Replacing syrups with whipped cream.

Many people have two things in common: a love for Starbucks and a desire to save money. There are several excellent hacks to help you enjoy both. Tips for maximizing your value include requesting less ice in cold drinks, utilizing mobile order tricks for lower-priced lattes, and bringing your own cup. If sweetness is what you seek, consider opting for whipped cream instead of syrup to satisfy your cravings and save some cash.

It’s important to note that substituting syrup pumps, like hazelnut or mocha, with whipped cream isn’t a perfect one-to-one exchange; whipped cream isn’t as sugary. However, if you’re looking for just a subtle sweetness and might already prefer half-sweet beverages, this hack might be perfect for you.

Whenever you add syrup to any coffee drink, whether it’s an Americano or a latte, you will incur extra charges, regardless of whether you ask for one pump or the usual four. Conversely, whipped cream comes at no extra cost. See where we’re heading with this?

Starbucks whipped cream is made with just two simple ingredients: heavy cream and a hint of vanilla syrup. Requesting a dollop on top of your drink adds a delicate sweetness and flavor that blends into your coffee, providing a light sweetness while saving you money.

Having a good Starbucks hack ready can easily save you a few bucks, which adds up over time—like with this whipped cream trick, it’s definitely worth your consideration.

This tactic will predominantly save you money if you usually order classic, unsweetened beverages like lattes, cappuccinos, and brewed coffee. Beverages like Frappuccinos and cold brews often come pre-sweetened, so this approach may not be as effective in those cases.

For instance, a classic Americano on the Starbucks mobile app adds $0.80 for one to four pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup. If you’re like us and grab Starbucks five days a week, just those extra syrup pumps can set you back $4 per week, $16 monthly, and $192 annually—this doesn’t even include the cost of the drinks themselves!

The same pricing applies when ordering an iced caffe latte or espresso. Adding one of their syrups or sweeteners also carries an additional $0.80 per drink, which can amount to $16 a month if you’re a frequent visitor. Therefore, for the sake of saving nearly $200 a year, trying out this whipped cream hack on your next visit might be worth it.