Starbucks Secret Menu Contest

Starbucks Corporation is sponsoring The Secret Menu Contest, which provides participants an opportunity to win a grand prize of $30,000. The contest encourages entrants to create a unique Starbucks drink recipe, and three finalists will also be awarded prizes of $5,000 each.

How to Enter

To join the contest, participants must visit the contest website during the submission period from July 14 to July 20, 2025. They can use the online menu tool to design their favorite customized Grande (16 oz.) drink. Upon creating their recipe, entrants need to submit it along with their name and email address. It’s important to note that only one entry per person is allowed. Submitting a photo of the custom drink is optional and while encouraged, it will not affect the judging process, although it must adhere to the content guidelines.

The judging of the contest features a combination of computerized scoring and evaluations by expert panels, who will select the finalists based on criteria like creativity, taste, feasibility, and trend alignment. Four finalists will proceed to a public voting phase on Instagram from August 18 to August 20, 2025, where fans can cast their votes. The drink that receives the most valid votes will receive the grand prize. The contest includes regulations to prevent any voting manipulation and requires finalists to agree to terms involving publicity and recipe rights.

The prizes consist of a grand prize of $30,000 awarded through a bank transfer, which includes a $5,000 finalist prize and an additional $25,000 for the overall winner. The remaining three finalists will each obtain $5,000. It is noted that winners will be responsible for any applicable taxes.

Additional details and the entry process can be found on the official Starbucks Secret Menu Contest webpage.