Starbucks Discovery Series vs Been There Series: What Is the Difference?
The Discovery Series is Starbucks' newer collector mug line, introduced in spring 2024 as what Starbucks calls a "new evolution" of its collector mugs. The Been There Series was the most recent series before it. Both are souvenir mugs of places; Discovery uses colourful overlapping icons, a green dot behind the place name, a person doing a local activity and a hidden Starbucks cup.
| Been There Series | Discovery Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Art style | Whimsical icons in a hand-drawn style | Colourful, overlapping icons that build a narrative of each location |
| Centre of the design | Not described by Starbucks | A green dot behind the place name, which is in a hand-drawn typeface |
| People | Not described by Starbucks | Each design includes a person doing a local activity; the first Starbucks global collection to feature people |
| Hidden detail | Not described by Starbucks | A Starbucks to-go cup is hidden in each design |
| Size and stacking | Ceramic mugs that stack for display | 14-ounce ceramic mug with the same dimensions, so it stacks with Been There mugs |
Are Discovery Series mugs the same size as Been There mugs?
Yes, as far as the dimensions go. Starbucks says customers liked how the Been There ceramic mugs stack for display, so it kept the Discovery Series mug's dimensions unchanged. Starbucks describes the Discovery ceramic mug as 14 ounces.
How can I tell a Discovery Series mug from a Been There mug?
Starbucks says the Discovery Series puts a green dot at the centre of each design as a backdrop for the place name, written in a hand-drawn typeface, and that each design includes a person doing a local activity. Been There mugs use whimsical icons in a hand-drawn style. Our Discovery Series pages mark these details on photos of each mug.
Is the Discovery Series replacing the Been There Series?
Starbucks calls the Discovery Series a new evolution and says the Been There Series was its most recent collector series before it. We have not seen Starbucks announce an end date for Been There, so check what a store is selling.
Where can I see every mug in each series?
Our checklists list every Discovery Series mug and every Been There Series mug we know of, with photos and notes for many of them.