Starbucks opens 24-7 drive-thru store in Milton Keynes

The launch is part of a wider scheme to open drive-thrus across the country

Customers can get their caffeine fix on the move (AFP/Getty)

Residents of Milton Keynes will be able to get their coffee fix on the go after the town welcomed a new drive-thru Starbucks.

The store, at The Place Retail Park, opened for business on Friday and will be serving up beverages 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Customers place their order via a microphone and then drive forward to a manned hatch where they can collect their drink from a Starbucks employee.

MK Dons players Jordan Spence and Dele Alli, as well as manager Karl Robinson and goalkeeping coach Paul Heald, donned green aprons and got behind the counter for the launch.

“We know that customers want to visit us in new places and spaces and drive-thru stores are proving very popular,” communications director for Starbucks, Simon Redfern, told the Milton Keynes Citizen.

“This new store is not only bringing fantastic coffee, but also great job opportunities to the area.”

The drive-thru has created 25 jobs, including five apprentice roles.

In 2011, Starbucks announced that it planned to open 200 drive-thru stores across Britain over a five-year period.

They are already big business in the United States, contributing to nearly 45 per cent of the company’s profit, according to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

Many of the UK stores will be located at petrol stations, following a deal with Euro Garages.

The nation-wide roll-out is set to create a total of 5,000 jobs.