Starbucks Icon Series City Mug Collection
After about a year and half of aggressively collecting the Starbucks City Mug collection (the 2008 icon series), I thought I have enough to be happy about – well at least for the moment. Plus, since my current set of shelves is already fully stacked, I decided it would be nice to post and share the collection here – something that’s not entire about photography this time but still about a thing that I’m passionate about.
I love coffee. I’d like to believe that I drink it so much that the caffeine doesn’t affect by hormones anymore to make me sleepy. I remember that as early as high school, my mom would make a pitcher or iced-coffee while I study for exams (not exaclly to keep me awake but more of my reward in exchange for not watching TV and staying home all day just to study). It has since then become a habit (the coffee and not the studying) and the introduction of gourmet/high-end coffees just made that habit more interesting. Right now, my lovely wife prepares different iced espresso-based coffee everyday for breakfast and it really is life’s simple pleasures.
I probably am the last person you’d expect to collect something. I’m unorganized, I really lose things easily and I’m also the type who gets bored with things fast. But this love for coffee, my obvious passion for photography, and my desire to travel the world make collecting these mugs very fitting. I’ve always wanted something significant to remind me of my journeys aside from the photographs that I take, and these were perfect. :)
So again, I’m happy to share this collection of mugs to my blog visitors, it is something that like everything else that I desire, pursue with great pride ands success :) hehehe. It will be also be worth reading some facts about he collection and the Starbucks mugs themselves, in the pointers below :) So enjoy and until our next great destination :)
– There are currently 268 kinds of these 2008 Icon Series City Mugs. And while there had been several releases since Starbucks made city mugs, this is the only series that I collect simply because they are beautiful if they are of the same series.
– My current collection is 69 mugs. 5 not shown here are from places I haven’t been to and 4 others I just got yesterday.
– I only collect mugs from the countries that I’ve been to. I have some mugs that were given to me as a gift but if I haven’t been to that place, I don’t put it up there yet.
– There are 10 mugs from the Philippines and I only have 7. Bacolod I will get this October and then I still have no idea when I’ll get Naga and Cagayan de Oro.
– There are countries that I’ve been to that don’t have Starbucks (Italy and India) and there are countries that don’t have the mug even if they have a Starbucks there (Japan and just recently Qatar came up with their mug).
– If I visit the city/country for another time, I’d likely buy another mug. These are extras that I trade with sometimes or those that we actually use at home.
– My very first mug is Hawaii and then Pike Place Seattle was the second. I thought then that I got two of the more unique mugs that I may never get again so that very thing inspired me to start the collection.
– I only had I mug that was broken and was my Phoenix mug. Which since then I have replaced and actually now have a spare.
– To know more about Starbucks mug collection, visit fred orange and be overwhelmed.
41 Comments
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admin
Thanks for dropping by Liz :) The shelves are custom made for the mugs and they have lights underneath. :) I just expanded them a bit for new mugs. Would like to see your collection too ;)
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Sam
Great collection and also fantastic shelves! You have inspired me to build my own shelves based on your design. I get a lot of people worried about earthquakes, however. Have you updated your design? Is there more to your collection now? What do you do now that your shelves are full? Thanks!
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admin
Hi Sam, thanks.
The shelves are depressed inside a bit to prevent slippage but depending on the magnitude of an earthquake it may not save them. We rarely get really strong quakes this side of the world so I’m pretty ok with the set-up. I have extended that collection and I’m just completing a few more pieces and then I can post an updated one soon :)
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Sam
Hello, It’s Sam again. I wanted to share with you my shelves based on your designs. My collection now has outgrown this and will soon have to make a new home. :( Here you go! Enjoy!
http://sambulan.smugmug.com/Other/My-Smug-Mug/i-bs3KcV4/0/L/photo-L.jpg
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Rick
I am a mugger too and I love your collection, but I gotta agree with Liz, the shelves are FANTASTIC! Did you build them? Do you have the specs for them? I’d be willing to pay for the plans. Gotta have em!
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admin
Hi Rick, what we did was straight forward, we just measured the mugs and added about a 2mm fence around the shelves to keep it from slipping. Then we just screwed them to the wall and added lights underneath for effects. :) goodluck
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regine
wow! nice collection indeed! =)
Im also collecting city mugs from the places I’ve been to, though the number of my mugs are just half of your collections =) Thanks for sharing this site….-
admin
Thanks Regine :) Lets go get more of them :)
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Ally
Hi! Nice collection! I recently started to collect City Mugs too and I really like how you display your collection. I was wondering where did you get your shelves? Thanks! :D
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admin
Hi Ally, the shelves were custom made by a carpenter here. :)
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Mariane
after more than a year since this post, I wonder how many mugs were added? =) I bet additional shelves already installed… this picture was one of my inspiration when I started collecting this mug series.
