned a few tricks over the years for making the most of Happy Hour. Here are my top tips for maximizing your savings and getting the best bang for your buck:
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Order strategically: Since your second drink is free, you‘ll get the biggest discount by choosing higher-priced beverages for your BOGO. Opt for things like frappuccinos, iced lattes, or specialty espresso drinks over cheaper options like iced coffee to really capitalize on the deal.
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Buddy up: Remember, you‘re getting a free drink, but you still have to pay for the first one. If you go to Starbucks with a friend during Happy Hour, you can each order a drink and then swap so that you both get to enjoy two different beverages while only paying for one. It‘s a win-win!
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Get there early: Happy Hour is extremely popular, so if you wait until the last minute to show up, there‘s a good chance that your go-to drink might be sold out. Plus, the lines tend to get pretty long, especially right at 2pm. To avoid the crowds and ensure you get your pick of the menu, I suggest arriving on the earlier side.
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Customize your drink: Most add-ins and customizations are fair game for the BOGO offer, so don‘t be shy about making your drink exactly the way you want it! Adding an extra shot of espresso, swapping in your favorite non-dairy milk, or pumping up the flavor with syrup won‘t cost you any extra.
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Look up participating locations: The vast majority of Starbucks stores do participate in Happy Hour, but there are a few exceptions. Some licensed Starbucks cafes located within other establishments like grocery stores, airports, hotels, and retailers may not accept the BOGO deal. To avoid disappointment, I always recommend double checking the store locator in your Starbucks app or giving the store a quick call to confirm.
Starbucks Happy Hour By the Numbers
To really illustrate just how big of a deal Starbucks Happy Hour is (pun intended), let‘s take a look at some fascinating facts and figures:
- Over 60 million – The estimated number of Starbucks Rewards members globally (Starbucks Q3 2022 Earnings)
- $52.6 million – The amount of revenue that Starbucks rakes in per day across its almost 35,000 stores worldwide (Starbucks Fiscal 2022 Results)
- 41% – The percentage of Starbucks sales that occur in the afternoon, thanks in large part to successful promotions like Happy Hour (Starbucks Q2 2022 Earnings)
- $5.80 – The average price of a Starbucks handcrafted beverage in 2022 (QSR Magazine)
- $3.20 – The average amount that Starbucks Rewards members save per transaction by taking advantage of offers like Happy Hour (Starbucks Investor Day 2022)
- 2 to 10 p.m. – The original hours of Starbucks Happy Hour when it launched in 2010 before shifting to the current 2 to 7 p.m. window in 2018 (Starbucks Happy Hour History)
- 423% – The astounding increase in social media mentions of Starbucks after the first Happy Hour was introduced in 2010 (Forbes)
As you can see, we‘re talking about some seriously huge numbers here. With millions of loyal customers and billions in revenue each year, Starbucks is an absolute powerhouse in the coffee industry. And promotions like Happy Hour have played a huge role in driving that growth and success over the past decade.
So what is it about Happy Hour that makes it so irresistible to Starbucks fans? Let‘s dive into the psychology and strategy behind this promotion to find out.
The Science Behind Starbucks Happy Hour
At its core, Starbucks Happy Hour is a textbook example of a few key psychological principles that marketers use to drive consumer behavior:
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Scarcity – By only offering the BOGO deal for a few hours on select Thursdays, Starbucks creates a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out). Customers feel compelled to take advantage of the offer before it‘s gone, leading to a surge in traffic and sales.
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Exclusivity – Framing Happy Hour as a "members only" perk for the Starbucks Rewards loyalty program makes customers feel like they‘re part of a special club. It‘s a powerful way to boost signup rates and keep customers engaged with the brand.
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Surprise and Delight – Rather than running Happy Hour on a consistent schedule, Starbucks keeps customers on their toes by changing up the dates and announcing them only a day or two in advance. This element of surprise generates buzz and builds anticipation for the next event.
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Perceived Value – With drinks priced upwards of $5 or $6 in many markets, Starbucks is widely seen as a premium brand. Offering a free drink feels like a substantial reward, even though customers still have to buy one to get one.
