A woman holds a Starbucks takeaway cup in London Suzanne Plunkett/ Reuters Starbucks is making a huge change to its popular rewards program.

The coffee chain announced on Monday that, starting in April, customers would earn reward stars based on the amount of money they spend at Starbucks. Customers today earn one star per visit with My Starbucks Rewards no matter how much money they spend.

With the new program, rebranded as simply Starbucks Rewards, customers will earn two stars per dollar spent, receiving a reward after earning 125 stars. That's more complicated math than that of the previous program, which required just 12 stars, the equivalent of 12 visits, to get a free drink or food.

Starbucks says the change is based on requests by customers. But this clearly isn't great news for customers who regularly purchase inexpensive items like a $2 cup of coffee at Starbucks.

A barista prepares a drink at Starbucks' Vigo Street branch in Mayfair, central London January 11, 2013. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

While once thrifty customers could spend $24 and get a free drink after 12 trips to Starbucks, they will soon have to spend $62.50 to get a free item. That's 32 cups of plain coffee.

Some customers are already venting their anger and confusion on Starbucks' Facebook page.

"Gotta spend $75 to earn one free drink ... you guys need to look into Dunkin Donuts rewards program," one comment reads. "So much better, you actually get rewards that are worth it."

Starbucks responded to the comment by listing the correct figure of $62.50 needed to earn a reward and saying most customers would "get there faster because there are so many other ways to earn stars."

Those other ways include participating in special offers, purchasing Starbucks products in grocery stores, and visiting Starbucks on monthly "Double-Star Days."

Starbucks Facebook

"If you occasionally buy a food item — like breakfast, lunch, or a pastry — with your usual beverage, you'll likely earn free rewards just as fast or faster than you do today," Starbucks' website says.

Basically, the new program benefits customers who spend more at Starbucks, whether by purchasing elaborate lattes or ordering food.

Starbucks is determined to grow its food business, with COO Kevin Johnson saying in October that the chain was becoming a "food destination." The chance to earn a few extra stars may be the encouragement certain customers need when deciding whether to buy a cookie or a breakfast sandwich with their coffee.

In January, Starbucks reported that the My Starbucks Rewards program had 11.1 million members in the US, an increase of 23% from a year ago. The popularity of the rewards program has helped boost the chain's mobile sales, which now account for about 6 million orders a month.