Starbucks employees, formally known as “partners,” receive a substantial benefit package that includes free drinks. This benefit is structured to provide complimentary beverages both while they are on shift and on days they are not scheduled to work. The free drink policy extends across the entire menu, allowing partners to enjoy any handcrafted beverage the company offers.
Free Drinks While Working
Partners are entitled to complimentary beverages throughout their scheduled work hours. This benefit includes any handcrafted drink available at the store, from espresso beverages to teas and Refreshers. The benefit window begins 30 minutes before a shift starts and extends up to 30 minutes after the shift ends.
While the policy technically allows for unlimited drinks, consumption is generally restricted to one beverage at a time for personal use. Partners often make a new drink for themselves on their scheduled breaks and before or after their shift.
Free Drinks When Not Working
The beverage benefit extends beyond the hours partners are clocked in, providing them with free drinks even on their days off. Partners are entitled to one free handcrafted beverage each day they are not working. This single daily drink can be redeemed at any participating company-operated store, not just the one where the partner is employed.
To access this daily perk, the employee must present their partner card or provide their partner number at the point of sale. This process allows them to enjoy a complimentary drink from the entire menu.
Weekly Coffee Markout
A separate benefit from the in-store drink consumption is the weekly coffee “markout,” which provides partners with a free retail item for home preparation. The term “markout” refers to the process of an employee taking an item from the retail shelf and having it registered as a free benefit using their partner number. This markout is available once per week, running from Monday through Sunday.
Partners can choose from one pound of whole bean coffee, a box of tea, or a package of instant coffee products like VIA Ready Brew. The markout must be redeemed each week, as it does not roll over to future periods.
Employee Food Benefits
Partners receive benefits related to food consumption while on the job. Employees are permitted to receive one free food item during their scheduled shift. This complimentary item can be selected from the company’s range of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, or ready-to-eat bistro boxes.
A standard discount of 30% is also applied to all other food items, beverages, and merchandise purchased by the partner. This discount can be used at any company-operated store.
Eligibility and Limitations
The full range of free drink, food, and weekly markout benefits applies to all partners working in company-operated stores. These perks are available to both part-time and full-time partners from their first day of employment, regardless of the number of hours worked.
A limitation is that these core benefits generally do not apply to individuals employed at licensed Starbucks locations, such as those found inside airports, grocery stores, or universities. Employees at licensed stores are typically employed by the parent company of that location and receive benefits according to that company’s policies. Furthermore, the in-store benefits are strictly for the partner’s personal consumption and cannot be shared or given to others.