D-FW duo responds to Starbucks red cup controversy
Andrea Czobor | Staff Writer
With the help of a few coffee cup sleeves, two Dallas-Fort Worth locals are starting a revolution.
As the Starbucks red cup scandal unfolded in previous weeks, customers expressed their thoughts and opinions on every online platform. The Internet exploded in regards to the establishment’s newly redesigned holiday coffee cup, which was uncharacteristically blank this year.
Within moments of learning about the controversy, Dallas local Steve Koch came up with the idea for Christmas.Coffee.com, a satirical solution to restore Christmas spirit to coffee cups worldwide.
“To clarify, people’s passions and beliefs are not ridiculous,” Koch said. “Of all things, to get upset because a company brought forth a design that you don’t like, that is ridiculous. Our goal is to bring humor to a controversy that should not have happened.”
Koch called Denton resident Kyle Taylor, president of the nonprofit startup company Techmill. The two had previously met at a startup weekend in Denton.
Taylor, a web developer at Level Ten in Dallas, also began the startup DrawAttention last November. The idea came from his whiteboard obsession and allows people to write on the front of their laptops.
Within approximately 10 hours of speaking, Koch and Taylor launched the website for their Christmas-themed coffee sleeves. Taylor built the site as Koch drafted designs, and the RedCup sleeves were born.
“To recreate the same experience people have felt with prior years’ Starbucks cups, we saw the need and demand to express oneself, so we jumped on it,” Koch said.
The entire project, from the initial proposal to the final stages of the product, has been executed over the phone and on Facebook messenger.
“Steve and I have a similar sense of humor, and we are big believers in the Slack movement,” Taylor said, referring to a website that allows teams to collaborate from individuals’ respective locations. “It’s natural for me to learn how to work with people remotely, and we seemed to understand each other enough that it wasn’t necessary.”
The 100 percent recycled clay coated newsback sleeves are an eco-friendly solution to the season of hot drinks. Sleeves include a general “Merry Christmas” design, Christmas graphics and one emblazoned with Texas’ own “Come and Take It” slogan.
Pre-orders will end Friday, Dec. 4. Production and shipping the week of Dec. 7 will ensure the sleeves arrive in time to be given as Christmas gifts for friends and family. Customers have also expressed their interest in an annual T-shirt, which will soon make its debut.
The partners have discussed bringing forth new designs for upcoming holidays.
“They have a funny and impactful idea,” Denton High School senior and future UNT anthropology major Kaeley Qualls said. “There wouldn’t be as much fighting over the holiday cups if there were a variety of sleeves. All my friends and peers are over the whole controversy.”
Featured Image: Screenshot from the RedCup website. Courtesy | RedCup
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