Hate long lines at Starbucks? Starting next week you can order, pay ahead of time

SEATTLE -- Starbucks is about to allow customers across the Pacific Northwest to pre-order and prepay for their daily caffeine hit.

The service, aimed at attracting customers who are put off by the lines during the morning rush, debuted late last year in the Portland market.

Now, Starbucks is expanding Mobile Order & Pay to 650 locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska starting March 17th.

The Seattle-based company plans to launch the feature nationally later this year.

Starbucks already has a smartphone app which allows customers to make mobile payments, including tipping their baristas. Starbucks previously said it will also enhance its loyalty program and rewards for customers using the app.

There is growing demand for online payment options by consumers. Mobile payments were expected to reach $3.5 billion in 2014, according to research firm eMarketer, and is forecast to soar to $118 billion annually within four years.

For more information on how Mobile Order & Pay works, click here.

CNN contributed to this report