According to news from 9to5Mac, paying with your Starbucks card was previously supported but was possible with the built-in mobile Wallet app; reloading required using the iPhone app.
Apple first added the ability to use Apple Pay in apps with last year’s watchOS 3 software update, but few apps have utilized the feature so far. Starbucks has decided to give it a shot, and has also updated its iPhone app to work with iOS 11.
Most Starbucks locations will let you pay directly with Apple Pay from the Apple Watch, but using a debit or credit card – instead of a pre-loaded Starbucks card – doesn’t earn Starbucks rewards or points.
And, of course, there is the bonus feature of conveniently and securely loading funds without having to save a debit or credit card to the Starbucks app.
Earlier this year, the company added an update to its iPhone app that included the new add-on feature of the “Starbucks Gifts” iMessage app, which allows users to send virtual gift cards through Apple’s iMessage service and pay for them via Apple Pay.
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All of these new features are part of Starbucks’ digital strategy, including efforts to push forward mobile uses of its application via mobile-only ordering and gift cards. Additional new features have included enhanced push notifications, restructured mobile ordering and new filtering options for its store locator.
