Starbucks expands refill policy in locations nationwide

Coffeehouse amenities are back

By Emily Caldwell Published January 27, 2025

Starbucks Condiments — Starbucks / Starbucks

Beginning today, January 27, Starbucks visitors can now enjoy new and returning coffeehouse amenities at most locations nationwide. This announcement comes after many recent changes by Starbucks, such as the end of the open-door policy. The first of the new practices include asking customers if they’d like to enjoy food or drinks, either “to go” or “for here,” meaning enjoyed in the store. Those taking food and drinks to-go will be served in standard Starbucks to-go cups; however, in-store customers will now be served their beverages in ceramic mugs, glasses, or a personal cup, if provided. This change provides a more authentic coffeehouse experience for guests dining in-store.

Another change as part of the new Starbucks policies includes the return of free refills for those who wish to enjoy their drink in-store. Free refills are eligible for hot brewed or iced coffee purchases and hot or iced tea purchases. The free refill policy is only valid for the same visit in the same cafê. Additionally, free refills are only valid for drinks served in ceramic mugs, glass, or clean personal cups. This choice by Starbucks supports a more sustainable practice of reducing waste.

Recommended Videos

The last of the new changes to Starbucks’ policies includes the return of the condiment bar, which allows visitors to add creamer and milk to their drinks. The condiment bar allows guests more control over the exact amount of cream or milk used in their drink, allowing for customization that yields the perfect cup of coffee.

Contributor

Emily is a freelance journalist with a focus on food, travel, health, and fitness content. She loves to travel to new…

Food & Drink

Are quicker Starbucks orders on the horizon? Here’s why I’m hopeful

Shorter wait times might be coming soon

Starbucks Coffee

New Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol, shared just a few months ago that Starbucks planned to address one of its most significant customer pain points: long wait times. Alongside the implementation of other changes, such as shortened menus, Starbucks has begun a technology pilot at dozens of U.S. Starbucks locations to reduce wait times. If you've noticed your Starbucks is a slow process, perhaps these changes will come to your favorite Starbucks location soon.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, this pilot has successfully reduced the average wait time by two minutes. Due to the success of the test pilot, Starbucks plans to expand it to an additional 10,000 Starbucks locations across the U.S. Living in a highly populated region of the Northeastern U.S., I've had first-hand experience waiting too long for a Starbucks order. While it's never bad enough to keep me from returning, it's certainly noticeable, especially in specific busy locations. If you've ever had to forgo an order you've already paid for (through mobile order) because you were running late, you may have experienced this too.

Food & Drink

Oaklore Distilling Co. announces the nationwide release of its flagship bourbon

Oaklore is launching its award-winning bourbon nationwide

Oaklore

Founded in 2017, Oaklore Distilling Co. began when neighbors Thomas Bogan and Matt Simpkins talked about whiskey after walking their kids to the neighborhood bus stop. The duo is on a mission to bring North Carolina into the national whiskey discussion. Its newest announcement will definitely help them achieve that goal. The brand announced that Oaklore’s award-winning Four Grain Bourbon would be available nationwide.
Oaklore Four Grain Bourbon

The brand’s flagship expression, Oaklore Four Grain Bourbon, has already won a Double Gold Medal at the 2024 Barleycorn Awards. Distilled at its sister distilleries in Kentucky and North Carolina, it’s made with corn, wheat, barley, and rye. It’s made with five-to-six-year-old barrels of wheated bourbon and rye bourbon, which are aged separately before being batched together. After aging, it’s re-barreled and matured for another eight to twelve months in palletized, non-temperature-controlled warehouses in the North Carolina Piedmont in #2, #3, and #4 char level barrels.

Food & Drink

I’m impressed—Starbucks nails Mother’s Day with easy, thoughtful gifts

There's no excuse for forgetting a thoughtful gift

Starbucks Mother's Day

Life can get busy, yet, whether you're a father or a child, there's no excuse for not coming through with a thoughtful Mother's Day gift. With Mother's Day just around the corner, Starbucks has announced an impressive assortment of drinkware, Starbucks Cards, and eGifts to honor every special mother or mother figure in your life.

Now, this certainly isn't the first year Starbucks has launched beautiful coffee and tea drinkware in their stores for the spring season. But this year's drinkware collection, especially with its vivid spring floral print, caught my eye. The cold cups and tumblers within the new Mother's Day drinkware collection are happy, bright, and cheerful -- great for the mom who needs a little extra happiness in her day.
Drinkware collection