Hey Brooklyn! Get started with $20 off your first subscription of $40 or more.

Build the Starbucks App in React Native: An iOS Developer Guide

Build the Starbucks App in React Native: An iOS Developer Guide
TLDR

Ever want to build a Starbucks-like app to skip the line and get your daily caffeine fix at your local coffee shop? Of course you have.

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up a React Native dev environment, connect to the Square API, build an interface for selecting drinks and placing orders, integrate Apple Pay for seamless payments, and finally deploy your app to the App Store. By the end, you'll have your very own Starbucks-esque app sitting pretty on your iPhone. The days of waiting in long lines for overpriced lattes are over!

So pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee, open up Xcode, and let's get building. This is going to be fun.

Introduction to React Native

You may have already heard about React Native, Facebook's open-source JavaScript framework for building mobile apps. What you may not know is that it's a great choice for developing iOS apps.

React Native lets you write code once and deploy it to both iOS and Android devices. It's based on React, so you'll be familiar with the syntax, and it uses native components so your app will look and feel like a native app.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to get started with React Native and build a simple app.

Why use React Native to build your mobile app?

React Native lets you build cross-platform apps with ease. You write your code once and it runs on both iOS and Android devices. Plus, React Native makes it easy to iterate quickly. You can see your changes in real time, making it easy to test different options and find the best solution for your users.

Coffee Dose partnered with Per Diem to launch their coffee app. Download it here.
Building the core features of the Starbucks app

To build the core features of the Starbucks app, you’ll want to focus on:

Browsing the menu

Allow users to browse the full menu, with mouth-watering photos of each item. Group similar items together, like brewed coffees, espressos, teas, and snacks. Provide details on ingredients, sizes, and prices. Let customers view nutrition info and customize orders to their liking. The menu is the gateway to the app, so make it visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Placing an order

Once a customer selects an item, prompt them to choose a size and any add-ons before adding it to the cart. The cart should clearly show all items ordered, quantities, and a total cost. Give the option to save the order as a favorite for next time or pay now. Integrate a payment platform like Apple Pay or credit card processing to complete the transaction quickly.

Tracking the order

After paying, show an order confirmation with an estimated pickup or delivery time. Allow users to see the progress of their order in real-time through push notifications or by opening the app. Send a notification when the order is ready to be picked up in-store or has been delivered. Providing order transparency and updates engages users and builds trust in your app.

Providing a seamless experience

A seamless user experience is essential for a Starbucks-like app. Reduce friction points by saving customer preferences, payment info, and order history to simplify reordering. Use location services to show the closest store, current wait times, and delivery areas. Implement a feedback system to identify and fix any issues. Keep the interface minimal, load times fast, and navigation intuitive. A seamless experience will turn casual customers into loyal regulars.

By focusing on these core features with an intuitive user experience, you'll be well on your way to building an iOS app like Starbucks that keeps customers engaged and coming back.

Using the Square API to power payments

To build an ordering app with Starbucks-like functionality using React Native and iOS, your best bet is to integrate with Square's API. Square provides software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) so developers can construct custom apps and integrations for payments, customers, business, and staff solutions. The Square In-App Payments SDK can be incorporated into a mobile app to generate a payment token from the buyer's credit card details. Developers can customize the user interface (UI) of the payment form in their app, changing colors and fonts to match their app's design.

To get started, sign up for a Square developer account and register your iOS app.

Integrating Apple Pay and DoorDash Drive

By integrating both Apple Pay and DoorDash Drive, you'll be able to offer your customers a fast and convenient mobile ordering experience that meets their payment and delivery preferences. With these integrations, your Starbucks clone app will provide an experience on par with the leading mobile food and beverage apps.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay allows users to pay securely and privately with their Apple devices. To accept Apple Pay payments in your app, you'll need to:

  1. Register as an Apple Developer. This will give you access to Apple Pay APIs and a Merchant ID.
  2. Enable Apple Pay on your Square account. Log in to your Square Dashboard, go to Settings > Apple Pay, and click 'Enable Apple Pay'. This connects your Square and Apple accounts.
  3. Call the ApplePaySession API in your React Native app. This will activate the Apple Pay payment sheet so users can select a payment method. You'll pass in your Merchant ID, supported networks like Visa and Mastercard, and the total payment amount.
  4. When a user authorizes payment, send the payment nonce to Square. Square will then process the payment through the user's selected network.
  5. Handle webhooks from Square to get updates on the payment status. Your app will get notified when the payment succeeds or fails. You can then fulfill the user's order or prompt them to try another method.

