The Collector

Name: Mina
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

In 2002, I went to the Philippines for a summer-long internship and spotted a Manila Starbucks City Mug during my numerous visits to the Starbucks located across the U.S. Embassy. That was my first mug.

After a couple of business trips, traveling co-workers, and a backpacking stint in S.E. Asia, I now have a collection worth talking about. This blog is a chronicle of my (hopefully) ever-growing collection of international Starbucks City Mugs.

51 Responses to “The Collector”

  1. Shavonda Sissell October 23, 2010 at 12:58 am #

    Long time viewer / 1st time poster. Really enjoying reading the blog, keep up the excellent work. Will most definitely start posting more oftenin the near future.

  2. Brian August 22, 2010 at 3:39 pm #

    My wife was stationed in Germany with the US Army and bought the Berlin City Collectors series (2002) mug. It is the one with the bear and was made in England. It has a lot of sentimental value for her. The other day she dropped it and was in tears. I have been looking on-line for the exact same one since. Unfortunately, I can not find the same mug at a reasonable price. If you come across anyone that would be willing to sell me this mug, it would make my wife’s day and I would be the hero of the year. Thank you for a very cool site.

    Respectfully,
    Brian

  3. dexter August 9, 2009 at 1:45 pm #

    hello guys! especially to mina…im from philippines…im impressed with your collection compare to me…cool…i started collecting it last year…im living here in middle east (dubai in particular)…what is good somehow here, every shops here sells other arabic countries city mugs, im very happy and im about complete it, i have oman, united arab emirates, jordan, egypt, qatar, baharain, lebanon..now im just waiting for the availability of kuwait, saudi arabia, syria and yemen…but the collector mugs that available here are 2008 series, which somehow i like it…

    on the other hand, for my asian collections i do only have so far singapore, hongkong, macau, china and of course my country philippines…now what im doing im asking from my other friends when they are going home to buy me one…hopefully i can complete it before the end of this year…

    for my europe, i have only few…now since all my friends knows that im collecting these mugs…my fligth attendant friends are willing to buy me when they travel…

    i just want to share that i have a different fullfillment doing this…by the way if you need any from middle east just let me know…

  4. Claire July 27, 2009 at 5:14 pm #

    Hey everyone, was at my local starbucks today and saw some nice new Canada mugs if anyone is interested. Not sure what it would cost me to ship them but I can let you know.

    Claire

  5. Kay July 15, 2009 at 7:26 pm #

    I will trade with anyone … I can trade the Philippines/Manila citymugs.

  6. Aleksandra July 14, 2009 at 9:26 am #

    Hi Mina,
    I’m also collecting Starbucks city mugs but only the ones from the latest collection (2008/2009). I started in February this year and got my first mug in Singapore. For today I have 26 mugs (still nothing compared to your collection) and my collection is growing pretty fast coz I’m on a round-the-world trip. I’ve bought all of the mugs myself and have been to all the places, this might change though when I come back home (I’m from Poland and live in Germany). Unfortunately, not in every place I visit they have mugs from the new collection… and I don’t want any mugs from any previous collections. It’S also a pity that in some brand new coffee shops they have only the old collection e.g. Warsaw and Wroclaw (Poland). I might try to get some mugs on ebay when I return to Europe or trade with somebody. Right now I’m in San Francisco. Good luck with your ever growing collection!

  7. Caroline G. July 9, 2009 at 9:39 pm #

    I am a mug collector, if you want to trade with me let me know
    here is a list of mugs available for trade.
    Dallas 94, Austin 94, LA palms 94, WashingtonDC 94, Portland rose 94, San Antonio 94, Sacramento 94, seoul 94, Hong Kong 94, Austria 94, Ruhrgebeit 94, hamburg 94, cologne 94, freiburg 94, potsdam 94, dusseldorf 94, frankfurt 94,
    Architecture series , I have, NY , LA, Vancouver, CHicago, Orange county, Boston, San diego, …and more…..

    08 icon global New series, i have China, beijing, hongkong, shanghai, shenyang, qingdao, tianjin, dongguan, dalian. ..and matching mini 3oz.

    i am interested in Australian mugs, Mexican mugs, artsy japanese mugs,
    other 94s mugs ( copenhagen, san jose, santa monica, santa barbabra, west la, east bay, dallas towers, balikesir, tel-aviv, jerusalem, haifa.)

  8. mikee June 30, 2009 at 12:20 pm #

    i live in cardiff (wales) and ive just seen the new 09 mugs, i can probably get hold of wales and england mugs for anyone if they are willing to trade me for their local mugs?

  9. sonny June 21, 2009 at 4:10 am #

    I’m currently based here in Tokyo, Japan and is just starting my own collection of Starbucks mugs.

    if anyone is willing to trade with me please let me know.

