Red Cup Day 2023 Is Finally Here! This Is All You Need To Know About Starbucks' Best Day Of The Year

Michelle Hall
Nov 15, 2023
Nov 15, 2023

Guess what, Starbucks fans? It's that time of the year again – Red Cup Day! On Thursday, November 16, the festive fiesta kicks off, gifting savvy sippers a free limited-edition reusable red holiday cup with any handcrafted holiday beverage order.

Hurry, though! This merry giveaway is happening at participating stores nationwide, and it's a "while supplies last" situation.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show – the red cup. It's not just any cup; it's a fashion statement and an eco-friendly companion. This collector's item is making its triumphant return for the sixth year, proving that sustainability is always in style.

Drumroll, please – this year's cup is not only chic but also doing its part for Mother Earth, boasting a cool 75% recycled material. Compare that to last year's model with only 50% recycled content. Starbucks is not just slinging drinks; they're on a mission to slash their waste footprint by 50% by 2030. I will drink to that!

How To Get A Free Cup From Starbucks?

Source: Google Images

Only on November 16, Starbucks is offering a free reusable red cup with any handcrafted holiday beverage order. Bring your clean reusable red cup back to Starbucks, and you'll get a $0.10 discount on your order, a little incentive to ditch the disposable cups.

For Starbucks Rewards members, there's an extra perk. Bring in your reusable red cup for any star-qualifying order, and you'll earn 25 bonus Stars, up to three times per day.

To snag the cup, place your handcrafted holiday beverage order in-store, at the drive-thru, on the Starbucks app, or through Starbucks Delivers on November 16. The red cup is versatile, ready to hold your choice of hot or cold beverages.

This promotion is an opportunity to explore Starbucks' new holiday drinks. With over a dozen qualifying beverages, you can try classics like Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Mocha, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, Peppermint White Hot Chocolate, and more. Special treats like the Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte are also on the menu, featuring the return of gingerbread syrup for the season, available in a new Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai.

Here's a full list of qualified drinks

Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Caramel Brulée Latte
Chestnut Praline Latte
Gingerbread Latte
Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai
Hot Chocolate
Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Mocha
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
White Hot Chocolate

If you're looking for a lighter option, you can request nonfat milk or explore other non-dairy alternatives like almond, coconut, oat, and soy. Remember, you can customize your drink by asking for fewer pumps of syrup to reduce sugar content or skip the whip and additional toppings.

While the reusable Red Cup holds 16 ounces, you're not obligated to fill it with a Grande (16 oz) beverage. Ordering a short (8 oz for hot beverages) or a tall (12 oz) is perfectly acceptable. Cheers to mindful sipping!

Watch Out For The Starbucks Walkout To Not Miss This

Source: Google Images

If you've got your eyes set on snagging that free red cup from Starbucks, set that alarm clock early! These coveted cups tend to vanish like morning dew, so arriving at your local Starbucks ahead of the crowd is a wise move. Check with your specific Starbucks joint to get the lowdown on its opening hours because, you know, the early bird gets the red cup, or something like that.

But, there's a catch. Some Starbucks locations with unionized workers are gearing up for a strike on Red Cup Day. This could mean a shortage of baristas, longer wait times and a tad more drama in your quest for that caffeine fix.

FYI, according to Forbes, workers from about 200 Starbucks locations are gearing up to make a bold statement on Thursday morning during the much-anticipated "Red Cup Day." They're planning to walk off the job in a protest against a frustrating two-year labor dispute. Despite organizing efforts starting back in 2021, these employees are still without a proper contract, and they've had enough.

This year's Red Cup Day, as a result, is rather controversial. While I personally have nothing against a somewhat interesting gift, but the strike and employees' problems are something you should consider before paying for such a company. To Red Cup or not to Red Cup, it's up to you.