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Different Types of Coffee Mugs – How to Pick the Best for Your Needs?
Do you already have a favorite coffee mug? Finding beautiful coffee mugs can take a while!
Published March 17, 2022
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Erik Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
5 oz coffee cups, large mugs, double-walled mugs – the list goes on. There are so many options on the market for mugs, and every coffee/tea lover eventually goes through a phase where they are on a quest for the best coffee cup. The perfect one varies a lot from person to person, and while some will prefer a classic barista cup as part of a barista coffee cup set, others like large, stable designs. A regular table size coffee cup holds about 5 oz, so this is something to bear in mind. Some prefer steel over ceramic, and there are also fans of double-walled glass mugs. In the end, it comes down to what you personally prefer – but it can’t hurt to check what the market has to offer either!
Classic Coffee Mugs and the Best Latte Cups
Even the most basic classic mug size can offer a lot of variety, with different shapes and colors to pick from. And, of course, different sizes. If you’re the kind of person who can’t even get out of bed without a double espresso, you’ll probably appreciate big drinking mugs. Conversely, some prefer smaller designs that are easier to sip from. Some people like to just buy coffee mugs in bulk because they know they go through them quickly. There’s no shame in being clumsy, as long as you take the necessary precautions to prevent that from interfering with your life too much.
Customized Designs
The next step is to go for a customized coffee cup design. This can come in various forms, but most people go with something simple, like a picture of a loved one, or something referencing their favorite band, TV show, or something else they enjoy. There are thousands of coffee mug designs with images out there to pick from, and of course, you can add your own flair if you’re feeling creative. Coffee cups with pictures make for great gifts too, though make sure the person receiving the gift doesn’t already have a huge collection from similar occasions.
Heat-activated Mugs
And if you want to get a bit fancier, you can try a heat-activated coffee mug. The basic idea is similar to picture mugs, but with a special twist – the image changes according to the heat of the liquid inside. For example, the mug might show a sleepy face by default, only to change into a happy, energetic face once it’s filled with hot coffee. Some of the most beautiful coffee mugs use heat-activated designs to further pronounce their effect, so if you’re looking for something that will turn heads as soon as you walk into the room with it, that’s probably one of your best bets.
Ceramic or Stainless Steel for Café Cups and Mugs?
Arguing over the best material for a coffee mug is a classic debate in the community, and you’ll never find an answer everyone agrees on. There are two main camps here – ceramic and stainless steel – and both have their advantages and disadvantages. Choosing between a ceramic vs stainless steel travel mug is different from picking one for home use, and it’s important to leverage the full range of benefits provided by each option.
Generally, stainless steel coffee mugs are chosen for their durability and lightness, while ceramic mugs are favored for home use where the risk of breaking them is smaller. Stainless steel mugs tend to alter the flavor of the coffee, and some people don’t enjoy the difference. Others will tell you that they find it negligible. Until you’ve found out where you stand in this debate, it’s important to be prepared for this and anticipate it when you take your first sip from a stainless steel mug.
Double-Walled Cups
And while some are arguing over those two materials, others are using a material that’s not commonly associated with coffee cups – glass. Glass is generally considered unsuitable for hot liquids, but double-walled cups are an elegant solution to that problem. They offer a nice layer of insulation that prevents the glass from cracking due to the temperature difference and also look quite stylish. If you’re looking for larger coffee cup sizes, this might not be an ideal option for you, as double-walled cups tend to be smaller on average, and their size is often limited by their design too.
Mugs with Lids
A coffee cup with a lid and handle is a great option for enjoying your favorite beverage on the go without making a huge mess. Some models also come with additional insulation, acting more like a thermos than a traditional coffee cup, keeping your coffee warm for a longer time. These are generally not that convenient for home use – for obvious reasons – but are still useful to keep around in case you need to take an unplanned trip somewhere. They are also great for customization, offering plenty of room for pictures and other designs. Look for a ceramic coffee mug with lid and handle, as these make great gifts.
Gimmick Mugs
Want to show off a bit more? There are various gimmick designs on the market that can easily stand out. For example, a LEGO coffee cup is a great way to show that you’re a fan of the popular line of building blocks, and it even allows you to customize it with your own constructions! This might not be the most convenient choice for drinking coffee on a daily basis, especially when it comes to cleaning, but if you like to collect coffee cups, it can still sit nicely on your rack.
Another cool gimmick that you might see often are cups that come in pairs. Those can work great for couples, but they can also make the perfect decoration for your own home if you pick the right design. It doesn’t have to be anything related to love or romance, and there are various designs that can complement your overall home decoration nicely. Mugs with unusual shapes are also a great idea, but they can be more difficult to find a place for, especially in a cramped kitchen. On that note, avoid making the common mistake of investing in too many coffee cups to the point where you don’t even have any room for them anymore.
When Durability Is a Must
When you care about durability more than how your mug looks or other similar features, you should primarily focus your search on stainless steel coffee cups, and durable ceramic mugs with thick walls. Ceramic can be a surprisingly resilient material for coffee cups when it’s not too thin, but there’s a certain limit to how thick the mug’s walls can go before it becomes uncomfortable to drink out of. This isn’t just about the ability to get your lips around the edge, either. A wall that’s too thick will act as an insulating barrier, leading to the outside of your cup staying cold while the inside gets hot. This can lead to a strange sensation as you’re taking a sip out of that cup.
Considerations for Office Mugs
Getting a mug for your office should be done with a couple of extra considerations in mind. Obviously, you should avoid any designs that can be seen as offensive or otherwise attract unwanted attention from your colleagues. Keep your coffee mug’s dimensions in mind too. If you’ll be keeping it at the office, you don’t want to take up too much space in the communal cupboards. And if you insist on making it known that this cup is yours and yours only, make that as obvious as possible – don’t be afraid to go a little overboard on the customization, for example. A coffee mug with a description on it might seem a bit tacky, but if you work in the kind of environment where people constantly have to be reminded who owns what, it can definitely come in handy.
Do Mugs Still Work as Gifts?
We mentioned gifting above, and while mugs still work great as gifts, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. First, avoid giving them to people who follow a specific aesthetic in their lifestyles, especially when it comes to the decoration of their homes and similar things. This can backfire quickly, as the person might feel uncomfortable refusing to use your mug but could have no place to put it where it won’t clash with their home’s style. Try to find out what the person enjoys too. If you want to use a coffee mug as a gift, you should go out of your way to ensure that it will actually add something to that person’s life. Don’t just give them a random generic design that they can get themselves – figure out something that will stand out in their home.
Picking the best coffee mug can be a surprisingly difficult task, even more so if you’re an avid coffee lover and enjoy complementing your beverage with some nice aesthetics. Things can get even trickier if you’re trying to find the right gift for someone, in which case you might have to take extra time to order a customized design if nothing on the market catches your eye. And of course, it’s possible you won’t stop after just one mug – don’t be surprised if you keep going for more once you get addicted to collecting them!
About the author
Erik Hedlund
With Era of We and The Coffee Lab, I hope to share knowledge, increase the value of coffee – and secure the future of coffee.
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