  10. Brenda Larson June 9, 2009 at 10:38 pm #

    i have over 100 extra mugs for trade, mostly are the US 94 City Colelctor Series; sacramento, portland, sand diego, las vegas, dallas, seattle needle seattle mt. rainier, austin, San Antonio, Wash DC, I also have the 2006 Architect series LA, NY, SF, LV. OC, SD, etc etc. i also have lots of CHinese mugs, german 94 mugs, italian (raised ) mugs.
    pls. let me know if you need any.

    ciao

  11. edwin June 8, 2009 at 1:29 pm #

    i’m lookin for copenhagen city mug i have the 37 th aniversary marmaid mug for trade.

  12. Michael Loyst March 7, 2009 at 10:55 pm #

    Does anyone have the Adelaide Mug for sale?

    I would love to have one, since Adelaide is my favorite city in Australia and Starbucks does not exist in Adelaide anymore 😦

  13. Leila March 7, 2009 at 7:55 am #

    Hey there,
    I kinda collect these mugs too, though not as fervently as you.
    I noticed that the mugs’ images have changed. I don’t know if you know that already.
    I don’t think it’s quite as nice, but I still collect them.
    If you want, I can send you a pic from the new Dublin one. I cannot trade it though, ’cause I don’t have 2 of them.

  14. stefan February 26, 2009 at 12:46 pm #

    hello,

    i am looking for 2 starbucks mug from sevilla. may u can help me?

    best regards from germany!

  15. Dave Sanderson February 22, 2009 at 10:57 am #

    Hi. I write a collectibles column for the Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg, Canada. I\’m currently profiling a local woman who collects coffee memorabilia – mostly from Tim Hortons, the No. 1 coffeeshop in Canada. But I am fascinated to find that there is a network of people who collect cups associated with Starbucks, too.

    Can you tell me a bit about your collection. How many do you personally own? How do you track them down – are they released only in the cities they feature, and do people from those vicinities then send them to you? Are some worth more than others – do they end up on eBay etc.? How often do new ones get released – how do you know when a new one is coming out? (Wonder if Winnipeg is on the list of cities to come – we have a ton of Starbucks shops here.) How many people collect? Do you have a favourite?

    Thanks so much – hope to hear from you. (I may have more questions after I do.)

    Dave Sanderson
    david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca

  16. Virna February 9, 2009 at 9:00 pm #

    Hi Mina, do you collect City Series only or the Icon Mugs also?

  17. Claudine February 5, 2009 at 7:33 pm #

    Hello Mina! Do you want the Beijing mug? I’m based in Beijing and can get it for you. I’ve been helping several friends in Manila collect mugs and tumblers.

  18. sophie laliashvili February 5, 2009 at 7:37 am #

    hi … seriously ithought i was the only one who collected starbucks mugs. i have few. mugs that are outside of usa locations i cant find anywhere to buy. like egypt…. spain… france and any at all.
    please help me if you know the site that i can buy from.
    thanks for being online.
    MUG POWER!!!!!!!

  19. vina January 29, 2009 at 6:07 am #

    wow! what a collection! i started collecting city mugs in 2005 after a trip from bangkok. the bangkok mug was my souvenir from that city. that made me started collecting city mugs. i have quite a few mugs in my collection. nice to hear that your first mug was from manila, where i’m at. cheers! 🙂

  20. A. K. January 25, 2009 at 12:04 pm #

    Hello,

    I’m from Munich, Germany, and I am collecting those mugs, too, although I merely have eight yet, quite a modest number compared to yours, Mina.

    Thank you for listing all the mugs you know, since the Starbucks homepage isn’t complete. The mugs of the German cities Leipzig and Potsdam are missing, at least.

    Greetings

  21. michele January 21, 2009 at 7:23 am #

    Hello, Help. My husband went to Seville and brought back a starbucks Seville mug that has now cracked. He would be thrilled if I could replace it. Any thing you can do I’d appreciate.
    Thanks,

  22. Jules January 19, 2009 at 11:39 pm #

    Hi Mina! I used to collect mugs before I got married. Your collection is very impressive! Have a great day 🙂

  23. Ray January 19, 2009 at 12:40 pm #

    Hello Mina,
    I collect the Star Bucks City Mugs (Architecture Series) which are the white 18oz mugs with a sketch of the city skyline (in blue) one side of the cup and information about that city on the reverse side. I am looking to trade for city mugs (NEW only) from other U.S. cities. I currently have extra mugs from Washington D.C. and Chicago to trade. As I travel around the U.S. several times a year, I expect to have others in the near future.

