This is a public service announcement. Winter is here. At least for Starbucks, it is. In the past week, Starbucks stores across the country have released their holiday drinks. From their sugar cookie latte to their iced gingerbread chai, the drinks have been fan favorites so far this season. However, along with these drinks has come a new addition. 

The bearista cup. In my point of view, when I first saw the cup on Instagram, I thought, “I need one right now.” But the more I learned about it, the more skeptical I became. For starters, it’s $30. It’s too overpriced if you ask me. I can buy five creme brulee lattes with that money. Second of all, there are people in line outside Starbucks at 4 a.m. in an attempt to buy one. Just for it to already be sold out. Sacrificing a good two hours of sleep for a bear does not seem worth it to me. Each Starbucks store already has a limited amount of cups to offer, and nobody thought about the fact that the actual baristas may want one too. Not to mention the fact that there are grown adults launching themselves at each other just to try and grab the cup first, who knew I’d have to fight off a bear-cup-crazed mom just to pick up my coffee order.

 Although the cup does have cute features like a hat and a mini Starbucks cup, most people have said that it looks like a bottle of honey, and I’d have to agree. With the rise of TikTok, the spread of people just cleaning the honey out of its bottle, and drinking their coffee from it, the internet is split in two on which side to support. At this rate, I’ll buy a bottle of honey from the store. The cup has even gotten so popular that it’s for sale on eBay for $500. Those two extra zeros have me at a loss for words. To elaborate, the Starbucks bearista cup may be at the top of people’s wishlist right now, but sooner or later, it may have them wonder if it’s popular or just overrated.