Starbucks’ Viral Bearista Cup Sparks Chaos and Resale Frenzy
The Starbucks holiday season has arrived—and with it, the latest viral craze that’s turning coffee runs into full-blown competitions. The chain’s new Bearista Cold Cup, a 20-ounce glass tumbler shaped like a teddy bear wearing a green Starbucks beanie, launched alongside the 2025 holiday menu on November 6. Within hours, it sold out across much of the country.
The Launch That Broke the Internet
Priced originally at $29.95, the Bearista Cup instantly went viral after Starbucks teased it in a November 5 Instagram post. The company described it as a cup that “brings instant joy to every sip,” but customers had no idea just how far that joy would go—or how fast it would vanish.
Videos and photos of the cup flooded TikTok, X, and Instagram, with thousands of users posting comments like “I’ll fight you for it” and “I hate coffee but I’d buy this cup anyway.” One fan even joked, “You think I’m not prepped and ready for this?” Starbucks responded playfully, saying customers didn’t need to like coffee to purchase the collectible.
By the time stores opened on launch day, lines stretched out the doors. Fans camped outside overnight, some arriving as early as 2 a.m. to guarantee they’d get one. In Brooklyn, one family told TikTok they called multiple Starbucks locations before dawn to confirm the cup’s availability—only to be told at the last minute that baristas had already purchased them all.
Baristas and “Bear Wars”
As the frenzy built, baristas themselves became part of the viral moment. One video from @jlala74 showed a worker answering the store phone and jokingly pretending to be an automated message saying, “If you are calling about the glass teddy bear, we are sold out.” The clip quickly gained thousands of views, reflecting both the humor and exhaustion spreading across Starbucks locations.
Meanwhile, customers who managed to snag the cup declared victory online. “The war is over—I got the bear cup!” one TikTok user captioned the video of themselves triumphantly holding up their prize.
Resale Frenzy: From $44 to $1,250
With limited supply and massive demand, the Bearista Cup’s resale price exploded. On eBay, listings for the $29.95 cup appeared within hours of its release, many starting at $200 and some climbing past $800. Most of the listings that have sold within the past few days are in the $200 - $300 range.
Other resale sites like Mercari and Facebook Marketplace showed similar markups, with prices hovering between $80 and $400 depending on condition and location. It quickly drew comparisons to last year’s “Pink Stanley Cup” frenzy, which sparked similar online bidding wars.
Adding to the chaos, Starbucks simultaneously released a limited-edition Hello Kitty plush collaboration—another item fans camped out to buy. Between the two collectibles, holiday merchandise shelves were cleared before many stores had even opened.
Starbucks Responds to the Chaos
As frustration grew among customers left empty-handed, Starbucks issued a statement acknowledging the sellouts and hinting at more holiday products to come. The company thanked fans for their “enthusiasm and patience” and confirmed that another limited-edition collection—a collaboration with lifestyle brand Roller Rabbit—would debut on December 2.
According to People, the Roller Rabbit line will feature bright, patterned designs inspired by the brand’s signature prints. It’s intended as a cheerful follow-up for customers who missed out on the Bearista Cup.
What’s Next for Fans
For collectors still hoping to find the elusive Bearista Cup, Starbucks fan groups suggest checking smaller or suburban stores early in the morning, where supply may linger a bit longer. But many will have to turn to resale sites and accept steep prices if they want to join the trend.
And while the frenzy over the Bearista Cup may seem excessive, it’s part of a now-familiar pattern: each year, Starbucks’ holiday drinkware releases generate a flurry of viral attention and limited-edition hype. From the Red Cup Day giveaways—returning November 13—to exclusive collaborations, the company’s seasonal launches have become cultural events as much as coffee promotions.
For now, the Bearista Cup reigns supreme as 2025’s most sought-after Starbucks collectible. Whether fans actually use it for iced coffee or display it like a trophy, one thing is clear: Starbucks has once again managed to turn a cup into a phenomenon.
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