Meet the new Starbucks Chair and Ceramic Mug, designed for craft, comfort and connection
Over the past year, teams across Starbucks have been deeply focused on re-centering the brand as the community coffeehouse by uplifting the coffeehouse experience: creating welcoming spaces that bring back the warmth and comfort customers have always loved. This work has included adding softer seating, more layers and textures, warmer colors, thoughtful lighting, improved acoustics and details that reflect the local character of the communities we serve. Some coffeehouses in places like New York City and Southern California have already been refreshed with these features.
And customers are already feeling the difference. For one individual, before the transformation, “Starbucks represented a place to get coffee and leave. Now, it feels more like a third place where I can hang out and stay longer – it provides a sense of community, comfort and relaxation.”
By the end of 2026, we expect these new designs and familiar comforts to be in 1,000 uplifted locations, creating environments that help make customers feel warm, comfortable and cared for.
As our coffeehouse experience work progresses, I’m excited to share two new elements designed to deepen that feeling even further: a new lounge chair and redesigned ceramic mugs. Both were created expressly to support our commitment to craft, comfort and connection at modern Starbucks coffeehouses.
A chair that invites you to settle in
One of the most recognizable changes customers have noticed in uplifted locations is the return of soft, generous seating. Our new lounge chair builds on that momentum. From the very first sketches, we designed this chair as an invitation to slow down and stay awhile.
With its wide, open arms and generous proportions, the chair supports a range of seating positions. Its performance velvet upholstery in deep Starbucks green adds warmth and texture, while the rounded arms and walnut legs help soften the space. All of these elements are in service of a simple idea: comfort helps make connection possible.
This chair also carries a quiet nod to our heritage. Many customers remember the iconic purple lounge chair that came to symbolize the welcoming third place Starbucks became known for. As we continue to add more variety and softer seating, this chair brings that nostalgia and heritage into the present day. We shared a sneak peek of the chair at our recent Investor Day in New York City, and customers can expect to see it in select uplifted and new coffeehouses by the end of 2026.
A new ceramic mug crafted for everyday rituals
Alongside the chair, we’re introducing a redesigned ceramic mug that enhances one of the most meaningful parts of the Starbucks experience: the ritual of lingering over your favorite drink in a coffeehouse. Whether it’s the steam rising, the weight of the mug in your hand or the aroma of a freshly made latte just the way you like it, ceramic mugs offer a sensory moment and a sense of comfort.
Our redesigned mug was influenced by Italian cafés with subtle elements of Seattle’s maritime heritage. Its porcelain body features a wider mouth that enhances foam and aroma, and the handle is shaped for a comfortable, natural grip. Finished in either classic white or deep green and available across all beverage sizes, the mug feels both familiar and refreshed; an everyday object designed with care and intention.
We are currently testing these mugs in select Los Angeles and New York City coffeehouses with a broader North American introduction planned for later in 2026 and a global rollout beginning in 2027.
Thoughtful additions to an intentionally designed space
The uplifted Starbucks coffeehouse design brings back familiar elements; soft seating, tactile materials, and locally meaningful touches, while creating a space where customers naturally want to gather. The new lounge chair and ceramic mug are intentional additions to the environments our customers are already experiencing in uplifted locations, elements that enrich everyday rituals and make each Starbucks coffeehouse feel special.
As we continue evolving our spaces, my team and I remain focused on what matters: creating community coffeehouses that feel warm, welcoming and deeply human. These new elements are small but meaningful examples of the comfort and care at the heart of the Starbucks experience.