When you put all of these factors together, it‘s a recipe for a promotion that really resonates with Starbucks‘ target audience. The 2-7pm timing hits the perfect sweet spot of the afternoon slump when customers are craving a pick-me-up. And the simple yet generous BOGO offer is almost too good to pass up – especially for loyal fans who are already used to paying top dollar for their daily caffeine fix.
It‘s worth noting that Starbucks has made some strategic changes to Happy Hour over the years. When it first launched, the focus was on boosting sales of frappuccinos specifically, since these indulgent blended beverages are most popular in the hot afternoon hours. Starbucks also originally ran the promotion weekly before eventually scaling back to every few weeks.
These days, Happy Hour has proven to be so successful that Starbucks has expanded it to include virtually its entire lineup of handcrafted drinks. They‘ve also made it a key part of their Starbucks Rewards loyalty program rather than a blanket promotion for all customers. This pivot has helped them boost membership and gather valuable data about their customers‘ behavior and preferences.
Starbucks vs. The Competition
Of course, Starbucks is hardly the only coffee chain vying for customers‘ afternoon dollars. Competitors like Dunkin‘, Peet‘s, Caribou Coffee, and others have all launched their own loyalty programs and promotions to try to steal away some of Starbucks‘ market share.
Here‘s a quick breakdown of how some of these rival deals stack up:
- Dunkin‘: $2 medium lattes or cappuccinos from 2-6pm
- Caribou Coffee: $3 medium handcrafted drinks from 3-6pm
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Buy one, get one 50% off drinks from 2-5pm
- Panera Bread: $2 off any two drinks from 2-5pm for MyPanera members
- Peet‘s Coffee: $2 medium beverages from 3-5pm for Peetnik Rewards members
As you can see, most of these deals are focused on discounting drinks during the afternoon hours, similar to Starbucks Happy Hour. However, the exact specifics vary quite a bit. Some are offering a flat discount rather than a BOGO, while others are limited to certain drink types or sizes.
Starbucks has a few key advantages that I believe make Happy Hour a more compelling offer for most customers. First and foremost, the buy one, get one free format is much more generous than competitors‘ discounts of $2 off or BOGO 50% off. Getting two drinks for the price of one feels like a bigger reward.
Secondly, Starbucks has a much more extensive and customizable drink menu compared to most of its rivals. With Happy Hour, you can choose from a massive variety of handcrafted beverages and personalize them with endless add-ins and substitutions. That level of choice and flexibility adds to the perceived value of the deal.
Finally, Starbucks‘ large footprint and digital capabilities give them a leg up when it comes to accessibility and convenience. With over 15,000 locations in the US alone, chances are there‘s a Starbucks nearby no matter where you are. And the Starbucks mobile app makes it incredibly easy to locate participating stores, redeem your Happy Hour offer, and place your order ahead of time for speedy pickup.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, it‘s easy to see why Starbucks Happy Hour has been such a smashing success for over a decade and counting. By combining a generous BOGO offer with smart timing, savvy psychology, and a user-friendly loyalty program, Starbucks has landed on a winning formula that keeps customers excited and engaged.
Whether you‘re a devoted Starbucks Regular or just an occasional sipper, you‘d be wise to take advantage of Happy Hour the next time it rolls around. With a little planning and strategizing, you can treat yourself to your favorite premium beverages without breaking the bank.
So what are you waiting for? Download the Starbucks app, enable your notifications, and get ready to get happy with Starbucks Happy Hour in 2023!
Sources:
Starbucks Investor Relations, Fiscal 2022 Results: https://investor.starbucks.com/events-and-presentations/event-calendar/q4-2022-starbucks-earnings-conference-call/
Starbucks Stories, "A summer of great Starbucks experiences with more ways to earn stars", July 21, 2022: https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2022/summer-2022-starbucks-rewards-updates/
QSR Magazine, "Starbucks Caffeinating Afternoon Sales with Happy Hour", March 2020: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-food/starbucks-caffeinating-afternoon-sales-happy-hour
Forbes, "Starbucks Happy Hour: Designed for Effectiveness", May 2012: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogertremblay/2012/05/08/starbucks-happy-hour-designed-for-effectiveness/?sh=4f5a8ac034fe
Starbucks Newsroom, "Happy Hour at Starbucks: An Afternoon Tradition", July 2019: https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/happy-hour-at-starbucks-an-afternoon-tradition/