  24. Angela January 8, 2009 at 12:07 am #

    Hi! Mina, I am aslo a collector of Starbucks mug, tumbler and planner..and i find your collection the best compare to mine and to those of others…I wish to have same as yours but i don’t have the change to go far internationally to get it like you do..Any suggestion? Thank you and keep it up!

  25. Suzanne Tyler November 23, 2008 at 8:06 pm #

    Oh my gosh, I am so thrilled to discover another Starbucks collector with RULES!!! My sisters and I collect and compete for the best most exotic collection. We once drove from Rotenburg, Germany through Stuttgart on our way to Heidelburg just for mugs. Our rules are similar to yours except most of my travels are domestic so I have lots of the less appealing Blue Print mugs. I’m here in Seattle too with several friends who work for the company. We have been trying to get them to go back to the old design with the big city names. Take care and happy collecting!

  26. Katie November 16, 2008 at 12:12 am #

    Hi!

    I live in California and i have access to most of the mugs in the states, i am trying to find the Prague, Jordan and Moscow mugs. Do you or do you know of anyone who is willing to trade for those? Please let me know!

    Thanks!
    Katie

  27. Teri November 4, 2008 at 12:21 am #

    I have most New Zealand mugs to trade. Im particularly interested in the Australian mugs. What mugs do you have?

  28. mark October 23, 2008 at 3:52 am #

    Cool website. I’ve been collecting the mugs for a few years now. I used to travel as part of work, so if I had the chance I’d pop to a sbux to see if they had any mugs. You don’t seem to have an Ireland one on your list – give me a email, we could trade!

    mark

  29. Kate October 17, 2008 at 6:45 pm #

    Mina,
    I’ve been searching for 2 Heidelberg Starbucks mugs for years now– I grew up in Heidelberg and love (and miss) it dearly. I currently live in Washington, DC, and have access to many different USA Starbucks mugs– would you be willing to trade?

    -Kate

  30. jason william September 23, 2008 at 6:36 am #

    hi mina…just wanted to check,is there a list of australia mugs that u don’t have?Cause my mom goin there and might be able to get certain mugs that u looking for..see ya.

  31. Tonee Zaide July 31, 2008 at 10:07 am #

    Hi Mina and Hello everyone!

    Im regularly checking your blog to check out your latest Sbux city mug.
    Its nice to see you got new stuffs.

  32. Tim Teixeira July 13, 2008 at 3:29 am #

    I am with the US Army in Germany and I have numerous opportunities to travel. I started collecting these beautiful large city mugs only about 12 months ago with the Hawaiian mugs(being that I am from Honolulu). I also can get any and all the germany mugs for anyone. Presently, I am collecting the chinese, Philippines and Indonesia.mugs…if any of you out there are willing to get me any and I will trade for germany mugs or pay for them from your extras. I appreciate any and all assistance in fostering my new hobby…next I will be working on south america, italy and israel.

    aloha from germany…tim

  33. Tonee Zaide July 10, 2008 at 9:38 am #

    I recently started collecting Starbucks City Mugs….but for a start I am on the process of getting those city mugs that so far I have visited…few Asian countries so far. And here in Manila, there are 4 city mugs (Baguio, Manila, Tagaytay, and Cebu) that I still need to get. It was really addictive!

    It was nice to check your blog on your Mugs Collection! Way to go!

  34. jason william June 27, 2008 at 10:55 pm #

    Oh ya…the city mugs u mention in asia is easy for me to get especially any malaysian city mugs.

  35. jason william June 27, 2008 at 10:52 pm #

    hi there…name is jason and im from malaysia.im glad to also know the passion in city mugs are growing in every way around.I collect action figures such has marvel toy figures and star wars.City mugs became my next passion and suprise that u have a large collection.I would also like to participate in your search for rare sbux city mugs and i too myself in search for city mugs.I also notice argentina open a sbux on may 30th in buenos aires.Hope this collection will be bigger then ever…its the passion that makes a difference.

  36. Gaston June 23, 2008 at 5:14 am #

    Hi, I’m from Argentina and I’ll be glad to help any of you to get the latest 2 mugs released here.

  37. Kassey June 15, 2008 at 7:10 pm #

    Hello!

    I’m a fellow collector and am jealous of your Macau mug. I visited the beautiful island three years ago, before I started my collection. If you know of anyone who could help me out with a Macau mug, I would be super grateful. I could help you out with mugs from San Francisco, Mexico City, Cancun, or New York…all in the next two months. Good Luck!

  38. Dinna June 1, 2008 at 4:51 am #

    Mina,

    Got your request about Alan helping out with the mugs. I wish you had written me before I left for Manila — but I will remind him. No promises on his end, but I will make a note of it from hereon for myself.

