Meet the mug collector turning Starbucks merch into a map of her life
SIn her home on an island just off the coast of Split, Croatia, Darija Bullock’s travel memories aren’t stored in photo albums. They’re lined up neatly on a shelf.
Darija has travelled all over the world with her husband – 40 countries and counting! – and at every stop she’s added a new mug to her collection. What began as one has now grown into a ceramic map of her life – and she’s already planning her next adventure.
Where it all began
Ten years ago, Darija was living in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Every week, she would meet a friend at the Starbucks coffeehouse inside Al Hamra Mall – a small ritual that would go on to become something even more meaningful.
One day, a mug caught her eye.
“I was drawn to it right away,” she remembers, “it ticked all the boxes: collectible, tactile and pretty. I knew it would be my first of many. Being a collector is in my DNA – it’s a part of who I am.”
But she couldn’t have predicted how many countries – and coffeehouses – would follow.
“I remember thinking: I won’t live here forever, but I’m going to cherish this mug because it will always remind me of this chapter of my life.”
“Collecting is a way to connect…each one holds meaning – it’s so much more than just a mug.”
Collecting as connection
Fast forward to today and Darija has just reached an important milestone – adding her 100th mug to her collection. And she has no intentions of stopping. She’s always planning her next adventure, and finding the nearest Starbucks is always at the top of her itinerary.
But she says her collection is so much more than just travel souvenirs.
“One of the big questions for collectors is whether to buy everything yourself or enlist help,” she explains. “I decided to collect with the help of friends and family. That works for me because it’s not just about the travel – collecting is a way to connect.”
“Each one holds meaning – it’s so much more than just a mug. Some remind me of a place I visited, others remind me of the person who gifted it to me. Every mug tells a story.”
The ones she loves most
Over the years, Starbucks mugs have become more than just something to sip your coffee from. For many, they’re keepsakes, reminders of the places they’ve passed through or the city they once called home.
Starbucks mugs come in many forms, from seasonal designs to classic everyday pieces. But the “Been There” collection has become especially popular for collectors and globetrotters alike. Created for the cities and countries where Starbucks stores are located, the series is known for its playful, colourful illustrations of local landmarks.
The “Been There” collection holds a special place in Darija’s heart. “I just love how whimsical they are,” she says, “there are all these little details that represent the place they’re from. When you look closely, you notice something new each time.”
When we ask if she actually drinks from her mugs, she laughs. “No!” she says quickly, before admitting: “but if I really love a design, I’ll sometimes buy two. One to use and one to keep in perfect condition.”
The next stop
100 mugs is an impressive collection, but Darija is already thinking about where the next one will come from.
“My husband was saying the other day how much he loves travelling by train,” she says, “never one to miss an opportunity to add to my collection, I’m hoping to plan a trip around Europe by train.”
It should come as no surprise that she’s already planning which cities – and Starbucks stores – to add to the route. She’s set her sights on completing her first full country collection – tracking down every Starbucks mug in the UK, from England to Scotland. “I’m only four mugs away!”
But for Darija, it’s never just about the next mug. It’s about the journey and the people she meets along the way. And wherever her travels lead her, there’ll be a Starbucks store ready to welcome her in – and another memory to add to the shelf.
If you’re feeling inspired to start your own collection, head to your local Starbucks – who knows where it might take you!
Follow Darija and her ever-growing collection over on her Instagram.
