This article originally appeared on our sister website, That's Shanghai.
By Bridget O'Donnell
Lazy coffee lovers, rejoice! You can now get Starbucks delivered to your home or office directly from their mobile app.
The new delivery feature was added to the latest version of their app, which was released earlier today. The app is available in both English and Chinese.
However, there are a few caveats. First, to enjoy the delivery service from the app, you have to join the Starbucks Rewards program, and you can only create an account by purchasing a Starbucks Card. You can purchase digital cards on the app with Alipay, WeChat or Unionpay.
Second, delivery is limited to select locations in Shanghai and Beijing while the feature is in beta testing. But Starbucks assures more locations and up to 30 cities will be included in the delivery area soon. As of writing time, very few Starbucks branches in Shanghai and Beijing are offering delivery through the app, and delivery distances are quite short.
Screengrabs via iTunes
Starbucks partnered with Alipay earlier this year to begin offering delivery through Eleme, in an apparent response to homegrown competitor Luckin Coffee's burgeoning waimai business. Unlike the Starbucks app, however, orders made through Eleme (or its mini-app on Alipay) aren't connected to your Starbucks rewards account.
As for pricing, there's a standard RMB9 delivery fee when you order through the Starbucks app. Beverages and food items cost the same as they do in the store, and there's no minimum order. Orders should arrive within 30 minutes.
To download the Starbucks app on iOS or Android, click here.
[Top image via Baidu News]
This article was originally published by our sister magazine That's Shanghai. For more articles like this, visit the That's Shanghai website, or follow the That's Shanghai WeChat account (ID: Thats_Shanghai).
