Amid all of the hubbub out of Starbucks recently — Howard Schultz's now famous memo on the "commoditization" of the coffee giant and his return as CEO — one fact has gone little noticed: Starbucks appears to be getting ready to start a loyalty program.

In an interview with Fortune Magazine's Andy Serwer last month, Howie admitted that the company has become "less passionate about customer relationships" in recent years and promised that "we will do more things to better reward our most loyal and best customers."

For the caffeine-addicted among us who carry tons of little cards around in our wallet trying to earn freebies, this is amazing news. It's enough to make anyone forgot about the latte factor.

So what should Starbucks do for its very best customers? I have a bunch of ideas — and hope you'll toss yours at the bottom of the post too.

1) Wake up to the fact that the Starbucks card is not a loyalty program. The Starbucks card — basically a pre-loadable (and re-loadable) gift card that customers can use at the chain each day — is an incredible phenomenon. About 15% of the chain's transactions happen via the card. Any retailer that can convince people to pay in advance for its products is clearly doing something right.

But customers don't get something extra in exchange for using the Starbucks card. Even its Duetto Visa card — which doubles as an in-store Starbucks card while also allowing holders to use it anywhere as a credit card — offers rewards that are merely average.

2) Give people financial incentive to come to Starbucks all the time. Starbucks didn't need to do this years ago. But having raised everyone's coffee consciousness, folks are now that much more aware of the improved offerings at, say, McDonald's. They're also more likely to sample even higher-end stuff at various regional specialists.

That's why Starbucks ought to be discouraging the patronization of other coffee shops by tracking monthly spending at Starbucks via its cards. Then, it should reward those who, say, spend more than $50 or $100 in a given month. Maybe the first drink under $5 is free each month after someone has spent $100 in the previous month. Or maybe the chain should give more freebies to folks who buy more profitable beverages.

Even better, give store managers the power to get at the data and surprise their customers with even better free stuff when a new competitor opens down the street or in the month of a favorite customer's birthday, or whatever.

3) Create an elite status. Airlines have it. Why not Starbucks?

First off, don't make me wait in a long line first thing in the morning or during the afternoon rush. If I spend a lot there, I want to be able to use a special, shorter line. If other customers are jealous, that's tough; let them spend their way into the short line.

Also, how about reserving seats next to the electrical outlets for folks who spend the most money at the chain, rather than letting total randoms hog the powered tables for the price of a small drip coffee? And let's throw some free wireless in once in a while to boot.

Finally, the reason I don't camp out in Starbucks like so many other people do is because I have a bad back and don't like its chairs. Starbucks should have some Aeron chairs in each outpost and save them for its elite customers.

4) Throw a members-only party when new products come out. I have an unnatural (and unhealthy) fascination with new food products, so I always try to sample new items in fast-food chains and grocery stores alike. Why doesn't Starbucks invite me to a preview night every time a big, new product comes down the pike?

I never did get to taste those Starbucks breakfast sandwiches, for instance, and now the chain is banishing them thanks to their offending odor.

What do you want Starbucks to do to reward you for your patronage? Please comment below.

-- Ron Lieber