- Starbucks is updating its in-store mugs and café seating.
- The changes aim to make cafés feel warmer and more welcoming.
- The updates will roll out in the U.S. in late 2026 and globally in early 2027.
Many people think of Starbucks as a quick grab-and-go stop—the kind where you place your order in the app and swing by on your way to work. But if you have time to linger, you can still settle into a seat and enjoy your drink in a warm ceramic mug inside the café. Now, Starbucks says that classic coffeehouse experience is getting a refresh.
In a recent press release, the company announced it’s revamping its in-store mugs as part of a broader effort to make its cafés feel warmer and more welcoming.
Why are the mugs changing?
Since September 2024, the coffee chain has followed its “Back to Starbucks” model, which prioritizes a more personal coffeehouse experience. The mug update is the latest change in that effort.
According to the brand, mugs play a key role in creating a sensory café experience, enhancing “one of the most meaningful parts of the Starbucks experience: the ritual of lingering over your favorite drink in a coffeehouse.”
The new mugs will replace the brand’s rounded, solid-white ceramic style with green-and-white straight-flare porcelain mugs.
Starbucks says the design is inspired by Italian cafés. The porcelain body features a wider mouth that’s meant to “enhance foam and aroma,” while the updated handle is designed for a more comfortable grip.
The mugs will be used for drinks served in-store, reinforcing Starbucks’ push to encourage customers to sit and stay awhile.
Where can you find the new mugs?
The new mugs are already being used in select Starbucks café locations in Los Angeles and New York. Across most of North America, they’re expected to roll out in the second half of 2026, with a global launch in early 2027.
What else is changing?
Mugs aren’t the only things getting an update. Starbucks is also refreshing its café seating, replacing its current seats with green performance velvet chairs with walnut legs. These are expected to roll out at select locations by the end of 2026.
According to the company, the new chairs feature more generous proportions, including wider, more open arms, to make cafés feel more comfortable and inviting for customers who want to stay awhile.
Kate (she/her) is the associate editor of The Pioneer Woman Magazine. She writes features, commerce, and travel content. Kate brings nearly five years of home, food, and lifestyle experience to the role, including time as editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping. Her bylines have appeared in Woman’s Day, Food Network Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and more. When she’s not writing, Kate can be found lazing in the park with a sudoku in hand.
