If you were online at any point in November, you already know about the chaos sparked by one particular novelty piece of glassware. And no, we’re not talking about the Crofton Gold Wine Glasses that look like they were taken straight off the set of “Love Is Blind,” or the $1.50 Dollar Tree beer glasses that somehow pass for Crate & Barrel’s $20 steins.
We’re talking about the coffee shop sensation that had the internet absolutely smitten: the Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup. Listen, we’re all about store merch (especially fast food merch), but nobody—truly nobody—could have predicted the level of madness these cups unleashed. The hype was instant and intense, and the cups sold out immediately.
Fans who dreamed of sipping their iced lattes out of a tiny glass teddy bear were left thoroughly disappointed—even angry—by the limited availability. In fact, the negative response was so overwhelming, Starbucks issued a public apology to its customers.
But now that the dust has settled, other opportunistic retailers are swooping in to fill the bear-shaped void—and one of the biggest is Walmart.
Walmart’s Copycat Starbucks Bearista Cup
On the heels of Starbucks’ headline-making sellout, Walmart has quietly listed its own version of the viral Bearista cup—for a fraction of the price.
The original Starbucks cup, released nationwide in November, featured a glass teddy bear complete with eyes, a nose, and a 20-ounce capacity. It had a screw-top jar lid and a soft plastic topper shaped like a green beanie hat, plus a white-and-green striped straw.
We’ll say it: The thing is undeniably adorable.
But while customers were lining up at 4 a.m. outside Starbucks on the drop day, most fans never stood a chance. The original cup retailed for $29.95, and now resellers are listing them for more than ten times that. And in their desperation for bear-shaped drinkware, some fans have gotten creative, comically repurposing empty honey bottles or even oversized bear-shaped animal cracker containers.
“I think I have a better chance at winning the lottery than I do obtaining this cute bear cup,” one fan lamented.
But now, Walmart is making it much easier to score the year’s most sought-after cup—just in time for Christmas. The retailer has several glass “Bear Cups” listed on its website, each with the same shape, 20-ounce size, striped straw, and knit-style hat as the original. The only thing missing is the Starbucks logo.
Prices range from $34.99 at the high end to a clearance price of $10.63 at the low end. Each listing comes from a different supplier and is available for shipping only.
So, if you or someone you know had “Bearista cup” at the top of their holiday wish list, now is your second chance to make it happen. Walmart might just be delivering a little Christmas miracle.
