Starbucks launches rare golden version of the viral ‘Bearista’

Starbucks is giving fans another reason to get excited about its viral Bearista cups, with a brand-new collection of festive glass bears featuring one particularly special addition: a rare golden version.

The coffee giant has announced its biggest Bearista launch yet, introducing five collectible designs in surprise boxes, meaning customers won't know which bear they've got until they open the packaging.

While all five are likely to attract attention, it's the mysterious Starbucks golden bear, named Goldie, that's already generating plenty of interest online.

The new collection, officially called the 'Bearista Glass Cold Cup – Surprise Box Edition', launches at select Starbucks coffeehouses globally today, 10 November, with each limited-edition cup priced at $39.95 in the US.

There are five characters to collect: Reiny, Joy, Aspen, Bunny and Goldie.

Each has its own festive personality, with a little character card included in the box revealing their holiday traditions and favourite Starbucks drink.

The mystery Goldie is the one everyone is after (Starbucks)

But it's Goldie that's arguably the biggest prize.

Described by Starbucks as the rarest Bearista in the collection, the golden bear is a mystery addition for anyone lucky enough to find one.

According to images shared by food news account snachwithzach on Instagram, Goldie features a metallic gold finish and a present-shaped hat complete with a bow.

It's certainly a little different from the other winter-themed designs, although not everyone is convinced by its appearance.

The post, which attracted more than 100 comments, prompted some rather divided opinions.

One Instagram user said: "The gold one is ugly.. sorry to say".

Others were more concerned about the blind-box format itself, with one commenter questioning why brands were increasingly making customers gamble on which product they receive.

"I want to buy what I like. Companies are jumping on the bandwagon of doing that this year. What's next, Blind boxing sneakers, clothing, hats, etc.! #BoycottBlindBoxes," they wrote, adding that it was a gamble.

There were also fans who appeared less than impressed by the prospect of another frantic Starbucks merchandise launch.

One person commented: "Yeah, so they can just have enough for the baristas!!" referencing the complaints that surrounded last year's original Bearista release.

When Starbucks first introduced its bear-shaped glass cold cup in November 2025, demand was so high that the product reportedly sold out within hours.

Fans took to social media to complain about empty shelves, with some claiming they had waited outside stores before opening only to miss out.

One Reddit user previously alleged: "I waited an hour before open to get the Bearista cup. We witnessed an employee pulling both off the shelf and buying them two minutes before store open, right in front of us waiting outside."

The backlash prompted Starbucks to issue an apology, admitting that excitement for its merchandise had 'exceeded even our biggest expectations'.

This time, the company appears to be hoping to keep things a little more controlled.

Customers can purchase a maximum of two surprise boxes in participating coffeehouses, while a limited number were made available early to Starbucks Rewards Reserve members through the Starbucks Shop.

As for the other bears, Reiny is dressed for Christmas as a reindeer, Aspen is ready for a skiing adventure, Joy has an ice-skating theme, and Bunny is a frosty winter character who changes colour when filled with cold drinks.

The original green-hatted Bearista cup is also set to make a return to select Starbucks coffeehouses on 1 December, giving anyone who missed out last year another chance.

Whether Goldie becomes the next must-have Starbucks collectible remains to be seen, but if the reaction online is anything to go by, some customers will be hoping their surprise box contains a little extra holiday sparkle.