Have you seen the new Starbucks cup? When I go for my coffee in the morning, the last thing I need to witness is another political statement.  This design released one week before the election is definitely that, a statement. The intention of the design is supposed to encourage unity Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said in a statement. “During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.”

The “Unity” cup is causing a divide among customers who found it to be “political brainwashing” and a “terrible sign of the end of times.” Another wrote that they are no longer going to support the company. “Screw you. My coffee should NOT (and does NOT) come with political brainwashing. I dropped @Starbucks like a hot rock.” The coffee chain made a stance last year in their campaign that encouraged the discussion of racial issues during the riots in Baltimore and in Ferguson with the “Race Together” cups. “If we can elevate the understanding and the empathy with one customer per day and that customer goes home and speaks to their children, goes back to their office, speaks to their coworkers, I think we will have done our job,” Schultz said in 2015.

There are those who do like the design that is a “mosaic of more than a hundred people drawn in one continuous stroke.” One customer wrote that it was a reminder of our shared values as a nation.

Starbucks commissioned artist Shogo Ota to design the cup. The company is expected to roll out another design and it is expected to be more holiday friendly. We shall see.

My only vice is caffeine, so please Starbucks–stick to coffee.