Starbucks wants to make the holiday season slightly more bearable.
Amid the frenzy around their Bearista cup—which saw fans clamoring to get the sold-out glass—the coffee chain is offering a new collab customers can get excited about.
Starbucks is partnering with fashion line Roller Rabbit to bring their vibrant, patterned looks to the coffee cup world, according to People. The cups are set to be released on Dec. 2, with more details to be shared closer to the launch date.
It’s a bit of good news for most Starbucks fans, who were left empty handed after the Bearista holidays cups—which came with a green-and-white reusable straw to match the bear's Starbucks-green beanie—sold out in record time, and even prompted the Seattle-based chain to issue an apology.
“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations," Starbucks told People in a Nov. 6 statement. "Despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast."
They added, "We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused.”
Starbucks didn’t share how many cups they had originally produced, but promised they would have “more exciting merchandise coming this holiday season.”
And in terms of new merch, in addition to their partnership with Roller Rabbit, the chain also released a red gingerbread cookie tumbler, one with a puppy wearing a festive scarf, a travel mug covered in various gingerbread men and even an elegant golden poinsettia mug.
Plus, all the new merch is just one part of the Starbucks holiday season rollout, which also includes a slew of returning holiday-favorite drinks like the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte and Iced Sugar Cookie Latte.
Those with a sweet tooth can also indulge in some treats like the new Cinnamon Pull-Apart break—which is set to be available year-round—the Snowman Cookie and a new Polar Bear Cake Pop.
And as always, all of the festive drinks and treats will be served in this year’s newest celebratory mugs.
For a deep dive into what this year’s look like—and to see Starbucks holiday cups from years past—keep reading.
2025
The four Starbucks cups for 2025 feature plaid and bow patterns in red and green (of course), but the real talk of the town was the special bearista cup that sold out lightning fast.
“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations," Starbucks told People in a November statement. "Despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast."
The company added, "We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused.”
2024
Starbucks embraced groovy, retro-inspired designs with mint green and pink for the holiday season.
"Graphic elements include charms that look like old-fashioned holiday ornaments or peppermints, which appear on cups and merchandise," the brand said in a statement. "A wavy motif inspired by the Starbucks siren is employed as a scalloped edge treatment on the sleeve of the hot cup, along with little badges on the back of the cups for baristas to write a message."
2023
It's time to deck the halls with four new hot cups with a dash of pink: Ribbon Spool, Bauble Wrap, Peppermint Swirl and Party Plaid (from top left clockwise).
"When we were looking at trends when designing this year’s holiday, we kept seeing bright, bold, uplifting colors,” said Kristy Cameron, creative director at Starbucks. “We found that magenta alongside the holiday reds and greens lifts the traditional holiday colors and makes the red look even brighter.”
2022
Last year, coffee lovers received four festive options to house their Starbucks holiday beverage of choice: Gift-Wrapped Magic, Frosted Sparkle, Ornament Wonder and Cozy Evergreen.
"We have always talked about the cups as little gifts," Starbucks' creative director Gary Jacobson said in a statement. "And we hope they feel like a festive present to our customers and store partners."
To spark that holiday joy, the designers used signature motifs, including sparkles, ornaments and snowflakes, and pops of color—think mint green and a Santa-approved red—to create a warm and cozy accessory caffeine fans can find comfort in all season long.
2021
Not only were these cups crafted in classic shades of red, green and white with hints of frosty lilac, but they featured arguably Starbucks' most sentimental move as each one contained little gift tags to create room for a cheerful message.
"This holiday, we wanted it to feel magical, we wanted it to be warm, and we wanted it to be inclusive," Starbucks associate creative director Suzie Reecer shared. "Our goal was to really bring joy to every customer and every partner."
2020
Ribbon, Dot, Sparkle and Brand Wrap were the four main designs for the brand's 2020 theme—"Carry the Merry," which was written on two of the samplings.
"Our thought behind the cups this year was about people carrying them out in the world as messengers of joy," Jeff Wilkson, creative director for Starbucks, said in a press release at the time, adding that he wanted customers' orders to be a "brief moment that they can look forward to."
2019
More was definitely more in '19, with the four cups featuring polka dots, merry dance, merry stripes and candy cane stripes. In a statement, the company explained the trendy design and bright colors were meant to "evoke mini moments of joy for our customers and partners—it's fun, festive and uniquely Starbucks."
2018
Sbux debuted four designs for their seasonal cups, generating mostly positive feedback, with the offerings paying homage to previous design elements but with a twist, using vintage colors and patterns. This was also the first year the company introduced the reusable holiday cup, with customers getting 50 cents off their grande holiday drink if they brought it back through the holiday season.
2017
It was all about customer customization, with Starbucks announcing that year's holiday cup was "intentionally designed to encourage our customers to add their own color and illustrations. We love the idea of everyone making this year's cup their own."
2016
Forget the 12 days of Christmas, it was the 13 cups of Starbucks' holiday season this year, with the designs created by customers. Contestants from six countries decked their cups with holiday lights, snowflakes, trees and more.
2016's Unity Cup
OK, so this technically wasn't a holiday cup BUT it caused a bit of a stir online when, following 2015's cup-related controversy (more to come on that!), Starbucks first unveiled this GREEN mosaic design, featuring over 100 figures intertwined, including a barista, coffee farmer and friends, to name a few.
But Starbucks announced it was a limited edition Unity Cup, with CEO Howard Schultz explaining, "The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers. During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other."
Sbux soon released the actual holiday cup for the season, which—phew!—was red. And all was calm caffeinated, all was bright.
2015
Oh, the controversial red cup. After the minimalist design was unveiled (Well, as minimalist as a bright red ombre paper cup can be), social media went wild, accusing the retailer of stripping all signs of Christmas from the annual offering. #MerryChristamasStarbucks" trended on Facebook after an Arizona pastor posted a video rant about the lack of Christmas on his cup that was viewed over 11 million times.
"In response to the video, our core values as a company is to create a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity," Starbucks said in a statement at the time. "Each year during the holidays we aim to bring our customers an experience that inspires the spirit of the season and we will continue to embrace and welcome customers from all backgrounds and religions in our stores around the world."
2014
Simple and classic, this red cup featured brush-stroke trees and snowflakes.
2013
These red cups were all about the hardware, a.k.a. ornaments.
2012
We always feel like somebody's watching us...and it's because there is a giant snowman winking at us as we down a Trenta Gingerbread Latte. Pretty sure that's how the song goes!
2011
Each cup featured warm and fuzzy sentiments as well as carolers, animals and showmen. (Also, this was the year the Skinny Peppermint Mocha, may it now rest in peace, was introduced.)
2010
Because everyone loves carolers (as long as they are not actually singing awkwardly in front of you on your porch), the new decade's fist designs kicked off with people singing and their lyrics.
2009
This red cup highlighted classic holiday buzz-words like "hope" and "wish" and other ooey-gooey words that are likely stenciled all over your mom's Christmas tchotchkes.
2008
We love the subtle illustration making the Starbucks logo an ornament. Chic.
2007
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh, through the traffic we go to get our hands on our eggnog latte! "Pass the cheer," was the theme of 2007's red cup season, with the coffee sleeves featuring that slogan with a cheery blue and snow flake-filled backdrop.
2006
Business on top, party on the bottom, with the bottom of the 2006 red cup featuring holiday shoppers and ice skaters for a festive trim.
2005
"It only happens once a year." And to think people looked forward to the roll-out of these disposal coffee chalices this much pre-social media and the dawn of the red cup selfie.