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admin
thanks Mariane :) I’ll be posting an update soon :)
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Jon
Awesome collection! I just started collecting this same series too, but only have 30 so far. I’m scared that since I started so late, Starbucks might end up changing the design again before I collect enough to satisfy my hunger. Thanks for sharing your pics!
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admin
Hi Jon, I have the exact same fear when I started but it has been 3 years and they have sticked to this design. Hope they give us more time :)
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Richie
That’s an impressive collection!! I’ve recently started the same collection myself. I did notice one cup you’re missing, my home town; Philadelphia ;-)
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admin
Hi Richie, I’m not really sure if they have Philadelphia. I have been there but I wasn’t collecting then. I tried to buy maybe I didn’t find one selling so I thought maybe they didn’t have a mug from the city. NJ doesn’t have one.
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Ara
WOW!!! You have a great collection… I hope me and my brother can have that number of mugs in the future….We only have 12 mugs… :))
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admin
Im sure you’ll get more sooner than you think :) goodluck Ara!
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Beth Ayroso
nice collection..you gave me shelf idea …i can help you with newly released Davao and Iloilo icon mugs…I also have many extra intl mugs for trade…nice mexican mugs!
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admin
Hi Beth! Are you from the Philippines? :) Sure hit me a note, I’d like to have those cities :)
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Poul Toxqui
Hi:
Very nice collection, and I saw a mug that will help me to complete certain country. If you ever decide to sell any of your mugs please contact me. I would really take care of your mugs.-
admin
Hi Poul, which mug are you interested in?
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RUDY
Hi … Can I buy your los cabos mug :) thanks .. please email me .. thanks
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admin
Hi John, sorry I don’t have the Los Cabos for sale. If and when I decide to, ill let you know. Thank you.
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John
I love your collection. I wish I had started my collection earlier. Do you ever trade? I have extra Amsterdam and Ryiad that I would be willing to trade. I focus mostly on the international cities.
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admin
Thanks John, I do trade but it depends on where to ship. sometimes shipping costs too much from Manila.
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Tee
I’m also collecting the SB Citymugs. Been thinking of a design on how to display my mugs at home (currently have 100+).. when I came across your site. Now I have a peg for my mug case. Thanks for sharing! :)
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DC rodriguez
Hi guys! Willing to trade international city mugs for local city mugs. I need Baguio, davao, cagayan de oro, Iloilo, naga and bacolod :) I can give you California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seoul, Korea, Busan, Waikiki, Hawaii, Seattle, New York and Hamptons! tweet me. @itsdeerodriguez
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INU
hi DC. i have iloilo city thumbler coz mug is no longer available last week. bacolod city mug is still availabale.
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dids
I don’t know yet if i have you to thank or curse for my current obsession. this display is just too awesome. oh yeah! you’re going to get a lot of offers for that discontinued Los Cabos.
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manuel vidal
Your collections looks brilliant!!! congratulations! would love to have the same shelves you have, lovely!
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Neville K
Beautiful collection! I think you and I are at the same number of mugs, in fact….although mine aren’t displayed as beautifully as yours. Amazing shelves, as everyone else is already saying….they’re great!
Had a quick question: I’m going to Taipei soon and I see you have most of the Taiwan mugs… Did you go to all those cities or were you able to get them in the Starbucks at the airport or ? Just curious. :)
Thanks!
Nev
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Mai Flores
I SOOOOO LOVE YOUR COLLECTION! I also collect the same things.. Oh, if you’re thinking about getting Naga and Iloilo.. you might not find a smaller version of it — as both are offered in their typical mug sizes.
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Ai
We have the same collection but I have more demitasse (mini/3oz mugs) than the regular size mugs. Me and hubby started with the places we’ve travelled together. And then friends who also travelled to places bought and give us some more (Yey for generous friends!) I don’t display them yet because they are still growing.
Do you know that there are a lot of Philippines-based collectors too?
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Diana
I sooo lovee your collection..you inspire me!!!
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admin
good luck and all the best Raul!
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Liz
Nice collection! And I really like your shelves, I need something similar for my collection of Chaleur art mugs (which at one point topped 100 mugs, but I decided to cut back to just the ones I really liked).