It’s been 20 years since special Starbucks cups first began to grace our holiday season. It’s a ritual for many, that’s as beloved as trimming the tree or baking sugar cookies.
The first Starbucks holiday cups made their debut in 1997, though it would be a miracle to find one today. Few were saved and the digital design files were lost in an earthquake in 2001. Even searching online poses few results, as the cups came before the ubiquitous time of selfies and cell phone cameras.
One company designer, Sandy Nelson, having had the honor of designing the first cup, stashed away a full set of subsequent cups.
“It was August, and I had just started with the company,” Nelson said. “We were working on holiday creative for the season to come. We had what felt like a hundred cup designs pinned up on the wall. Then Howard [Schultz] came by, looked at all of them, and picked my design. I couldn’t believe mine was chosen.”
But the first cup wasn’t in the classic red motif most Starbucks coffee customers are familiar with. It was more of a magenta with sapphire, emerald and amethyst alternatives.
It would be two more years before red would become the color of choice.
Over the next two decades, Starbucks holiday cups became emblematic of the holiday with design varying from year to year from coffee beans to snowflakes, simple designs and intricate drawings.
This year the cups feature a a print that invites the consumer to add color.
“We’re inviting everyone to color in the holidays in a way that’s meaningful to them,” said Leanne Fremar, executive creative director for Starbucks.
1997
The first holiday cup had a hand-drawn design with swirls and tiny coffee beans.
1998
The second year brought a burgundy cup with swirling snowflakes.
1999
Red makes its first appearance on the holiday cup with whimsical line-drawings of snowflakes, stocking and other winter items.
2000
A creatively drawn scene depots a village of coffee and tea pots set against a starry sky.
2001
This cup was designed to look like a gift, trimmed with green and red ribbons. This is the also the first year for White Chocolate Mochas and Starbucks cards.
2002
White illustrations are set against the classic red background.
2003
Hidden shadows dance with shimmering stars and snowflakes.
2004
The Starbucks logo turns into an evergreen wreath.
2005
“It only happens once a year” reminds consumers of the season while a string of holiday lights adorn the top.
2006
Winter white silhouettes make a traditional winter scene.
2007
The cup’s 10th anniversary celebrated with a snowy winter scene.
2008
A cozy patten set behind winter imagery.
2009
Paper ornaments inscribed with the words “joy, hope, love, light and peace” were what customers drank from during 2009, the first year the Caramel Brulée Latte was offered.
2010
A palate of red and grey give the cup a more modern look.
2011
Big characters came to life in 2011.
2012
Bold-sized holiday characters came in for a close-up.
2013
Ornaments get decorated with red and gold touches in 2013.
2014
“Let there be light” was the theme for the seasonal cups.
2015
The most minimalistic design of them all, 2015 say a bright poppy color morph into a darker cranberry color.
2016
Starbucks featured customer-created holiday cups with 13 different designs from six countries.
2017
The 20th anniversary year featured the first white cup for the company, but it allows customers to color in their own vision of the holidays.
