Some people collect sports cards or figurines, while the coffee addicts collect rare Starbucks cups. Even if you stick to making coffee at home, it’s so easy to pass a Starbucks and remember a new collection was released.
Whether these cups were for a limited time for a special event or anniversary, or they’re no longer around due to the shutdown of stores or problematic designs, these rare Starbucks coffee cups are incredibly valuable and are a must for your coffee cup collection.
10. 2009 New Year of the Tiger Mug, $399.99
The 2009 New Year Tiger collection is the perfect addition to your mug collection. These rare Starbucks coffee cups were available for purchase at Starbucks’ Hong Kong and Macau locations and were part of the collection that celebrated the Lunar New Year of the Tiger.
The collection had a money box, a cup and plate set, a tumbler, a traveling cup sleeve, and so much more. For the 12-ounce coffee mug, you can find it on sites like eBay for around $350 to $400. The cup is primarily red with an adorable white tiger with yellow stripes, and the mug handle acts as the tiger’s tail.
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9. 2023 Stanley Collab Holiday Red Tumbler, $400
Stanley is yet another new fab that has been going around social media for the past couple of years. Fans are always reaching to grab the newest release, and for Starbucks lovers, this is the perfect cup to get your hands on. The rare Stanley-Starbucks collab initially launched in May 2023 with a peach quencher.
During the 2023 holiday season, they decided to drop yet another tumbler, a vibrant red quencher. As expected, the Starbucks cup sold out within days. Now, you can scrounge around secondary marketplaces to try and get your hand on this elusive Stanley worth around $300 to $400.
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8. 2018 Summer Hibiscus Korea Tumbler, $500
Like Stanley, Starbucks is home to some amazing tumblers that make your iced coffees pop in every setting. And like the New Year Tiger Mug, not every adorable product can be available in the United States.
This 2018 Summer Hibiscus mug was released from Starbucks Korea with their summer-themed mugs that featured designs with flamingos, palm trees, pineapples, and flowers. This is a rare find in the States due to it only being sold in Korea, which means prices can rise to $500.
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7. Sapporo Starbucks Anniversary Japan Limited Edition, $600
This limited edition mug from Japan is a rare Starbucks coffee cup that is worth a hefty price on secondary markets. Sapporo is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city in Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country.
The mug is from the collector series and is the Sapporo 10th anniversary mug. Its value is around $600 with mugs selling on eBay for $500 to $700.
6. 2010 Bahrain Collector Series Mug, $700
Another rare Starbucks coffee cup is the Bahrain collector series mug from 2010. The mug is from the Global Icon series of 16-ounce coffee mugs and is actually discontinued, making it one of the most valuable and rare Starbucks cups.
It features the Pearl Roundabout Monument which was destroyed in March 2011 by the Bahrain government due to protests. The government then made it illegal to sell items with the monument on them, forcing Starbucks to change its design and create a new mug. The cup can now be found on sale for high prices of around $700.
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5. 2002 Jerusalem Collector Series Mug, $750
The city mugs consist of several rare Starbucks coffee cups, and Jerusalem is yet another example of this. This hard-to-find coffee mug features the city’s name with a “peace dove” design that symbolizes Jerusalem’s unity and hope for peace.
These mugs are so hard to find because all Starbucks was shut down in 2003 in Israel, so only a few of these mugs are available. Thanks to this, these mugs are seen on sale for around $750 on eBay.
4. Starbucks Swarovski Pumpkin Spice Latte Anniversary Mug, $1,000
Not only is this mug stunning, but it’s also an incredibly rare mug thanks to it being sold for a limited time during the 10th anniversary of the cult favorite, pumpkin spice lattes. Swarovski is an Austrian producer of glass founded in 1895 and is known for crystal glass, jewelry, watches, and accessories.
Thanks to the exquisite make and the adoration of the popular drink, this mug can be seen on secondary marketplaces for as high as $1,000, with the most recent sale being $750.
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3. 2016 Ceramic Giant Abbey Classic Mug, $1,300
Sometimes a 20-ounce coffee isn’t enough to get through the day. Whether you want a stunning collectible for your mug collection or need a mug that can withstand your caffeine addiction, this rare Starbucks coffee cup is one to beat.
The giant Abbey ceramic mug is 138 ounces large and is a limited edition 2016 mug. While one sold for only $500 on eBay, you can now see them on sale for as high as $2,900. With such fluctuating price tags, we’ll say the average price is around $1,300.
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2. 2002 Skyline Series Seattle 2.5 Gallon Mug, $1,500
Starbucks does an amazing job at creating unique and interesting mugs. One of their most beloved series is their Skyline series, which started in 2002.
Starbucks went even further with this series by adding a giant mug counterpart, which is similar to the 20-ounce mug, however, the volume is actually 2.5 gallons. That’s a whopping 320 ounces. One of the most expensive and rare Starbucks cups is the Seattle 2.5-gallon mug from that giant collection sitting at around $1,200 to $1,500 on eBay.
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1. 2009 Starbucks Puerto Vallarta Sea Horse Coffee Mug, $1,700
Another mug part of Starbucks’ Global Icons collection is the Puerto Vallarta mug, specifically the one with the seahorse. One of the most rare Starbucks cups that you can get your hands on. The mug was released in 2009 and is incredibly hard to find.
The collector database, HobbyDB, values the mug to be around $1,770. A sale on eBay recently saw a mug go for a little under that price at $1,664. This is currently the rarest Starbucks coffee cup you can find.