DoorDash

DoorDash Drive provides delivery fulfillment APIs for platforms and merchants. To offer delivery in your app through DoorDash Drive:

  1. Set up an account and sign an agreement with DoorDash Drive. This establishes your partnership and gives you API access.
  2. Call the DoorDash Drive API from your React Native app to schedule a delivery. You'll provide details like the delivery address, contents, and fees.
  3. Track the delivery status through webhooks from DoorDash Drive. Your app will get updates as the driver is assigned, en route, arriving, and completing the delivery.
  4. Handle any issues or changes needed through the Drive API and web dashboard. For example, you may need to cancel a delivery or provide the driver with additional instructions.

By integrating Apple Pay, DoorDash Drive, the Square API, and good design your app can provide a seamless payment and delivery experience for your users.

Submitting your app to the App Store

Once your React Native iOS app is built and tested, it’s time to submit it to the Apple App Store for review and release. This process involves a few steps to configure your project and account.

Archive your project

From the menu in Xcode, select Product > Archive. This will build your app for release and package it for upload to App Store Connect.

Add app release certificates

In Xcode, go to Preferences > Accounts and add an App Store Connect certificate for distributing apps. This links your Xcode project to your Apple Developer account so you can deploy apps.

Create an App ID

In your Apple Developer account, generate an App Id for your app. This identifies your app for services like Apple Pay, Game Center, and Push Notifications. Select "App IDs" and click "Register New App Id". Choose "App" for the type and enter a description and bundle ID in reverse DNS format.

Upload your build

Sign in to App Store Connect and select your app. Under the Activity tab, click the "+" to add a new build. Select the .xcarchive file from the Archive step and the App Id you created. Review and submit your build.

Submit for review

Once the build is processed, return to the App Store Connect Activity tab and click "Submit for Review". Your app will go through Apple's review process to ensure it meets their guidelines before being released on the App Store. This typically takes around 1-2 days.

Release your app!

If approved, your app will appear on the App Store and be available for download! You can now release updates by repeating the build, upload and submit for review steps. Congrats on publishing your first iOS app using React Native! Let users know it’s available for download.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, a complete guide to building your very own Starbucks app clone using React Native. Now you can put those iOS development skills to use and build an app for both iOS and Android. React Native really does make cross-platform development a breeze. The end result is a slick mobile app your customers will love. What are you waiting for? Fire up Xcode, brew a fresh pot of coffee, and start building your app today. In no time you'll have a finished product in the App Store and Google Play, and you'll be well on your way to becoming the next big name in mobile development. The possibilities are as endless as the line at Starbucks. Happy coding!

TLDR

Ever want to build a Starbucks-like app to skip the line and get your daily caffeine fix at your local coffee shop? Of course you have.

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up a React Native dev environment, connect to the Square API, build an interface for selecting drinks and placing orders, integrate Apple Pay for seamless payments, and finally deploy your app to the App Store. By the end, you'll have your very own Starbucks-esque app sitting pretty on your iPhone. The days of waiting in long lines for overpriced lattes are over!

So pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee, open up Xcode, and let's get building. This is going to be fun.

Introduction to React Native

You may have already heard about React Native, Facebook's open-source JavaScript framework for building mobile apps. What you may not know is that it's a great choice for developing iOS apps.

React Native lets you write code once and deploy it to both iOS and Android devices. It's based on React, so you'll be familiar with the syntax, and it uses native components so your app will look and feel like a native app.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to get started with React Native and build a simple app.

Why use React Native to build your mobile app?

React Native lets you build cross-platform apps with ease. You write your code once and it runs on both iOS and Android devices. Plus, React Native makes it easy to iterate quickly. You can see your changes in real time, making it easy to test different options and find the best solution for your users.

Coffee Dose partnered with Per Diem to launch their coffee app. Download it here.
Building the core features of the Starbucks app

To build the core features of the Starbucks app, you’ll want to focus on:

Browsing the menu

Allow users to browse the full menu, with mouth-watering photos of each item. Group similar items together, like brewed coffees, espressos, teas, and snacks. Provide details on ingredients, sizes, and prices. Let customers view nutrition info and customize orders to their liking. The menu is the gateway to the app, so make it visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Placing an order

Once a customer selects an item, prompt them to choose a size and any add-ons before adding it to the cart. The cart should clearly show all items ordered, quantities, and a total cost. Give the option to save the order as a favorite for next time or pay now. Integrate a payment platform like Apple Pay or credit card processing to complete the transaction quickly.

