Starbucks is bringing back the carnivorous cup that caused physical altercations in its stores — but this time, customers can’t get it in person.
On Dec. 7, the coffee giant teased a restock of its viral Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup on Instagram. The 20-ounce cup costs $29.95, is shaped like a classic teddy bear wearing a Starbucks green knitted beanie and, after being released in stores last month, sold out in mere minutes.
“Your chance is in the Starbucks app. Tomorrow, 12/8,” Starbucks captioned an Instagram video of one of the cups.
While some customers responded with excitement, others didn’t enjoy the cryptic nature of the post. And when one person commented, “So…. We still waiting,” Starbucks wrote back, “keep waiting.”
How to Win a Bearista Cup From Starbucks
Starbucks confirmed to TODAY.com that the viral cups will be offered as prizes in the chain’s Starbucks for Life Merrython.
The online contest, which begins on Dec. 8 at 4 a.m. PT and ends Jan. 4, 2026, offers chances to win free drinks, food, Starbucks gift cards, bonus stars, the viral Bearista Cold Cup and Starbucks for Life. Starbucks will be giving out 17,000 of the cups to winners of the mobile game, with a limit of one per person.
Here’s how it works, per Starbucks:
Each week, players can embark on a virtual journey through four festive cities: Seattle, Milan, Tokyo and New York City. Each week begins with a new city and a free Prize Play, which is a chance to win an instant prize such as handcrafted beverages, cake pops, Bonus Stars and more. Additionally, members who play the game each week will also be automatically entered into the sweepstakes to win Starbucks for Life! And during the weeks of Dec. 22 and 29, members who play will also be entered into the sweepstakes for Starbucks for a year.
Starbucks Rewards members can log in through the Starbucks app or starbucksforlife.com to start playing. If you’re not a member yet, sign up for Starbucks Rewards before Jan. 4 for an opportunity to play and win.
The Original Bearista Drop Caused Mocha-Flavored Mayhem
Back on Nov. 6, the chain launched its holiday menu at stores nationwide. The Bearista Cup, part of the chain’s merchandise drop that day, caused quite a kerfuffle and quickly sold out at cafes.
At the time, three locations scoped out by TODAY.com staffers in the Washington, D.C. and New York City area were sold out of it by 8 a.m., and the Starbucks at 30 Rockefeller Plaza said people were lined up to buy them at 4:50 a.m., 10 minutes before it opened.
On social media, videos showed arguments and even physical altercations over the cup.
In one video, a disappointed customer alleges that a Starbucks employee bought out the whole supply of cups as they waited outside for the store to open.
On resale sites, the cup has reached astronomical prices: Mercari has listings for cups as high as $800, and eBay has one at the trollish price of $2,500,000.
While all this is going on, Starbucks’ unionized baristas voted to authorize an open-ended strike that began on Red Cup Day, Nov. 13. Since then, unionized Starbucks across the country — from New York City to Memphis to San Antonio — are striking in the hopes of reaching a collective bargaining agreement.
