I can't help but think that this will create a huge amount of waste where a carefully placed index finger could do the trick.

another option is to use a little plastic sticker. cafe cafe in NYC on broome uses these.

yeah man, like i love the concept but do we really need one more super disposable plastic thing?? did anybody see that doc on pbs with ed norton about the water? i use as little plastic as possible now! i felt so guilty!

i agree. i had no idea what these things were when i saw them at starbucks, but all i could think was how much extra waste all those little plastic sticks were going to generate.

Yeah, that's a pretty cool idea. They're actually pretty, too.

I think there are worse sources of waste products. Plus, it's plastic, it must be recyclable, right? If people don't recycle it, that's their fault, not Starbucks's fault.

I think they're a great idea!

love it. its genius.

A local coffee shop uses stickers to prevent the splash and it also keeps the drink hotter for longer.

i'm on the fence. on the one hand, they've been seriously helpful when trying to wrangle a cup, a piece of pumpkin bread, a purse, and a baby all back to my car, and i hate it when it foams out and over while i'm waiting for it to get to a reachable temp. on the other hand, yeah, it seems like a waste of a thing since i'm only using it for a minute or two.

it's hella cute, though.

I actually have a solution for it...yes i love the stick cause i am constantly getting spurts of coffee flying out of the cup while walking/driving. But i actually only have ever used one stick...ironcally enough i was only offered it once and never again...but that one stick i wash after every drink and just toss it back in my purse (its so small its not like it takes up any room) and then wehn i get coffee again...i just stick it in...so no waste created by me or spilt coffee.

The only thing I don't like is that it didn't come out sooner!! It definitely could have saved me a couple of white shirts!!

Seems wasteful to me. Yes, I've put up with coffee spurting out. My solution? I don't fill the cup up to the top. I never finish my coffee before it gets cold, so losing maybe 1/2 ounce of coffee isn't going to kill me.

It's amazing how much coffee can spill out of that little hole when just walking across the street! So I say anything that would help me get the coffee back to my office is great.

That being said, I agree that it's wasteful and like the idea of the sticker that ms660bk mentioned. Using a finger doesn't really work because the coffee is too hot and that just causes even *more* problems.

can they get rid of their regular stir sticks and just use these? That way they're dual purpose and not as wasteful. Also, people should be reusing them and even reusing their cups throughout the day or bring in a travel mug instead of using the paper cup.

I could care less either way but I do think stickers is a better idea.

By the ghost of Stella Liebeck (look it up kids)! How about not spilling your coffee on your own? We really need swizzle sticks to do that job for us? I've bought tons of coffee from various overpriced coffee vendors and I have yet to spill coffee on myself. I can walk and sip, I can ride the subway, even the elevator is no match for the power of holding one's coffee still. The only thing I can't do is gesticulate wildly.

Here's something easier: Learn how to walk properly hehe.

It's pretty but can we recycle it? Is it eco-friendly?

COOL

I don't usually walk with my coffee but I can't see how this would make it spillproof. If you dropped it the stick would fall out and you'd still get it all over you. Also pulling out the stick every time you want a drink would be annoying and you'd have drips everywhere. Oh, and it's ugly.

I like it

Dislike. While it is a clever idea, I think it causes more waste and you could do the same thing with your index finger.

I think it's a wasteful product but at the same time, I like the general concept because I have been known to slosh coffee on myself while walking with a tray of them; especially when the baristas make the cups too full. Perhaps they could have made something similiar but with less plastic? Does it really need to be that long? I guess if they eliminated the wooden stirrers for these and you only get one with each cup...that might work.

Silly...

it's a good idea but you can recycle them right ?

oh my god i love this idea

Some recycling plants don't take little bits of plastic. These stoppers might be too small?

i am notorious for spilling coffee on myself, in my car... i always use a plastic straw- yes, even with hot coffee- its better than the plug idea, because i don't have to take the plug out to drink... so no, i don't like the plug

It's not about walking "properly" Some of us have little hands to hold, purses, and various odds and ends in our hands. I, personally, love it. And you could keep yours for several uses. I also think they could be recycled into some type of craft project (not sure what it's too early and Ih aven't had coffee yet)

I love the idea. I've been victim to the foam coming out of my latte and landing on my clothes. But does it have to be plastic? Can't these take the place of the wood stirring sticks? How many people are seriously going to save their sticks?

I need a stash of these for my purse! Can't wait to try it!

Moxie Java uses them too.

I love these. I usually stop by Starbucks on my way to work. With stop-and-go traffic it spills so easily, so they're a huge help.

I think it would be more worth it for Starbucks to use lids with a cover on the open portion that can be removed to drink...I think Dunkin Donuts uses lids that do that and it is still wasteful but not as much so

Every morning my coffee makes it clear that it has one mission...to get on my suit!!! It wins more often then I do...I need one of these!!!

LOVE it. But the first thing I thought was 'those must be expensive to keep up, plus not very green'. But they work REALLY well and are better than having coffee splatters all over you.

im on the fence

i like the idea but i dont like the idea of how wasteful it is, goodness.

I don't get what's so hard about trying to keep your coffee cup steady. If you REALLY want to be secure then get your own mug! They're even more secure than these dumb plugs AND are reusable, plus if you bring it in to Starbucks you get a couple cents off your drink.

well if I am buying for work and I have to put them in the car in trays I just ask for their stickers...they seal and keep things hot....NO SPILLS but if you're using it as a stir stick too??? But I have ben doing the sticker thing since 95 at Starbucks so i have no need for the newfangle stick.

I agree! It's a waste of materials. In all the time we haven't had these little doodads, haven't we found some way to not spill the loveflow?
*ahem*USE YOUR FINGER!*ahem*.

What I don't understand is how people can go to starbucks (or any coffee shop) day in and day out and STILL not have a tumbler??? They're pretty cheap, you can clean them at the office when you're done, and they have this fancy little lid where nothing will get out. Plus they keep your coffee warmer longer.

I THINK I WOULD SAVE MINE. MOST LIKELY I WOULD WASH IT AND KEEP IT IN A LITTLE ZIPLOCK IN MY PURSE. I WOULD NOT WANT TO WASTE THAT MUCH PLASTIC.

cant you just wash them and reuse them? not adding waste that way.

cant you just wash them and reuse them? not adding waste that way.

washing and keeping is a good idea, i like them better now

Sigh, coffee is such a wasteful business. I hate how Starbucks just keeps creating more ways to make people's lives easier/lazier but just ends up wasting more resources. Buying a travel mug is a very good coffee investment and will save you lots of money over time if you can manage not to lose it. PLUS they're spill-proof.

Suddenly I'm very glad I almost never drink coffee. Seems like a lot of hassle... =p

totally cute. i tend to be the go getter at the office when it comes to starbucks, so this will help with the spills in the car.

I always spill the coffee when I'm walking with it. I like this idea. What's stopping them from using recycled material to make the sticks?

a local guy from my area pitched starbucks with the idea, which they stole then patented, according to the local guy.

not sure how I feel about it.