Tracking the order

After paying, show an order confirmation with an estimated pickup or delivery time. Allow users to see the progress of their order in real-time through push notifications or by opening the app. Send a notification when the order is ready to be picked up in-store or has been delivered. Providing order transparency and updates engages users and builds trust in your app.

Providing a seamless experience

A seamless user experience is essential for a Starbucks-like app. Reduce friction points by saving customer preferences, payment info, and order history to simplify reordering. Use location services to show the closest store, current wait times, and delivery areas. Implement a feedback system to identify and fix any issues. Keep the interface minimal, load times fast, and navigation intuitive. A seamless experience will turn casual customers into loyal regulars.

By focusing on these core features with an intuitive user experience, you'll be well on your way to building an iOS app like Starbucks that keeps customers engaged and coming back.

Using the Square API to power payments

To build an ordering app with Starbucks-like functionality using React Native and iOS, your best bet is to integrate with Square's API. Square provides software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) so developers can construct custom apps and integrations for payments, customers, business, and staff solutions. The Square In-App Payments SDK can be incorporated into a mobile app to generate a payment token from the buyer's credit card details. Developers can customize the user interface (UI) of the payment form in their app, changing colors and fonts to match their app's design.

To get started, sign up for a Square developer account and register your iOS app.

Integrating Apple Pay and DoorDash Drive

By integrating both Apple Pay and DoorDash Drive, you'll be able to offer your customers a fast and convenient mobile ordering experience that meets their payment and delivery preferences. With these integrations, your Starbucks clone app will provide an experience on par with the leading mobile food and beverage apps.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay allows users to pay securely and privately with their Apple devices. To accept Apple Pay payments in your app, you'll need to:

  1. Register as an Apple Developer. This will give you access to Apple Pay APIs and a Merchant ID.
  2. Enable Apple Pay on your Square account. Log in to your Square Dashboard, go to Settings > Apple Pay, and click 'Enable Apple Pay'. This connects your Square and Apple accounts.
  3. Call the ApplePaySession API in your React Native app. This will activate the Apple Pay payment sheet so users can select a payment method. You'll pass in your Merchant ID, supported networks like Visa and Mastercard, and the total payment amount.
  4. When a user authorizes payment, send the payment nonce to Square. Square will then process the payment through the user's selected network.
  5. Handle webhooks from Square to get updates on the payment status. Your app will get notified when the payment succeeds or fails. You can then fulfill the user's order or prompt them to try another method.

DoorDash

DoorDash Drive provides delivery fulfillment APIs for platforms and merchants. To offer delivery in your app through DoorDash Drive:

  1. Set up an account and sign an agreement with DoorDash Drive. This establishes your partnership and gives you API access.
  2. Call the DoorDash Drive API from your React Native app to schedule a delivery. You'll provide details like the delivery address, contents, and fees.
  3. Track the delivery status through webhooks from DoorDash Drive. Your app will get updates as the driver is assigned, en route, arriving, and completing the delivery.
  4. Handle any issues or changes needed through the Drive API and web dashboard. For example, you may need to cancel a delivery or provide the driver with additional instructions.

By integrating Apple Pay, DoorDash Drive, the Square API, and good design your app can provide a seamless payment and delivery experience for your users.

Submitting your app to the App Store

Once your React Native iOS app is built and tested, it’s time to submit it to the Apple App Store for review and release. This process involves a few steps to configure your project and account.

Archive your project

From the menu in Xcode, select Product > Archive. This will build your app for release and package it for upload to App Store Connect.

Add app release certificates

In Xcode, go to Preferences > Accounts and add an App Store Connect certificate for distributing apps. This links your Xcode project to your Apple Developer account so you can deploy apps.

Create an App ID

In your Apple Developer account, generate an App Id for your app. This identifies your app for services like Apple Pay, Game Center, and Push Notifications. Select "App IDs" and click "Register New App Id". Choose "App" for the type and enter a description and bundle ID in reverse DNS format.

Upload your build

Sign in to App Store Connect and select your app. Under the Activity tab, click the "+" to add a new build. Select the .xcarchive file from the Archive step and the App Id you created. Review and submit your build.

Submit for review

Once the build is processed, return to the App Store Connect Activity tab and click "Submit for Review". Your app will go through Apple's review process to ensure it meets their guidelines before being released on the App Store. This typically takes around 1-2 days.

