What makes a great coffee cup?
Cups come in all shapes and sizes, but have you ever stopped to think about what makes a cup truly great? While this varies from person to person, I believe there are some key aspects worth considering:
• Material matters
A good coffee cup needs to strike the right balance in material thickness; enough to prevent burned hands, without feeling clunky. It’s no wonder ceramics dominate the market with their insulating properties, while glass or metal are less popular choices (we’ve all been burned by those glass cups some places insist putting burning hot coffee in, haven’t we?)
• The cup’s rim
The top rim of the cup plays a surprisingly big role. Smooth finishes are essential – lips are sensitive, and nobody wants to feel sharp edges or rough textures.
• Shape & feel
Personally, I love a cup I can wrap my hands around and snuggle up on the sofa with – a comforting feeling during a chilly morning coffee break. For me, coffee cups without handles fit the bill perfectly. Handles are of course more common, but not always inclusive for our left-handed friends.
What might surprise you is that my favorite coffee cup isn’t from a trendy design shop, it’s actually a mustard jar! Every year around Christmas time, Apoteket (a Swedish apothecary) sell mustard jars made by Höganäs that double up as drinking cups after. Whether by accident or design, they’re a perfect example of reuse, a key aspect of circular economy – and a fun item to collect. (If only I liked mustard!)
What about you? What does your perfect cup look like, and where did you find it? I’d love to hear your story!
FRIDA RAGNAR 