Honestly, this is exactly what I thought the complaint was going to be when I saw the headline and it's getting me thinking. Does Starbucks allow split payments between two methods. If not, that's the solution to this problem is require them to.

I end up having a bunch of gift cards to Starbucks through the year because my father in law knows I like coffee so he gets me Starbucks gift cards, not because I love Starbucks but because he can get them on Amazon. I'll have to try this out next time I'm nearing the bottom.

I will say, the stars that build up over the course of my gift card draining more than pays for the dollar or change at the end with free drinks. So it's never really bothered me that much, but now I'm curious.