Starbucks Rolls Out App-Enabled Scheduled Ordering Feature – CoffeeTalk

Starbucks customers can now utilize a new scheduled ordering feature that launched on Monday, enabling customers to order their drinks via the app up to an hour in advance. Initially announced in late 2025, this enhancement aims to allow for better planning during busy days, accommodating schedules around meetings and classes while still offering the option for immediate orders.

To access this feature, customers simply select their drink in the app and choose a “Pickup Time” during the order review process. They can opt for five-minute pickup windows available up to an hour ahead of time. The system integrates Starbucks’ Smart Queue algorithm, which manages and balances orders across in-store, drive-thru, and mobile app channels, ensuring efficiency during busy periods. Baristas will begin preparing scheduled orders just in time for customers to arrive within their selected slots.

Scheduled ordering is accessible at Starbucks locations across North America where Mobile Order & Pay is active, including airport cafés, though availability may differ by location. According to Paul Riedel, Starbucks’ senior vice president of digital and loyalty, this change emphasizes the importance of timing alongside convenience, particularly for the increasing number of customers using the app to navigate their schedules.

During the testing phase at select stores, the feature demonstrated significant popularity, especially at high-traffic areas and university coffeehouses, appealing to customers with tight timelines. The findings showed that while newer customers were inclined to try it, regular patrons utilized scheduled ordering more frequently, indicating a positive response to the innovation aimed at simplifying the Starbucks experience.

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