Does Starbucks accept EBT? (how it works, in other stores, eligible items and more)
Millions of Americans rely on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards each month to meet their family’s food and nutritional needs. EBT cards are accepted at grocery stores and other retail outlets across the country.
If you’ve ever wondered if Starbucks accepts EBT cards, how to find Starbucks locations that accept EBT cards, etc., here’s the answer.
Does Starbucks accept EBT?
Officially, Starbucks policy is not to accept EBT cards in company-owned stores. However, many Starbucks franchised stores and kiosks are located in grocery stores and retail stores with grocery sections. These Starbucks locations may accept EBT cards. There will still be some restrictions on what can be purchased with an EBT card.
If you have more questions about using EBT cards at Starbucks, which Starbucks locations accept EBT cards, which other stores accept EBT cards, and more, read on to get answers.
Can you use your EBT card at Starbucks?
It is Starbucks’ official policy not to accept EBT cards in its company-owned stores. However, Starbucks franchised stores, located in grocery stores and retail stores such as Target, accept EBT cards.
Starbucks franchised stores in locations such as Marriott hotels also accept EBT cards.
Whether Starbucks franchisees accept EBT cards depends on the particular location and its policies.
Because this policy is highly variable, we recommend that you call ahead to make sure the Starbucks you plan to visit accepts EBT cards.
What can you buy with your EBT card at Starbucks?
Even at Starbucks locations where EBT cards are accepted, there are limits to what you can buy with your EBT card.
As with grocery stores, the EBT card cannot be used to purchase hot food or beverages at Starbucks.
So, you can use your EBT card to buy iced coffee or other cold beverages at Starbucks, but not hot coffee or hot food.
Sandwiches and candies, soft drinks, energy drinks, and snacks are EBT-eligible items in Starbucks franchised stores.
In general, anything with a nutrition label is eligible for EBT, with the exception of hot foods and beverages.
What can you buy with an EBT card?
There are limits to what you can buy with an EBT card. EBT cards can only be used to pay for food for household consumption.
Additionally, EBT cards cannot be used to purchase hot food or beverages for out-of-home consumption.
This means that deli and hot food items are generally not eligible to be purchased with an EBT card.
Non-food items such as cleaning supplies and cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and medications are also not eligible to be purchased with an EBT card.
The USDA lists eligible items you can purchase with your EBT card. These include foods intended for household use, as listed below:
- fruits and vegetables
- meat, poultry and fish
- dairy products
- bread and cereal
- Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that will be used to grow food for the home
EBT cards cannot be used to purchase non-food or hot food and beverages. The list of ineligible items includes:
- beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
- Vitamins, Medications and Supplements – Items with the SupplementFacts label are generally considered supplements and are not eligible
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish taken out of water, and animals slaughtered before being picked up from the store).
- Hot food and drinks at the point of sale
- Any non-food items such as pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, hygiene products, cosmetics, and other household items
What other stores accept EBT cards?
Starbucks is considered a luxury brand, so EBT purchases do not cover it. EBT cards are intended to be used to provide food and nutrition for families.
Many grocery stores and retail stores with grocery sections, such as Target and Walmart, accept EBT cards.
The USDA has an online retailer locator that you can use to search for locations that accept EBT cards by street address, city, state, or zip code.
Can I use the EBT card to shop online?
Recently, it is also possible to order groceries online using EBT cards. Online grocery delivery service Instacart has started accepting EBT cards.
Instacart serves major chains like Aldi, Publix, Walgreens, and more. Food delivery services such as Door Dash and Grub Hub do not accept EBT cards.
How do I get an EBT card?
The EBT card is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. SNAP is operated by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The purpose of SNAP is to provide food assistance to vulnerable families. SNAP is a program of the federal government but is administered by the states.
SNAP was formerly known as food stamps. Individuals who qualify for SNAP program benefits receive an EBT card and a PIN to use with the card.
How to use the EBT card
The EBT card is linked to a bank account and should be deposited into that bank account monthly. Cardholders can create an online account to track spending and the amount remaining in the account.
You can use your EBT card like a debit card when checking out at the grocery store or online.
The printed receipt you get at checkout will show the amount paid. It will also show how much you have left in your account for the month.
If EBT cardholders are unable to shop for themselves due to ill health, disability, or any other reason, they may designate someone else to act as their authorized representative to shop for them.
For more information on Starbucks’ payment methods and EBT, you can also check out our posts on whether Starbucks accepts Apple Pay, whether McDonald’s accepts EBT, and whether Target accepts EBT.
in conclusion
Officially, Starbucks does not accept EBT cards in its company-owned stores. However, Starbucks franchised stores and kiosks located inside grocery stores and retail stores such as Target and Walmart can accept EBT cards with some limitations. There are many other grocery stores that accept EBT cards for basic groceries.
