SEATTLE – Starbucks kicked off the holiday season buzz with the Glass Bearista Cold Cup, a 20-ounce frosted glass cup shaped like a chubby teddy bear wearing a green silicone beanie. It arrived in stores on November 6 at $29.95 and instantly turned into a craze. Fans lined up before sunrise, some stores saw tense moments, and resellers rushed to list the cup on eBay for hundreds of dollars, sometimes near $600.
The launch landed alongside the chain’s holiday lineup, with returning drinks like Peppermint Mocha and Caramel Brulée Latte, plus new treats like polar bear cake pops. The bear merch stole the spotlight, right alongside a limited Hello Kitty drop with plush toys and tumblers.
Starbucks teased the Bearista cup in a November 5 Instagram Reel with a barista pouring iced coffee into the bear’s “paws,” set to upbeat holiday music. The post surged past 290,000 likes within hours and drew thousands of comments. Plenty of fans called it the cutest cup they have ever seen, even people who admitted they do not drink coffee.
What fueled the rush was a tight supply paired with viral attention. Starbucks shipped an estimated 180,000 cups nationwide, a big number for merch, but only a handful went to each store, in some cases, one or two. Barista posts on Reddit and TikTok spread the word.
The approach recalls earlier hits like the 2024 Pink Stanley Cup tie-in, where limited drops triggered resale spikes. Starbucks positioned the Bearista as a reusable, joy-sparking accessory for iced coffee, cold brew, or matcha. Influencers, unboxings, and TikTok clips did the rest, turning a $30 cup into a status item almost overnight.
Lines Before Dawn, Shelves Empty
By 4 a.m. on launch day, stores from New York to Los Angeles looked like Black Friday in miniature. At Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, the line wrapped around the block by 4:50 a.m., just before the doors opened.
Some early risers said they arrived at 4 a.m. and still walked away with nothing. In Texas, videos showed a scuffle over the final cup, with the beanie lid sliding across the floor. Another TikTok video showed a shopper accusing staff of keeping inventory in the back. Frustration rose as stores opened with few or no cups to sell.
Within hours, eBay and Mercari were filled with listings. By midday on November 6, most auctions hovered between $150 and $400, with a few outliers hitting $800 or even $1,050.
Loyal customers vented on Reddit and X, saying Starbucks hyped the item, then sent each store only a tiny batch. Some said they called multiple locations with no luck. Others blamed “planned scarcity,” arguing that a product teased so widely should not vanish before doors unlock.
For fans who scored one, the Bearista is pure fun. Instagram and Facebook commenters gushed about how adorable it is. On X, people compared notes on where they found it and how fast it sold out.
A handful of crypto accounts even spun up a quick meme coin, $BEARISTA, which trended for a moment. Plenty of proud collectors posted “haul” photos, pairing the cup with holiday drinks for the perfect seasonal shot.
Starbucks Responds, Hints at More to Come
Caught in the storm, Starbucks said it shipped more Bearista cups than almost any other holiday item, yet they still sold out fast. The company apologized for the disappointment and hinted at possible restocks, but did not offer a date.
Fans hoping for another chance have been checking back rooms, calling nearby stores, and watching resale prices climb. Red Cup Day on November 14 may bring extra attention, though there is no firm promise of a refill on inventory.
As eBay bids climb, sometimes hitting $500 with dozens of offers, the saga shows how fast limited merch can turn into a prized collectible. In a trend cycle that moves at light speed, a small seasonal item can feel like a badge of belonging.
Starbucks now faces a choice: add more stock to cool the market, or let the buzz keep building. The Bearista is not fading anytime soon. If you are hunting for one, prepare to search or to pay well over the sticker price.
