Tweet-a-coffee works by connecting an individual’s Twitter profile to credit card details stored on their Starbucks account.

To send a voucher over a tweet, Twitter users enter @tweetacoffee, the word ‘TO’, and their gift recipient’s handle.

For instance, ‘I’d like to @tweetacoffee TO @insideretailau to celebrate their anniversary’.

Starbucks then sends a separate tweet to the voucher recipient that includes a personal link to claim their present.

“Tweet Starbucks to your yoga teacher, your dog walker, or somebody you follow but have never met,” says its press video.

Starbucks is offering an additional US$5 voucher to the first 100,000 Tweet-a-coffee users that pay using Visa.

Fine bone paper cups

In other Starbucks news, the US retail group has redesigned takeaway coffee cups to suit the tastes of tea drinkers.

As part of its Teavana store concept, Starbucks has released an embossed paper cup designed to evoke the feeling of fine bone china.

The top of Teavana’s packaging features a notably larger drinking spout than Starbucks’ normal offering.

This allows drinkers to sip more of the beverage in one gulp, reflecting the idea that tea has a subtler flavour that coffee.