A Starbucks NFT will reward customers with a trip to the Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm in Costa Rica
The Interim CEO for Starbucks, Howard Shultz, announced Starbucks NFT rewards will soon be a thing in April. He didn’t swallow his words. The multichain coffee house announced yesterday that it is set to reward its members with NFTs dubbed “Starbucks Odyssey” at the end of this year.
Quick take:
- Starbucks Odyssey will be an extension of the web app Starbucks Rewards with “journeys,” interactive games and activities “to deepen their knowledge of coffee and Starbucks”
- Members can win NFTs as points to unlock access to unique benefits and experiences
- Rewards range from a virtual espresso martini-making class, invitations to exclusive events at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries, trips to Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm in Costa Rica to access to unique merchandise and artist collaborations
- The coffee chain is yet to decide how many NFTs will be available at launch and how much they will cost
Following this, Starbucks took to Twitter to share the good news:
But what exactly is “Starbucks Odyssey”?
Starbucks Odyssey – Everything You Need to Know
Starbucks Odysseys are Proof of Stake NFTs that have ownership verified on the Polygon blockchain—to use less energy than first-generation blockchains.
All NFTs, otherwise known as stamps, will showcase iconic images of Starbucks artwork co-created with Starbucks partners.
Members can win the NFTs on the Starbucks rewards program app when partaking in coffee and Starbucks-related games and online experiences.
By collecting the stamps, members will gain points that can unlock exclusive benefits. Each NFT unlocks access to different rewards, with some better than others. For example, one of the rarest NFTs includes a trip to the Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia coffee farm in Costa Rica.
“By integrating into the Starbucks Rewards ecosystem and grounding the experience in coffee, connection and community, we are entering the Web3 space differently than any other brand,”
said Brady Brewer, Starbucks executive vice president and chief marketing officer, on an official Starbucks blog post.
Other rewards include access to an espresso martini-making class, Starbucks Reserve Roasteries, physical merchandise and more.
Reasons for Starbucks Implementing Web3 Innovation
Starbucks is no stranger to being tech-savvy. The company has continuously been successful with its rewards loyalty program, mobile payment and ordering, speedy Wi-Fi access and more.
Although the company has been interested in blockchain technology for years, it has only started delving into how Starbucks enhances its existing loyalty program from such technologies in the last six months.
Now, the company aims to provide easy access to Web3 experiences through its next-generation loyalty program.
“We are creating an accessible, digital Third Place community enabled by Web3 technology. Starbucks Rewards members and our partners can connect through unique experiences and come together around the love for coffee,”
continued Brewer in the company’s blog post.
To kick-start the new reward system, Starbucks brought in Adam Brotman, the architect of its Mobile Order & Pay system and the Starbucks app, to help serve as a special advisor for Starbucks Odyssey.
But how can customers partake in this new and exciting coffee-related experience?
Get Involved – Download the App
To join the Starbucks Odyssey experience, Starbucks rewards members must log in to the web app using their existing loyalty program credentials.
Members can then engage in Starbucks Odysseys ‘journeys’, like games that deepen their knowledge of coffee and Starbucks, to win the NFTs as rewards and access the prizes mentioned above.
Members can purchase the limited-edition NFTs using a credit credit, so those without a crypto wallet and cryptocurrencies can also enjoy the experience.
The company is yet to decide how many NFTs will be available at launch and how much they will cost.
Although, starting yesterday, customers can sign up for the waitlist at https://waitlist.starbucks.com. Those chosen will be the first to explore Starbucks Odyssey.
Members of the Odyssey program will also be able to trade and sell NFTs to one another.
Subscribe to the NFT Lately newsletter to receive news covering the latest NFT drops, releases, reviews and more.
