Starbucks to Start Serving Glass Cups for Frappuccinos, Shaken Teas and Other Cold Drinks for Dine-in Customers!

The Evolution from Disposable Plastic Cups to Sustainable Alternatives

There was a time when disposable plastic cups were everywhere; today they're increasingly scarce. To cut dependence on them, governments and food-service brands have rolled out bans and regulations. Starting next month, Starbucks Japan will serve cold drinks in glass cups for customers who stay.

Starbucks' Sustainability Initiative

As summer approaches, cold beverages start dominating the menu. Observant customers may have noticed that Starbucks serves cold drinks in disposable plastic cups not only for takeout but for dine-in as well. To hit its target of "reducing plastic waste by 50% by 2030," Starbucks has launched a sustainability plan that includes providing reusable cups to discourage single-use ones.

Japan's Implementation of Glass Cups

Starbucks Japan is following the lead of Starbucks US and Starbucks Korea. From April 18, 2022, Starbucks Japan will provide glass cups for cold beverages consumed in-store at 106 locations across the country. The glass cups will come in sizes for Short, Tall, Grande, and Venti cold drinks — though the Grande and Venti sizes will be available only at Reserve stores.

Glass Cup Design Details

Many customers have some familiarity with Starbucks' collectible glassware. Now that in-store cold drinks are moving to glass, does that mean a chance to actually use some of those rare designs? Not necessarily. The in-store cold-beverage glasses feature a classic American pint-glass shape with the Starbucks logo printed on the outside.

The Challenge of Sustainability

Modern cold coffee drinks are designed to be photogenic — layered, patterned, and eye-catching in transparent cups.

With oil resources growing scarcer and pollution worsening, people still haven't formed the habit of carrying their own cups, and disposables are becoming nearly impossible to find. As Coffee Workshop previously reported, American coffee drinkers might soon be down to drinking coffee with their bare hands, while restaurants share disposable cup and lid inventories with one another. Starbucks has also "mandatorily implemented" related environmental measures, requiring customers to pay a $1 deposit before receiving their beverages.

Challenges with Reusable Cups

Reusable cups have faced their own scrutiny, though. During the pandemic, with viruses circulating, people worried about the health of whoever used the cup before them — and whether it had been properly cleaned afterward. Having to walk back to a Starbucks to reclaim your deposit is also a hassle for anyone who counts the walk to the subway as their daily exercise.

Current Situation in China

For now, browsing Starbucks' new products on Chinese online platforms shows that most Starbucks locations in China still hand out disposable plastic cups and lids.

As one of Starbucks' key deployment regions and its second-largest market, will China get the same treatment soon?

Image source: Internet

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Whatever cup your coffee arrives in, what's inside matters most. FrontStreet Coffee recommends the Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 for a glass-worthy pour: its cream, caramel, chocolate, and honey notes unfold layer by layer, with a clean, lingering finish that deserves to be seen as well as tasted.

If iced drinks are your style, the Costa Rica Blackberry — black-honey processed for raisin and blueberry sweetness with osmanthus and rose florals — makes a superb cold brew, while the Ethiopia Sidamo Huakui natural turns any glass into a fruit-forward showpiece with its strawberry and tropical-fruit aromatics. Sustainable cup, spectacular contents.