Starbucks Fans, You Can Now Use Stars to Redeem Four Cheese Flatbread, New York Cheesecake + More

(SPOT.ph) Starbucks has always been a convenient, accessible, and consistent option when you need your caffeine fix—which makes its mobile app well worth the storage space. The more coffee you consume and pay through the app, the more Stars (Starbucks points and rewards system) you earn, which can then be converted to a free Starbucks drink of your choice.

Still not convinced it's worth downloading? Starbucks is expanding its rewards beyond free drinks, giving members even more perks to look forward to with every cup of coffee.

If you somehow caught the email hiding in your sea of unread messages, you'd know that all Starbucks Stars needed to be redeemed by July 16, or they'd expire. This is to make way for Starbucks' new rewards program, which was officially launched starting July 21.

But before we go into details on the new rewards program, it is important to take note that Starbucks has also launched a new app, and it is now available to download for Android and Apple users. This is what the new interface looks like:

If you're only getting started now and have already made a Starbucks run since July 21 (when the new rewards program started), don't worry—any Stars you've earned will automatically carry over to the new app and can be used to redeem your choice of drinks, pastries, and desserts.

The good news? Earning Stars hasn't changed. You'll still get 1 Star for every P25 spent when you pay with a registered Starbucks Card, or 1 Star for every P50 spent when paying via cash, credit or debit card, or e-wallet.

The real change is what you can do with the Stars you've earned. Instead of redeeming them only for free drinks, you can now use them on a wider range of food and beverages.

Here's the full list:

• 50 Stars = Any drink customization.

  • Customization options include adding a single espresso shot, adding sauce (White Mocha, Mocha, Strawberry, or Caramel), upgrading to soy milk, and more.

  • This does not include a breve (half whole milk and half heavy cream) and 2 oz. heavy cream.

• 50 Stars = Select bagels, doughnuts, and other bakery items.

  • This only applies to the following: Everything Bagel, Sourdough Bagel, Glazed Doughnut, Chocolate Dipped Doughnut, and Banana Loaf.

• 100 Stars = Any bakery item.

  • If your favorite Starbucks pastry isn't among the 50-Star options, you'll need 100 Stars for other bakery items such as the bestselling Four Cheese Flatbread.

• 100 Stars = Any handcrafted drink.

  • The same rules still apply from before the Starbucks app update. You can redeem any handcrafted drink of any size with 100 Stars.

  • This does not include the Coffee Traveler Kit, French Press, and Reserve Ice Cream beverages.

• 150 Stars = Cake Slice.

  • Are you a fan of Starbucks' New York Cheesecake or Classic Chocolate Cake? Whichever slice of cake you want to pair with your drink, you will need 150 Stars to get the dessert for free.

• 150 Stars = Sandwich or Pasta.

  • The same goes if you prefer something savory or more filling. You can exchange 150 Stars for any sandwich or pasta, like Starbucks' Mortadella and Pistachio Pesto on Flatbread or Fusilli Baked Salmon.

Download the new Starbucks mobile app for Android or iOS. See a list of Starbucks branches. For more information, check out Starbucks' Facebook page.