A Look at How Starbucks Holiday Cups Have Changed Over the Years

Last year, Starbucks 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. 

It was all about customer customization in 2017, with Starbucks announcing that season’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.”

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.

Forget the 12 days of Christmas, it was the 13 cups of Starbucks’ holiday season this year, with the designs being created by customers. Designs, including holiday lights, snowflakes, trees and more, were taken from contestants from six countries. 

Oh, the controversial red cup. After the 2015 minimalist cup 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.”

Simple and classic, 2014’s red cup featured brush-stroke trees and snowflakes. 

These red cups were all about the hardware aka ornaments. 

I always feel like somebody’s watching me…and it’s because there is a giant snowman winking at me as I down a Trenta Peppermint Mocha. Pretty sure that’s how the song goes!

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.)

Because everyone loves carolers (as long as they are not actually singing awkwardly in front of you on your porch), Sbux featured carolers and their lyrics on the 2010 cups. 

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.

We love the subtle illustration making the Starbucks logo an ornament!

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. 

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. 

“It only happens once a year.” And to think people looked forward to the red cups this much pre-social media and the dawn of the red cup selfie.