Release your app!

If approved, your app will appear on the App Store and be available for download! You can now release updates by repeating the build, upload and submit for review steps. Congrats on publishing your first iOS app using React Native! Let users know it’s available for download.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, a complete guide to building your very own Starbucks app clone using React Native. Now you can put those iOS development skills to use and build an app for both iOS and Android. React Native really does make cross-platform development a breeze. The end result is a slick mobile app your customers will love. What are you waiting for? Fire up Xcode, brew a fresh pot of coffee, and start building your app today. In no time you'll have a finished product in the App Store and Google Play, and you'll be well on your way to becoming the next big name in mobile development. The possibilities are as endless as the line at Starbucks. Happy coding!

Doron Segal
Doron Segal

Hey I'm Doron, the co-founder & CTO of Per Diem — a mobile app platform for restaurants. I'm also a dad and a husband. I love to travel and meet new people.I love creating things, and see people using the stuff I built.Prior to Per Diem I worked at Saildrone, OpenTable, Apple, Beats Music, Siemens.

Tomer Molovinsky
Tomer Molovinsky

A second time founder with a passion for building products at the intersection of hospitality and technology. I've had the pleasure of launching reservation systems, mobile payment solutions, and loyalty programs at OpenTable and Resy, and witnessed how operators were losing a direct connection with their customers online. We built Per Diem to strengthen the relationships that businesses have with those customers, and to ensure that local businesses can thrive in today's economy.

Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez

Ashley is a freelance writer and podcast producer based in Madison, Wisconsin. She hosts a podcast called Boss Barista and writes an accompanying newsletter with full transcripts of each episode and articles about coffee and restaurant work. You can check out her work here (ashleyrodriguez.work/).