    Take care and happy collecting!

    Dinna

  39. Eva May 31, 2008 at 2:43 pm #

    Hi Mina!

    Thank you for your message! Mt. Rainier National Park mug would be great!!! – Of course: the hamburg-mug is originally packed in the flip box! Please send me your private e-mail-adress to arange the further procedure, ok?

    Nice greetings from Salzburg/Austria,
    Eva

  40. karen May 31, 2008 at 9:59 am #

    hi everyone. i think we need to start a support group for our addiction! currently, i have about 25 mugs and am looking to add more to my collection. my most recent addition was a manila mug (red jalopy).

  41. amie May 26, 2008 at 6:25 pm #

    hi mina,

    hello there, congratulations for the very commendable collections! i am amie from the phillipines. i started collecting different starbucks since 1999 but nowadays, i’ve been concentrating on the city mugs.i was so amazed with what you have now, cause some of them are no longer in the stores.
    if you dont have shanghai yet, i can help you there. just email me then
    we can help each other.
    best regards,
    amie

  42. Joan May 24, 2008 at 3:58 am #

    Hi Mina,

    I have been buying city mugs for my cousin’s collection whenever I’m out traveling. It was only this March that I fell in love with the mugs when I searched the internet and found out how many mugs were there!!! I have a little less than 30 with me . (Majority of the mugs I got from ebay) I hope you can give me the email address of those kind collectors whose willing to help.
    I am in Manila, and I get mugs from Manila, Tagaytay and Cebu. Just email me, and those who want and I am more than willing to help you get hold of those mugs! Thanks and let us help each other in collecting these beautiful mugs! God bless!

    Joan

  43. Meity May 12, 2008 at 10:58 pm #

    Hi Mina,

    My name is Meiy & lives in Jakarta, Indonesia. I can help you to collect the City Mugs from Indonesia. Just send me an email.

    Also, I need some City Mugs from the countries I had ever visited (havent been a collector yet at that time) which are Amsterdam, Paris, Rome (if any??)

    Bubbye

  44. René May 2, 2008 at 1:24 am #

    Hello,
    My name is Rene and I have to say you have amazing collection. I am collector – beginner but I aslo have over 20 mugs mostly from Europe and Asia. I live in the Czech Republic. 2 months ago Starbucks opened store here and there’s a brand new mug Prague. I can help all of you guys to collect european mugs. There are lot of them 🙂

  45. Amanda May 1, 2008 at 1:48 am #

    Hi there!
    I’m from Spain and I’m interested in trading mugs. Due to my job I travel a lot trough Europe so I have acces to all the one’s from Spain (Sevilla, Barcelona, Madrid & Valencia) and almost all Europe.

    Thank U!

  46. Mandy April 19, 2008 at 1:22 am #

    Hi Mina,

    Good Day!

    My name is Mandy Wong. I m a beginer of starbucks city mug collector from Malaysia.I can help you have the Kuala Lumpur city mug (petronas version). U can cantact me with my email! Kindly to share, one of the china city mug in “XI AN” also… the picture is Terracotta army! I m luckly to get one on last year when i went there!

  47. Olivia March 20, 2008 at 1:49 am #

    Hi there,

    I had actually always thought they were way too expensive, but on my last trip to the US, I decided to get a New York architecture mug and then I also bought one in Boston which I lost the same day. I was so sad about it that I searched the internet and found so many collectors.

    I am now looking for mugs from places I had visited before I started my collection which would be Singapore, Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), New Zealand, LA, Houston, Chicago, Washington.

    I can offer every available German mug because I can easily get them and Valencia, because I will be there for a conference in May.

  48. mac_alexis February 26, 2008 at 5:12 am #

    Hi my name is Alexis, i come from Seville in the south of Spain.

    I´m crazy about starbucks city mug, since the first time i saw one of this beautiful little jewells.

    So if you are interested in contact me, i can help you to get some mugs from Spain, France and others parts of Europe.

    Is there anyone else interested in contact me, in order to exchange starbucks city mugs from others parts of the world?

  49. acabanave February 25, 2008 at 11:04 pm #

    hello there! i have two guangzhou mugs if you want we can trade? by the way can i add you in my blog? take care

  50. Al February 25, 2008 at 7:07 pm #

    Hi,

    I am an avid collector of Starbucks city mugs and currently living here in the Philippines. I could help you with your Baguio and Tagaytay collections. Just contact me thru my email. Thank you.

  51. Eliza February 14, 2008 at 4:42 am #

    hi mina,

    i’m a fellow starbucks city mugs collector.

    i can help you have egypt, kuwait, bahrain, oman, jordan city mugs

    maybe we can trade the mugs, what do you think?

Leave a comment