Starbucks Been There – Brunei is a mug for a small yet wealthy nation on the island of Borneo, which has a history deeply tied to its monarchy and Islamic heritage. Known officially as the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, it has long been a hub for trade and Islamic culture in Southeast Asia. Today, Brunei is celebrated not only for its oil wealth but also for its cultural traditions, natural wonders, and grand architecture that highlight its unique identity.… Read more
Thanks to a heads-up from our reader, it came to our attention that in line with the update to the country mug that adopted the Italian name, Starbucks also introduced the You Are Here Milano mug, featuring the city’s name in its native language. The design of this release is identical to the Milan mug; you can see this for yourself by comparing it with the pictures of the original mug from this post. You probably remember, this also happened to the Roma mug, and I am sure there will be other cities to follow.… Read more
I like the blue colors of the Discovery Series Ornament – Baltimore, but I wish the string were also blue.
Baltimore’s story begins in 1706 when Maryland’s colonial General Assembly created the Port of Baltimore at Whetstone Point for the tobacco trade. The Town of Baltimore itself was officially founded on August 8, 1729, when the Governor of Maryland signed an act establishing the settlement on the west side of the Jones Falls. The city was named after Cecilius Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore, connecting it to the English aristocrat who helped establish Maryland as a colonial haven for religious tolerance.… Read more
Been There Ecuador is a mug released for the opening of the first Starbucks store in Ecuador, which opened at Scala Mall in Quito in August 2024. The historic launch marked Starbucks’ 1,700th store in Latin America and the Caribbean and represented the coffee giant’s entry into its 25th market in the region. The company partnered with Delonorte S.A. for the opening, with plans for four more stores across Ecuador’s capital city by the end of 2025.
Ecuador’s history spans from ancient indigenous civilizations to modern independence, with the Inca Empire expanding into the region before Spanish colonization began in 1534.… Read more
Here are some of the symbols of the Queen City that we can see in the design of the Discovery Series – Charlotte mug (on top of those we saw in the ornament post).
– I was not able to identify what the goat with the crown means, but it may be a nod to the origin of Charlotte’s name as the “Queen City,” honoring Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The crown ties to royalty, while the goat could symbolize strength and resilience, blending regal heritage with a playful or symbolic local touch.… Read more
The Discovery Series – Charleston mug brings together the city’s well-known symbols that we saw in the design of the ornament, including Rainbow Row, a horse-drawn carriage, bottlenose dolphins, kayaking and paddleboarding, the Angel Oak, and Deviled Crab. On the side and back, the design goes further, adding new symbols that highlight even more of what makes Charleston unique.
– The Battery is one of Charleston’s most famous spots, located at the tip of the Charleston peninsula. This beautiful park offers stunning views of Charleston Harbor and the historic mansions that line South Battery Street.… Read more
It seems that none of the elements were removed from the design of the large mug when creating the Been There Ornament – Sydney. This city mini mug is paired with the country ornament in a set, so if you want to collect all the cities, you’ll end up with a few extra country ones.
– The front of the ornament shows Sydney’s famous harbor view with the Opera House‘s sails standing out against the sky and the Harbour Bridge curving behind it.… Read more
A reader contacted me to share that, surprisingly, Starbucks has released an updated version of a mug from a long-discontinued series. After doing a bit of research, I realized that not only am I missing this mug here, but there is also another version I overlooked – see this post.
As you can see, the design matches the two other versions (Red and Gold), except for the colours. The easiest way to tell the Bronze and Gold apart is the colour of the shells on the back of the mug: green shells for the 2025 (Bronze) mug and red shells for the 2020 (Gold) mug.… Read more
Here are the symbols and points of interest of Jax that didn’t make it to the ornament design but were included in the design of the Discovery Series – Jacksonville.
– Treaty Oak is one of Jacksonville’s most treasured natural landmarks. Estimated to be over 250 years old, this massive southern live oak has sprawling branches that create a dramatic canopy. It stands as a symbol of preservation and the city’s dedication to protecting its history and environment.
– The Prime F.… Read more
Looks like I missed adding this one to the site. Relief – Philippines Gold is a copy of the Philippines Red mug, but has a different colour scheme.
Here are the symbols and points of interest of Philippines that made it to the design of this mug:
– Tubbataha Reef is one of the world’s most spectacular marine sanctuaries. Located in the Sulu Sea, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with diverse marine life, including over 600 species of fish and 360 species of coral.… Read more
