Starbucks Delivery to Start in Seattle, New York City

Starbucks announced it will test a delivery service in Seattle and NYC. Some users will be able to order from mobile apps like this one. Photo: AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks says it will start delivering to customers in select parts of Seattle and New York City later this year.

The details will be discussed at the coffee chain’s annual meeting Wednesday.

In Seattle, it said it will team up with a company called Postmates to deliver to homes and offices within specific areas. In New York City, delivery will be from existing or newly setup Starbucks shops in certain buildings, starting with the Empire State Building.

Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman said there will be no minimum purchase required, but that deliveries will require “a small flat fee.” He declined to say what the exact fee will be. Delivery workers will accept tips, too.

Brotman said the average time for deliveries will be 30 minutes, starting from when the order is placed.

For New York City, people will be able use a website to place orders. In Seattle, people would place orders via the company’s mobile app. The hours of operation for delivery are still being determined.

In the meantime, Starbucks Corp. also says it’s on track for a national rollout of mobile order-and-pay, which lets customers place orders through its apps ahead of time so that drinks and food are ready when they arrive at the store. The program was launched in Portland, Oregon, late last year. Starbucks Chief Financial Officer Scott Maw says the company expects to see a lift in sales as a result of mobile order-and-pay by late this year.

Mobile order-and-pay will launch in Canada this year as well, and be tested in the United Kingdom, according to the company.

How It Will Work

—There will be no minimum purchase required.

—There will be a small flat fee for delivery, but the exact amount hasn’t been determined.

—Delivery workers will accept tips.

—The average delivery time will be about 30 minutes starting with the placement of the order.

—Delivery hours are still to be determined.

—In New York City, the service will be available in office buildings, including the Empire State Building. People will be able to place their orders on websites from existing or newly built shops, the latter of which may have trimmed down menus. Starbucks workers will make the deliveries.

—In Seattle, the service will be available in specific areas, including homes and offices. Starbucks will partner with a company called Postmate to make the deliveries.