Starbucks’ app is down as the chain launches its holiday menu

On By Littum

  • Starbucks’ mobile app appeared to be down during morning coffee on Thursday.
  • Some users got a message saying “mobile ordering is currently unavailable.”
  • The app has been a source of growth, but has led to operational challenges for the chain’s employees.

Some Starbucks customers were unable to place orders through their mobile app Thursday, the first day of the coffee chain’s holiday menu.

Dozens of Starbucks app users posted on social media early Thursday saying they were unable to order drinks or purchase items, such as the company’s reusable cups, through the app. Instead, users got a message asking them to place their order at a Starbucks store.


A message in the Starbucks app indicates that mobile ordering is not available.

The message some Starbucks app users saw Thursday.

Alex Bitter/BI



Downdetector, a site that tracks website crashes, showed a spike in user reports of issues with the Starbucks app around 8 a.m. ET – a busy period at many Starbucks cafes, when customers stop by for their morning cup of coffee. Business Insider staff in Washington, DC and New York City were unable to use the app.

The exact extent of the outage was not clear. Starbucks declined to comment on the outage to Business Insider, though they did respond to customers on Xand says the company is “currently experiencing a temporary disruption to the ordering and payment functionality of our app. We continue to welcome and serve customers in our drive-thrus and stores.”

Thursday is the first day Starbucks’ holiday deals are on sale. They include a gingerbread-flavored chai as well as holiday-themed items such as tumblers and mugs.

Starbucks has increased orders through its app over the past several years, but some store employees have told BI that they have at times been overwhelmed by the number of mobile orders, especially when customers customize their drinks.

Brian Niccol, who became Starbucks CEO in September, said last month that he would put “guards” on mobile orders to simplify the process for baristas.

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