Next time you need a quiet place to study or somewhere to take a bathroom break on your endless trip, reconsider going to Starbucks unless you want a five dollar coffee paired with it. According to the article from Investopedia, “Why Hanging Out at Starbucks Could Start Costing You Soon” by Andrew Kessel, Starbucks is implementing a new strategy to reduce the amount of people working in their shops for free, while increasing their money and orders.

This strategy is part of one named “Back to Starbucks” which was implemented by the CEO Brian Niccol. “There is a need to reset expectations for how our spaces should be used, and who uses them,” he said. The bathrooms will no longer be open to use for free as that is not how the Starbucks space wishes to be used. This policy will go into effect on January 27, 2025.

Like many people, senior Marin Anderson, who uses Starbucks as a study space often, is not happy about this. She feels that Starbucks new strategy is unnecessary “since they’re a big corporation I don’t think they need that money. Why do they need more money from people just trying to use their space for work?”
As a student, looking for other quiet places to study is necessary, Marin suggested cheaper alternatives to defeat this concern. “I love studying in the library at CMU, they have Einstein’s Bagels in there. I’m also an at-home worker, which doesn’t cost any money!”

Over the next ten days, use the free study space and bathrooms while you can before it costs you a drink or breakfast sandwich. Who knows, it could cost you a grande!