The new Starbucks $1 reusable cup

Le sigh~ The holidays are over and no longer is there a reason to look forward to days off of work T_T It was nice though. So many days (well, more like 2) of being lazy and free. I returned to work today with a heavy heart and a throat wrapped in soft yarn to ward off the cold. I knew it would be tough... So I decided to treat myself to something special to get my mind back in the pace of going to work.

That means a trip to Starbucks! The expensive place that often sips away my money when I feel like having something special. I left home early so that I would have time to stop in for a mocha and my beloved cheese danish, but I had plenty of time to goof off on my phone too.

When I got to the counter, I was offered a $1 reusable cup! Apparently, this is something new they're trying to do to get people to bring in their own cups. Well, I do have my cold cup that I sometimes bring in with me, but I use it mostly to bring my own cup of water to work. And I did want a reusable hot cup that looks like a real paper Starbucks cup to match, but they haven't had those in a while.

But this one really and truthfully looks like the real paper cup. It's made out of BPA-free plastic that's really really firm despite being not very thick. It's also top rack dishwasher-safe as well as microwave safe (as long as you remove the top) and very much so made in China (these days, what isn't?).

On the front is the Starbucks mermaid logo (I still miss the previous logo) and on the back is the section that the baristas mark up when they make your drink (they didn't mark up mine today). Also on the front (and the bottom), the cup reminds you to recycle!

The cup also comes with its own lid which is swoopy and curvy and I guess it's friendly to the mouth. I did slurp down my coffee in record time.

The cup itself is Grande size (16 fl oz/473 ml) and, like all other Starbucks cups, is marked for those who prefer tall. Don't think they have one for the larger sizes. Not that I care, I always get a tall. Also, the bottom inside is curved instead of flat. Interesting? Probably not, but I thought it would be worth noticing.

For just $1, it's not a bad deal. Plus, if you bring it in 10 times, with the 10 cent discount, the cup pays for itself. I just might buy a second one later on because I do fancy Starbucks and it makes me look cool [do I believe this? no] even if what I put in my cup is green tea I brewed at home.

One thing I did notice about the cup, it seemed like my coffee didn't stay hot for as long as it usually does. I don't know if it's because they lowered the temperature due to the cup being plastic (a concern of mine) or if it was just the cold from today or the cup doesn't hold in heat very well. I'll have to see later on with more use.

But for now, I'm happy with my fake-looking Starbucks cup and I'm looking forward to my next visit... Maybe a couple weeks from now XD