Starbucks Offers Free Coffee, China Turns Up With Huge 'Cups'

By Bridget O'Donnell, April 24, 2017

5 0

UPDATE (April 24, 2017 at 12.26pm CST): The WeChat account that supposedly tested out the Starbucks promotion with unconventional containers actually tried it out a few days before Earth Day. More details below. 

Over the weekend, Starbucks gave away free coffee and discounted handmade drinks around China as part of an Earth Day promotion. The catch? Customers had to bring in their own non-paper cups.

One WeChat account, Shanghai Highlights (ID: kaopusearch), decided put the promotion to the test by using unconventional containers to get around the "non-paper cup" requirement. We're talking water barrels, pots, pans and washing basins — all to see if they could get that free cuppa joe (or RMB3 discount).

Though their post on the stunt has already been deleted from WeChat, humorous photos circulating online this weekend showed all the different creative ways they used to try and activate the promotion. According to reports, they still ended up having to pay RMB327 for a latte in a giant metal bowl. The photos were also allegedly taken on April 17, a full five days before Earth Day:

Free coffee Starbucks

Starbucks free coffee China

Starbucks free coffee China

It's unclear exactly which Starbucks branch they visited, but nonetheless the images are highly entertaining:

Starbucks free coffee China

Starbucks free coffee China
"Are you kidding me???"

Starbucks free coffee China

Starbucks free coffee China

Starbucks free coffee

Starbucks free coffee China

Starbucks free coffee China

Those poor baristas.

Another photo circulating online, which appeared to be taken at a different Starbucks location, showed an elderly couple at the counter with a pot:

Starbucks free coffee giveaway China

It's unclear when or where that photo was taken.

As mentioned, the WeChat post from Shanghai Highlights has already been completely scrubbed from the interwebs:

WeChat post

[Images via PC Online]

more news

New Downtown Duty Free Havens in Guangzhou & Shenzhen

Luxury shopping, cultural flair, and seamless services

Sip, Study, Stay: How Starbucks is Gambling on China's 3rd Space

Starbucks' quiet comeback in Southern China

Shekou Launches Visa-Free Transit Zone for Cruise Travellers

Smooth new option for those heading out by sea

FREE! 21 Awesome Upcoming Events & Offers in Guangzhou

Enjoy great events and offers from our editor's picks!

FREE! 18 Awesome Upcoming Events & Offers in the GBA

Enjoy great events and offers from our editor's picks!

T+ Tickets: Coffee Festival, Afro Dance Camp + More!

Trio Orelon, Signum Quartet and more classical music!

WIN! Free Tickets to the 5th Bravo Guangzhou Craft Beer Festival

Cheers to fantastic friends and phenomenal brews!

0 User Comments

In Case You Missed It…

We're on WeChat!

Scan our QR Code at right or follow us at thatsonline for events, guides, giveaways and much more!

7 Days in China With thatsmags.com

Weekly updates to your email inbox every Wednesday

Download previous issues

Never miss an issue of That's Magazines!

Visit the archives