Ever get tired of digging through purses, trying to find the gift card given last month for being on time to work; only to find that it’s empty? Well, Apple and Starbucks have been working together to make coffee shopping easier. No card, no cash, just your phone is needed for quick delicious coffee.

Apple has worked with Starbucks to create a simple app that allows you to upload your Starbucks Card to your iPhone, iPad, or any other Apple product and pay with a simple swipe of your phone. The process is fast and simple. Download the app (which you can get via the Apple App Store), punch in your card number, apply your credit card (for reloading purposes), buy from any participating Starbucks stores (which includes any Starbucks in Target or Safeway), and enjoy the delicious hot beverage.

Paying from a phone sounds a little intimidating, but in reality, it’s a lot safer than carrying around a big bag or wallet with extra cash and cards. Everything is stored in your phone and convenient with most people having their phone with them at all times, and the only way to purchase anything is through a security lock that includes a personal pin that only you know. Participating Starbucks (which you can find through the store locator section of the app), will have special 2-D terminals that register your phone when employees scan the barcode of your card.

Included with the Starbucks app, the consumer has the ability to reload the card, track any and all Starbucks Stars earned, send your friends neat little eGifts, and many more features. The app has a nice little link to Facebook and Twitter so friends and family can see what favorite coffees are being consumed at Starbucks. If you find a perfect drink mix that just rocks the day away, share it on Facebook. The perfect hint in a quick present for distant relatives.

The Starbucks app also has a section dedicated to nutrition. You can scroll through to see the fat and calorie intake, and what bean is used. Health conscious, diabetic, and dieting coffee drinkers will benefit greatly from the new app, with no hard research required to find the ingredients included in each drink.

Having an application on the iPhone is a benefit for office workers, who send one person out for a coffee run, and the orders can be pre-selected beforehand so mishaps won’t happen. Send the coworker the drink of choice and a picture will pop up on their phone, giving them complete information: price, size, add-ins, and the whole nine yards. They can then pull it up on their phone, add it to the order, and all is said and done.

Instead of having overstuffed wallets and purses with cards of unknown balances, just keep your iPhone by your side. Time, effort, and some sanity will be saved when shopping for coffee and coffee type delicacies when you switch to using your iPhone and the new apps.

Guest post info

The post is contributed by Davis Miller. Davis has extensive experience in writing tech and health articles. Visit his site for kofiemachine kiezen and Koffie op het werk.