Starbucks previously announced its plans to offer a delivery service this spring, and now, the coffee company is making good on its promise.
In partnership with the delivery startup Postmates, Starbucks launched its pilot delivery program in its hometown of Seattle on Wednesday.
Customers in select Seattle areas who place food and beverage orders using the Starbucks app can now select the delivery option instead of having to pick up their items in-store. After selecting delivery, the app then asks for the user's address. A Postmates employee will then pick up the order from the closest Starbucks location to the user and deliver it to their doorstep. Those who are worried about their coffee getting cold can track their beverages in real-time on the app.
The delivery service is an expansion of Starbucks' Mobile Order & Pay feature that is now available in over 7,400 stores. While the Starbucks app is available for both iOS and Android, only iOS users will be able to use the delivery feature in Seattle.
While the delivery service is surely a convenience for many coffee addicts, it comes at a price. Customers will be charged a $5.99 delivery fee, plus a tip. The coffee company says that deliveries will arrive within 60 minutes, although most orders will arrive in less than 30 minutes.
Starbucks' delivery service is now available in the Downtown, South Lake Union, Capital Hill, Madison Park and SoDo neighborhoods in Seattle.
Customers who live outside these neighborhoods can still get their cup of Joe delivered using the Postdates app, for a delivery fee starting at $5 depending on the distance, as well as a nine percent service fee. Those who opt to go this route will not add to their Starbucks loyalty rewards program.
The news comes after Starbucks announced the launch of its Green Apron Delivery service to the Empire State Building in October. The delivery service, which is designed for those in urban environments, costs customers a $2 service fee to have their beverages delivered right to their office.
Source: Starbucks
