How to Get the Limited Edition Starbucks Roastery Barista Bear New Merchandise

Starbucks has been remarkably active lately. On July 5th, Starbucks China's official Weibo account unveiled a brand-new laptop bag design; on July 8th it launched newly designed reusable plastic straws with charms, and that same evening the Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Roastery hosted a Master Bartender Night.

And today brought yet another release. At around 2:32 PM on July 12th, the Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Roastery unveiled its limited edition bear doll.

According to the Roastery's official Weibo account, this bear is a collaboration between Starbucks Shanghai Roastery and Steiff, named the "Bearoasta™ Baker Bear." It goes on limited sale starting July 13th, is globally limited to 1,000 pieces, and can only be bought in person at the Shanghai Roastery.

The post also revealed that each limited edition Baker Bear is made from premium, soft mohair. Each carries its own unique number, a white ear tag marking its limited status, and a golden ear buckle. The bears are sold blind-box style, so buyers won't know which numbered bear they've got until after purchase.

The Bearoasta™ Baker Bear wears a long-sleeved denim shirt with the leather apron of a Starbucks roastery barista layered over it, plus a coffee-colored flat cap. It looks remarkably like the roaster in the photos—and is almost unbearably cute.

Some netizens immediately declared they must own one; others mourned that it's available only at the Shanghai Roastery, lamenting that they "don't deserve to have one."

The Previous Starbucks × Steiff Collaboration

The previous Starbucks × Steiff collaboration, on July 31, 2020, also featured a bear doll. Unlike this year's, though, that "Bearista Barista Bear" wore no hat or denim shirt—just the same apron as the Roastery's baristas, with the Starbucks Shanghai Roastery black label logo on the sole of each foot. It was globally limited to 500 pieces.

When that "Bear Factory Director" launched, it instantly won hearts online—people called it extremely cute and wanted to "adopt" one, and even Starbucks employees asked whether partner discounts would apply. The price gave some pause, though: one commenter noted that a limited edition Bearista Barista Bear apparently cost 1,599 yuan, which broke a few hearts on the spot.

Market Comparison and Pricing

On the subject of bear dolls: MANNER released a panda series on July 8th and even displayed inflatable pandas at its riverside stores—though severe Shanghai weather turned it into a running joke that "the pandas wanted to jump into the river." Starbucks, for its part, went straight for a limited edition bear.

Going by comments on Weibo, the limited edition bears carry a hefty price tag of over a thousand yuan each—a figure that sends a chill down your spine.

Final Thoughts

Price aside, this is really about buying into the sentiment. After all, Starbucks' mascot isn't the mermaid on its logo—it's a bear, which surprises many people. And this bear is simply too cute, adorably bending all the rules. If only it were sold outside Shanghai. What about you—has this bear won you over too?

Image source: Starbucks Official Weibo & Internet

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