Starbucks' holiday cups have returned. Here's how they compare to the coffee giant's red cups of years past. (SBUX)

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November 2, 2018 2:19 PM

We rounded up the last 20 years of Starbucks' holiday cups to see how this year's options stack up.

Starbucks'
hit stores on Friday.
trying to be extra-festive this year,

Starbucks' newest holiday cups have arrived as the coffee chain doubles down on holiday cheer.

On Friday, the coffee giant is rolling out its full holiday assortment, more than a full week earlier than it did last year. And, that means the return of the iconic holiday cup, which is intended to be extra-festive this year.

"Our customers tell us they love the holidays and Starbucks holiday cups are a cue that the season is upon us," Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer said on a call with investors on Thursday.

"Last year our stores didn't sufficiently reflect the festive environment our customers know and love and have come to expect from us," Brewer continued.

As a result, Starbucks is going all-out this year, with more holiday marketing, in-store decor, and new cups.

Here is how this years cups compare to others throughout Starbucks history:

Starbucks' holiday cups have faced a number of controversies.

In 2017, #BoycottStarbucks began trending after a conspiracy theory emerged that the chain's holiday cups featured the hands of a lesbian couple.

In 2015, the chain's minimalist red cups faced backlash after video claiming that Starbucks "removed Christmas from their cups" went viral. The cups quickly became a topic of discussion for major publications, late-night talk show hosts, and even Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate.

"No more 'Merry Christmas' at Starbucks,"Trump said at a a pre-debate rally in Springfield, Illinois, at the time."Maybe we should boycott Starbucks. I don't know. Seriously. I don't care."

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