Replacing syrups with whipped cream in recipes.

Many people love two things: Starbucks and saving money. There are several great hacks that allow you to enjoy both of these pleasures. Tips for getting the best value include requesting less ice in cold drinks, utilizing mobile order tricks for a cheaper latte, and bringing your own cup. But if you’re looking for sweetness, consider replacing syrup with whipped cream to save some cash.

While swapping pumps of hazelnut, mocha, or other favored syrups for whipped cream isn’t an exact exchange, since whipped cream is less noticeably sweet, it can still be a great option if you’re aiming for just a hint of sweetness, especially if you typically order your coffee half-sweet.

When you add syrup to your coffee, Americano, or latte, you’re charged for the additional flavoring no matter if you request the standard four pumps or just one or two. Conversely, whipped cream is complimentary. Do you see where this is going?

Starbucks whipped cream is made from just two ingredients: heavy cream and a dash of vanilla syrup. Requesting a dollop on your drink adds a subtle sweetness that will gradually blend into your beverage, lightly sweetening your coffee while saving you money.

Having a clever Starbucks hack can easily save you dollars that accumulate over time—and based on the figures from this whipped cream hack, it’s definitely worth a look.

This method really only cuts costs if you order more classic and typically unsweetened drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and brewed coffee. Drinks such as Frappuccinos and cold brews often include syrups and sweeteners in their base price, making this trick less effective.

For instance, for a classic Americano on the Starbucks mobile app, adding one to four pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup adds about $0.80. If you’re a regular who stops by Starbucks five days a week, those syrup pumps alone will end up costing you $4 weekly, totaling $16 monthly, and $192 annually—without counting the actual drinks!

The same pricing applies when you order an iced caffe latte or espresso. Adding any of their syrups or sweeteners incurs an extra $0.80 per drink or $16 monthly for frequent visitors. Therefore, to potentially save nearly $200 each year, it might be well worth trying this whipped cream hack the next time you’re at the counter.