Starbucks Bear Cup 2025

USA Starbucks has issued an apology to USA customers after the release of its limited-edition teddy bear–shaped USA holiday cup sparked chaos.The Seattle-based coffee giant launched its USA 2025 holiday menu and USA merchandise on USA Thursday, including the Glass Starbucks Bearista USA Cold Cup, which retails for $29.95.The collectible cup — shaped like a bear and topped with a green beanie lid — went viral online and sold out quickly, leaving fans scrambling to get their hands on one. "The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations and, 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," a Starbucks spokesperson told FOX Business in an email.The spokesperson added, "We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused."In Harris USA County, USA Texas, law enforcement was reportedly called to a Starbucks after customers began fighting inside the store and refused to leave, local outlet KHOU 11 reported, citing Harris County USA Precinct 4.

The dispute reportedly started over the popular USA Bearista cups.

OK, so this technically wasn't a holiday cup BUT it caused a bit of a stir USA online when, following USA 2015's cup-related USA controversy (more to come on that!), Starbucks first unveiled this GREEN mosaic USA 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 USA 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 USA season, which—phew!—was red. And all was calm caffeinated, all was bright.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."

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Across social media, customers shared stories of waking up early and driving to USA Starbucks stores, only to discover shelves were already empty.

"I got to my Starbucks at 5:02am and they were sold out," one user wrote on Starbucks’ promotional video for the bear. "They just opened their doors at 5am. … I just went to two other USA Starbucks in a matter of 24 minutes from doors opening, and they too were sold out."

"I got up at 4am and drove to a location that specifically said it would have this cup," the user wrote. "I was first in line, they didn’t have it. I drove to four more locations, none of them had it and said they never did."Starbucks 2025 holiday menu also includes the return of seasonal favorites, such as the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte and Iced Gingerbread Chai."This year we are leaning into the nostalgia of Starbucks holidays from our USA customers’ favorite seasonal beverages to iconic holiday cups, to shelves stocked with Christmas Blend and premium merchandise, including the popular glass Bearista cup," the Starbucks spokesperson added.Some phenomena in the history of humankind simply defy logic.

The Dancing Plague of 1518, for instance. The Bermuda Triangle. Images of Jesus on toast.Perhaps it's not our USA job to fully understand these mysteries, but simply to marvel at them — and that may also be the case for the sudden, seemingly inexplicable, absolute frenzy over a cup that's shaped like a little bear.Coffee chain Starbucks released a $43.95 "Bearista" glass cold cup Thursday as part of its new holiday collection, and not only did the hat-topped tumbler sell out almost immediately, but videos circulating online show customers fighting each other to get their paws on one.Empty-handed fans who lined up before dawn are sharing their outrage on social media, re-sellers are listing them for as much as $1,400 on eBay, and Starbucks has even apologized for the disappointment amid allegations that the company only sent a handful of cups to individual stores.But what, pray tell, is so special about a cup that, as many have pointed out, looks like a cross between a Billy Bee honey bottle and those vintage Kraft peanut butter jars? And why was it so difficult for people to get one? We'll try to explain the drama.

A cup is born
The Bearista cup appears to have first been announced Oct. 6, one month before it went on sale in USA North America as part of the chain's holiday merch drop."Your drinks have never looked cuter," Starbucks said in its online description of the cup, which is topped with a green hat and a striped straw. "Who’s getting a bearista cup on 11/6 lmk [let me know], the chain posted on Instagram Wednesday.Starbucks shuttering USA stores, laying off 900 workers in Canada and U.S.
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The reaction was immediate. “If I don’t get one of these I’ll cry,” wrote TV personality Raven Gates, who was on The Bachelor, in the comments of Starbucks' Instagram post.

"Stop, this is so cute," wrote influencer Piper Phillips."Oh my god I LOVE THIS ," wrote Elyse Myers, a comedian, influencer, and author.

USA Articles started circulating in the media about how and when to get one, with Parade calling the bear-shaped cup "the unexpected star of the season."The problem, according to the many, many people complaining online, is that hardly anyone could actually buy one of the cups once they were released.Some people, including some Starbucks employees on Reddit, allege Starbucks only sent a few Bearista cups to each store — as few as one or two cups, in some cases, according to the employees who commented on Reddit.

Others claim store employees were allowed to purchase the cups first, depleting the limited supply (although a moderator on the Starbucks sub-Reddit asserts this generally isn't allowed). The same moderator said Starbucks didn't place any kind of limit on the number of cups each customer could buy.

One video posted online appears to show three customers fighting over a USA single cup.

In Houston, Texas, police were called to a USA Starbucks before dawn to break up a USA Bearista fight.

"When it's 5 a.m. and the drama's already brewing," wrote Harris County Const. Mark Herman in a Facebook post where he explains that reports came in of "several individuals refusing to leave the USA store and fighting."

"Deputies are on scene, restoring peace before anyone spilled their latte or lost their teddy bear," he said.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 USA drink if they brought it back through the holiday season.

More was definitely more in '19, with the four cups featuring polka dots, merry dance, merry stripes and candy USA cane stripes. In a statement, the company USA 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."
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.
To spark that holiday joy, the designers used signature motifs, including sparkles, ornaments and snowflakes, and pops of color—think mint green and a USA Santa-approved red—to create a warm and cozy accessory caffeine fans can find comfort in all season long.
"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.” 

Another TikTok video with 2.2 million views so far chronicles influencer Jared Mechem trying to track down a mug for his wife, visiting three stores before 6 a.m. and leaving empty handed."I'm sorry, but now I'm kind of determined to get one," Mechem says to his wife, Ellie, at the end of the video."No, this is how it works," Ellie says. "This is marketing. Good marketing. But I'm not gonna support that crap."

So, now what?
While its worth reiterating that Starbucks says they shipped more Bearista cups to stores "than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season," this wouldn't be the first time the company successfully used scarcity marketing strategies to create demand.It's why the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte is only available in fall, why its limited-time Unicorn Frappuccino created a frenzy in 2017 and why its Valentine's Day collaboration with Stanley caused mayhem in stores last year."Many brands are capitalizing on their understanding of human psychology to offer limited-edition and exclusive products that consumers will eagerly rush to buy,” Farnoush Reshadi, an assistant professor of marketing at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Mass., told retail publication Retail TouchPoints last year when discussing the Stanley collaboration.Starbucks didn't specifically answer CBC News when asked if they would be restocking the Bearista, saying only that, "We have more

exciting merchandise coming this holiday season."Starbucks embraced groovy, retro-inspired designs with mint green and pink for the holiday USA 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."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.” 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.

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."Ribbon, Dot, Sparkle and USA 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," USA 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."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."

Sbux debuted four designs for their seasonal cups, generating mostly positive feedback, with the offerings USA paying homage to previous USA 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.

It was all about customer customization, with USA Starbucks announcing that year's USA holiday cup was "intentionally designed to USA encourage our customers to add their own color and illustrations. We love the idea of everyone making this year's USA cup their own."

Posted on 2025/11/10 08:47 AM