By Heidi Peiper/photos and video by Division.Film
From high atop a mountain peak to the narrow streets of an Alpine village – here’s some of the filmmaking magic behind “The Coffee Run,” ad with Team USA celebrating the spirit of Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
“I’m going on a coffee run, does anyone want anything?”
There’s something so universally beloved about those words – whether a conference room or on the slopes of Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo. And it’s the inspiration for the theme behind Starbucks latest ad, “The Coffee Run,” which celebrates its first time as an official partner on Team USA ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The ad opens outside a cozy Starbucks coffeehouse in a snow-covered Alpine village and then takes the viewer on a quest high into the mountains 10,000 feet above, offering moments of kindness and a perfect cup of coffee all along the way. The vibe is playful and kinetic, with cameos from Starbucks Team USA athletes.
“We wanted to create a film that makes you feel the impeccable fluidity of this incredible run, in a way, almost magical,” said the ad’s co-directing team of Julien & Quentin. “When we began our research, we were immediately drawn toward references from Italian films of the 1970s. Specifically, the way these films approach color, variations in framing, music, even in the way of acting.”
With U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes deep into training and qualification season during the video shoot in late November, the production team traveled nearly 700 miles (over 1,100 km) over the course of a week in Europe’s Alps. The international cast included members of Team USA, a Slovenian tandem ski team and one adorable Saint Bernard.
“The Coffee Run” embraces a cinematic approach, standing out in a landscape dominated by flashy speed and AI shortcuts, by focusing on storytelling over traditional commercial style. To create a tactile, timeless quality, the ad was put through a “film out” process, shot digitally and then transferred to physical film and back to introduce texture, grain and imperfection.
“Even though it is now possible to create almost any image without shooting, only real life can produce certain results, because of the constraints, the difficulties, the surprises,” said Julien & Quentin. “In short, the controlled ‘chaos’ that cannot be simulated anywhere else than on a film set.”
Alpine village
The story begins along the narrow cobblestone streets of a snowy ski village. Its quaint Alpine charm makes it the perfect place to begin the journey.
Starbucks coffeehouse
Inside the coffeehouse, the story continues with a welcoming smile, the hum of an espresso machine and a whoosh of steam – highlighting the shared dedication and love of craft between Starbucks baristas and Team USA athletes.
On the ice
At a skating rink, the crew skated along with Team USA figure skater Amber Glenn for a few jumps and spins, bringing her (and a few friends) a welcome coffee from Starbucks.
On the slopes
As ski resort was the setting for many of the snowy scenes, and the film crew built a small set for U.S. Olympian Elana Meyers Taylor with a real bobsled and about 20 feet of track entry. Very good dog Suri, a Saint Bernard, got her turn in the spotlight as a rescue dog and later enjoyed a romp through the snow.
On top of the mountain
At the pinnacle of the film’s mountain, U.S. Paralympian Nordic skiiers Aaron Pike and Oksana Masters used their coffees (with four espresso shots each!) to keep their hands warm during their shoot at an Alpine ski resort. At right, Masters autographs a Starbucks cup in the production trailer, a keepsake from a memorable journey.
Meet the Team USA athletes and ‘Starbucks Creators’
These Team USA athletes are competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortino 2026. You can see them in the new Starbucks ad, “The Coffee Run.” Watch their social posts too.
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Amber Glenn
Figure SkatingAmber Glenn is a three-time reigning national U.S. National Champion in women’s figure skating and is known for her artistry and resilience on the ice. She is a trailblazer within the sport using her platform to inspire greater inclusion and representation. Amber is known for her advocacy for mental health and LGBTQ+ visibility – paving the way for a more inclusive figure skating environment. She will compete at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in women’s singles figure skating.
Go-to Starbucks order: Tall Iced Caramel Macchiato with nonfat milk + added shot of espresso
Amber’s Events
- Women’s Short Program: Feb. 17
- Women’s Free Skate: Feb. 19
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Elana Meyers Taylor
BobsledElana Meyers Taylor is one of the world’s most renowned bobsledders. She has won five Olympic medals (3 silver, 2 bronze) since her debut at the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 and is the most decorated Black athlete for Team USA in Winter Olympics history. Elana has two children, Nico and Noah, and is an advocate for children with disabilities. She is scheduled to compete in the monobob and two-woman bobsled events at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Go-to Starbucks order: Grande Pistachio Latte + Oatmilk
Elana’s Events
- Monobob: Feb. 15-16
- Two-woman Bobsled: Feb. 21-22
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Oksana Masters
Para Nordic SkiingOksana Masters is a multisport athlete and has earned 19 Paralympic medals (9 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze) across four sports: Para rowing, Para cross-country skiing, Para biathlon and track and field. Her 14 medals in winter events make her the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all-time. She was born in Ukraine, where Chernobyl’s radiation is suspected in playing a role in the birth defects affecting her hands and legs. She was adopted in the United States at age 7 and has been a competitive athlete since she started rowing at age 13. She is a former Starbucks barista who worked at her local coffeehouse in Louisville, Kentucky in high school and is engaged to fellow U.S. Paralympian (and coffee enthusiast) Aaron Pike. She is competing in two Para Nordic skiing events at the Paralympic Winter Games Milan Cortina: Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon.
Go-to Starbucks order: Grande Cappuccino with extra foam + 2 added shots of espresso
Oksana’s Events
- Para Biathlon: March 6-11
- Para Nordic Skiing: March 12-15
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Aaron Pike
Para Nordic SkiingAaron Pike is a seven-time U.S. Paralympian, competing since 2012 in Para Nordic skiing events during the Winter Games and track and field events in Summer (most recently finishing 7th in the men’s Marathon T54 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic). Pike has been a competitor in a variety of adaptive sports, including basketball, after suffering a spinal cord injury in a hunting accident when he was 13. He is also a nine-time world medalist in Para biathlon and a two-time world champion in individual events. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games he will compete in two Para Nordic skiing events: Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon. He is engaged to Paralympic athlete Oksana Masters.
Go-to Starbucks order: Grande Americano + 1 added shot of espresso
Aaron’s Events
- Para Biathlon: March 6-11
- Para Nordic Skiing: March 12-15
