A trip to Starbucks can fill one’s coffee desires but it can leave a nice little dent on the wallet. In an attempt to reward its most frequent customers, Starbucks has a rewards program app that gives Stars for purchases and ultimately free stuff.

“I use [the app] whenever I go to Starbucks,” junior Shannon Ferguson said. “All of my gift cards are set up, so I can pay directly from my phone. It’s super easy for me to get my coffee fix.”

When students register for the Starbucks Rewards program they are instantly in the “Welcome” level that comes with a variety of perks (see sidebar). The app also includes convenient features that attract users.

“I primarily use the app for my Starbucks gift cards,” sophomore Rachel Bradley said. “It’s really convenient to have all of my gift cards on my phone.”

The Starbucks app also will give users free song downloads, access to one’s account history, menus and the ability to pay/reload from a phone. However, membership accounts can revert to zero if customers fail to meet certain requirements.

“Like the airline loyalty programs it resembles, the Starbucks Gold Card program has to deal with customers whose consumption habits change,” Forbes Guest Contributor Roger Dooly wrote in a column. “I’m sure Starbucks does develop loyal customers this way. The problem is how they deal with ‘demoted’ members.”

Whether it’s a businessman on a coffee run or a seventeen-year-old girl racing to get a coffee fix before class, the Starbucks Rewards Program is designed to attract frequent visitors. With the various awards and the highly elusive savings in reach, Starbucks has found a fanciful new way to reward coffee lovers. Though the repercussions and downsides may block the shimmer of the rewards for some members, others are thrilled with the exclusive style the program has offered them.

“Starbucks is my favorite place to get coffee,” class of 2014 graduate Rebecca Bradley said. “It’s really exciting to me to get a gold card. As silly as it sounds, it makes me feel special.”