Explore featured restaurants and cafes

How Fly Boy Blue’s Mobile App Strategy Sets a New Standard for Perth Coffee Shops
How Fly Boy Blue’s Mobile App Strategy Sets a New Standard for Perth Coffee Shops
Read Case study
What Creative Strategies Keep Crave Cookies' Sales Growing Week After Week?
What Creative Strategies Keep Crave Cookies' Sales Growing Week After Week?
Read Case study
Great UX & Unlimited Coffee: Why Fresh Baguette Chose Per Diem Over Craver
Great UX & Unlimited Coffee: Why Fresh Baguette Chose Per Diem Over Craver
Read Case study
How Palace Coffee Co. Achieved a 25% Sales Increase By Switching to Per Diem
How Palace Coffee Co. Achieved a 25% Sales Increase By Switching to Per Diem
Read Case study
What Sets The Bagelers Coffeehouse Apart from Others in Chicago
What Sets The Bagelers Coffeehouse Apart from Others in Chicago
Read Case study
How Dough & Co. Saves Big by Switching to Per Diem for Pizza Deliveries
How Dough & Co. Saves Big by Switching to Per Diem for Pizza Deliveries
Read Case study
How is Primal Bowls Leveraging the Mobile App to Fuel Expansion?
How is Primal Bowls Leveraging the Mobile App to Fuel Expansion?
Read Case study
Why Teaven’s Mobile Ordering Success Is a Model for Other French Tea Brands?
Why Teaven’s Mobile Ordering Success Is a Model for Other French Tea Brands?
Read Case study
How Mid Atlantic Seafood Leverages Per Diem’s App for Higher Delivery Sales
How Mid Atlantic Seafood Leverages Per Diem’s App for Higher Delivery Sales
Read Case study
How Crave Cookies Shifted to Per Diem to Challenge Crumbl
How Crave Cookies Shifted to Per Diem to Challenge Crumbl
Read Case study
Coffee Dose Cafe's Winning Website Strategies for App Promotion
Coffee Dose Cafe's Winning Website Strategies for App Promotion
Read Case study
How Bakeries Like Chip City Use Referral Programs to Increase Customer Counts
How Bakeries Like Chip City Use Referral Programs to Increase Customer Counts
Read Case study
Skip the Line: How Groovy Goose Coffee Streamlined Orders With a Mobile App
Skip the Line: How Groovy Goose Coffee Streamlined Orders With a Mobile App
Read Case study
How Boba Bliss Drove Sales Through Mobile App Coupons
How Boba Bliss Drove Sales Through Mobile App Coupons
Read Case study
What Makes Iron Paffles & Coffee Stand Out in Charlottesville
What Makes Iron Paffles & Coffee Stand Out in Charlottesville
Read Case study
How Kona Coffee Roasters Transformed NYC’s Commuter Coffee Culture with Per Diem
How Kona Coffee Roasters Transformed NYC’s Commuter Coffee Culture with Per Diem
Read Case study
How Kimchi Box Became Michigan's Favorite Restaurant With Mobile Ordering
How Kimchi Box Became Michigan's Favorite Restaurant With Mobile Ordering
Read Case study
How Arkansas' the Busy Bean Tops Charts on Google Play With a Custom Mobile App
How Arkansas' the Busy Bean Tops Charts on Google Play With a Custom Mobile App
Read Case study
How Crema Coffee & Soda is Satisfying Customers in Utah With a Soda Pop App
How Crema Coffee & Soda is Satisfying Customers in Utah With a Soda Pop App
Read Case study
How Lucky Coffee Boosts Mobile App Adoption Through Email Campaigns
How Lucky Coffee Boosts Mobile App Adoption Through Email Campaigns
Read Case study
How Per Diem Helps Oaks Coffee House Give Back to The Chattanooga Community
How Per Diem Helps Oaks Coffee House Give Back to The Chattanooga Community
Read Case study
Run Your Cafe Like a Bank: How Ethereal Cafe Created a Starbucks-Style Mobile App
Run Your Cafe Like a Bank: How Ethereal Cafe Created a Starbucks-Style Mobile App
Read Case study
From One-Timers To Regulars: How Empire Tea and Coffee Transformed Customer Loyalty with Per Diem
From One-Timers To Regulars: How Empire Tea and Coffee Transformed Customer Loyalty with Per Diem
Read Case study
How Cosmic Coffeehouse Teamed Up with Per Diem and Square for an Out-of-This-World Grand Opening
How Cosmic Coffeehouse Teamed Up with Per Diem and Square for an Out-of-This-World Grand Opening
Read Case study
How Kino's Coffee and Others Have Boosted Their Sales with Push Notifications
How Kino's Coffee and Others Have Boosted Their Sales with Push Notifications
Read Case study
Coupon Codes That Work: Chip City's Free Cookie Strategy for Customer Acquisition
Coupon Codes That Work: Chip City's Free Cookie Strategy for Customer Acquisition
Read Case study
From Local Comfort Food to High Tech: How Joanie’s Modernized Operations
From Local Comfort Food to High Tech: How Joanie’s Modernized Operations
Read Case study
Rebranding a Bubble Tea Brand: How Niko Niko Boba Expanded Beyond Chatime
Rebranding a Bubble Tea Brand: How Niko Niko Boba Expanded Beyond Chatime
Read Case study
How Plomo Quesadillas Won Over Gen-Z With Square Loyalty
How Plomo Quesadillas Won Over Gen-Z With Square Loyalty
Read Case study
The Perfect Blend: How Coffee Dose Boosted Brand Loyalty with Per Diem
The Perfect Blend: How Coffee Dose Boosted Brand Loyalty with Per Diem
Read Case study
Ambee Coffee's Rebrand and Per Diem: A Match Made for Expansion
Ambee Coffee's Rebrand and Per Diem: A Match Made for Expansion
Read Case study
Why Kino's Coffee Switched Mobile Apps: A Case Study in Improving the Customer Experience
Why Kino's Coffee Switched Mobile Apps: A Case Study in Improving the Customer Experience
Read Case study
How DoorDash Drive and Per Diem Fueled Masala Wok and Tikka Shack's Delivery Dreams
How DoorDash Drive and Per Diem Fueled Masala Wok and Tikka Shack's Delivery Dreams
Read Case study
Per Diem's Square Integration: How Island Flavor Streamlined Operations
Per Diem's Square Integration: How Island Flavor Streamlined Operations
Read Case study
Hidden Grounds Case Study: When Apps Meet Customer Loyalty, Magic Happens
Hidden Grounds Case Study: When Apps Meet Customer Loyalty, Magic Happens
Read Case study
Scan for a Free Cookie: How Chip City's QR Codes Drove App Adoption
Scan for a Free Cookie: How Chip City's QR Codes Drove App Adoption
Read Case study
Close Line
Try Per Diem
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest in local restaurant trends, industry insights, and Per Diem product updates.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Close Line

Unlock new insights and trends by
downloading Ultimate Guide for Launching a Mobile Ordering App.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Close Line