Starbucks Mobile Order and Pay lets UK customers order coffee on their phones

Starbucks introduced mobile pre-pay for customers in the US in September

Starbucks customers in the UK can order coffee on their phone

Starbucks has extended its Mobile Order and Pay service for coffee to customers in the UK.

Starbucks introduced mobile pre-pay for customers in the US in September.

But now customers in the UK can order and pay for their coffee on their mobile before they get to a store, to eliminating the need to queue. Starbucks estimates that the new service could save UK customers 15 minutes per coffee.

Mobile pre-pay came in on October 1 in the UK to coincide with International Coffee Day. From now on, Starbucks customers can use the Starbucks app to pre-order coffee and turn up in store only when Starbucks says the drink is ready, skipping queues.

Smartphone orders are added to the barista’s queue like any other in-store order.

The company is using the app as a way to drive consumer engagement as it seeks to expand the number of coffee-drinkers signed up to the app.

The service is only available to UK customers with iOS devices – meaning Android customers will still have to order their coffee the old fashioned way in-store.