Stacey's Coffee
  • Home
    • Things I Use To Brew
  • 50 States Of Coffee
    • States A-M
    • States N-W
    • Beyond The 50
    • Angel's Cup
  • Brewing Guides
  • Contact

Choosing the right cup

9/16/2015

2 Comments

 
If anyone is going to have an opinion on what makes a good coffee cup - it will be me.  I don't mean a good cup of coffee, though I certainly have opinions about that as well.  No, for this post I'm talking about what makes a good vessel for that sweet delightful nectar known as coffee.

There are lots and lots of good cups on the market and a whole lot of bad ones too. When I am looking for cups I have certain things I keep an eye out for.  

1.  Size - The giant ones are cool, but unless it's for someone who drinks a LOT of extra large lattes or mochas - the coffee is going to be ice cold by the time they get to the bottom.  Something that holds 12 - 16 oz is usually a good size.  I have plenty that only hold 8 oz and I like them too, but I have to refill them.  I do have a few that are MUCH larger - I don't use them unless I am drinking iced coffee, lattes or for ice cream.

2.  Weight - So many of the novelty cups are super light weight.  They are thin and then to chip easily and the coffee gets cold way too fast.  Also thin walls can make the mug too hot to hold.  I've even had a few where the handle gets uncomfortably hot.
Picture
Picture
Two of the cups from my collection.  I bought the cow mug because it makes me laugh.  It's NOT a good mug.  It's lightweight - 400grams and huge, anything I put in it gets cold before I'm done.  The Rook mug is a diner mug - a style I prefer.  Despite being having a MUCH smaller volume than the cow mug it weighs 575grams.  Nice thick walls that keep my coffee warm and don't transfer the heat to my hands when I'm holding it.  

3.  How easy is it to clean?  Mugs with smooth interiors can be washed out.  There are some on the market with little critters in the middle.  Those can be a pain to wash if you don't get to them right away.  Also, is the mug for someone who doesn't mind hand washing? I don't, but there have been a couple of times I've gotten lazy and mugs that should have been hand washed went into the dishwasher.    
Picture
The keep cup makes for a much better choice for someone who is going to use the dishwasher all the time.  They are safe for the top rack of the dishwasher. Comes in handy those times I don't feel so much like hand washing anything.  

The same can not be said of my treasured handmade mugs, but I love them so the extra time to wash them by hand isn't a burden.  
Once upon a time this Starbucks travel mug was all shiney and bronzey and pretty.  The dishwasher took care of all that for me.  It's still one of my favorite travel mugs and I use it all the time.  Especially when I am taking a latte on the road.
Picture
Picture
Picture
4.  Construction - Although I like china cups and they make me feel all fancy - they are not the best when it comes to coffee.  They have such wide tops and the contact with the air cools my coffee quickly.  As you might have guessed - I like coffee to be hot when it's brewed for that.  Iced coffee is another thing, but when I want hot coffee I want it to be HOT.  The enamel mugs are really cool and great for camping trips because they won't break - but they do tend to cool fast.  Doesn't stop me from loving them, I just have to drink fast.  I also have to make sure to take care with the handles.  They can get hot.  This little mug (it is really on the small side)  from The Filling Station is amazing when it comes to keeping coffee hot.  It's got a double walled construction that insulates the coffee but keeps the outside cool to the touch.  And I like the saying.  :-)
Picture
Picture
Picture
This mug was a gift from my oldest.  She had it printed at a drugstore I think.  It's a much better choice for a gift than the large, lightweight novelty mugs you see at card shops.  It's something I use and enjoy - and that's the point of a gift isn't it?
Ok, those are a few things that make a good mug for me.

it has to be a good size, washable & keep my coffee warm without burning my hand.  And cute.  It has to be visually appealing.  That's the easy part.  

Anything I missed?  What do you think makes a good mug?
2 Comments
Cupajotogo
9/16/2015 07:27:19 am

Hi! Great article. I completely agree with you. The other factor for me is the handle... I don't like the half heart shape. I prefer the larger oval so I can get three fingers in there ☺

Reply
Stacey link
9/16/2015 11:39:49 am

I can see that about the heart handles. I have one that doesn't get used much - it's got 3 holes for the fingers as the handle. I'm just nto that coordinated in the mornings!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    I Am
    Stacey Lynn

    I love coffee - GOOD COFFEE, not that stuff in a can.  I'm addicted to the small batch roasted beans from artisan roasters around the country.  These are some notes on coffees I have enjoyed.  (the ones I didn't like I pretend didn't happen to me)

    Picture

    Archives

    August 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    50 States Of Coffee
    5k
    Abana Blend
    Absinthe
    Aeropress
    Africa
    Alabama
    Alaska
    Albuquerque
    Angel's Cup
    Athens
    Atlanta
    Awesome Sauce
    Barefoot Coffee Roasters
    Barrel Aged
    Beanfruit
    Beehouse
    Bespoken
    Black Dog Coffee House
    Blend
    Blip Coffee
    Blueprint Coffee
    Bodum
    Bodum Bistro
    Bolivian
    Bolivia Newton John
    Brandywine
    Bunn
    California
    Camping With Coffee
    Capresso Infinity
    Carrier Roasting
    Case Study Coffee
    Central American Fusion
    Charlotte
    Chicago
    Coffee
    Coffee Cola
    Coffee House
    Cold
    Cold Brew
    Colorado
    Compelling & Rich Coffee
    Crows Coffee
    Cups
    Dark Matter
    Dark Roast
    Delaware
    Diet
    Dripper
    El Salvador
    Epic Bean
    Equator Coffee
    Essence Of Coffee
    Ethiopia
    Ethiopian
    Filling Station
    Flight Coffee
    French Press
    Fritz's
    Georgia
    Goshen Coffee
    Graphic
    Grinder
    Guatemala
    Handipress
    Handpresso
    Hario V60
    Heirloom Bakery
    Hoka
    Honduras
    Hotbox Roasters
    Iced
    Iowa
    Jittery Joe's
    Kaldi's Coffee
    Kalita Wave
    Kansas City
    Kao Jai Coffee
    Kccoffeegeek
    Kcmo
    Keep Cup
    Kentucky
    Kenyan
    Lanna Coffee
    Louisiana
    Louisiana Roasting Company
    Madcap
    Magic Coffee Truck
    Messenger Coffee
    Meta Coffee Roasters
    Mexican
    Milk
    Minneapolis
    Minnesota
    Missouri
    Moka Pot
    Mug
    Mugs
    New Hampshire
    New Jersey
    New Mexico
    Nitro
    North Carolina
    Oklahoma
    Onyx Coffee Lab
    Oregon
    Peaks Coffee
    Perc Coffee
    Portable Coffee Maker
    Portland
    Pour Over
    Presto Coffee
    Prospect Roasters
    Prosum Roasters
    PT's Coffee
    Pts Coffee
    Quote
    Raven's Brew
    Red Headed Philospher
    Review
    River City Roasters
    Rook
    Rosie's Coffee Roasting Co
    Running
    Scooter's Coffee
    Second Best
    Sidamo
    Smellycat
    Smelly Cat Coffee
    South Dakota
    Spyhouse
    Square One Coffee
    Sterling Coffee Roasters
    Subscription
    Sumatra
    Sweet Bloom Coffee
    Tanager
    Tasting
    Tennessee
    Thai
    Thailand
    The Roasterie
    Thomas Jefferson
    Topeca
    Tulsa
    Vermont
    Washington
    Weight Loss
    Whoop Ass
    Yirgacheffe

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.