CoffeeDoes Your Coffee Cup Matter?
Does your coffee cup matter?
Coffee drinkers are a peculiar bunch. Some will only drink coffee from a specific cup, others could care less. A select few coffee consumers go so far as to bring their favorite mug with them when they visit a restaurant or coffee shop. With so many cup and mug options available to the average consumer, it is worth examining the advantages and disadvantages that some of these options present.
Styrofoam Cups ̣€“ Styrofoam has become a staple for coffee cups across offices, restaurants and home use. These cups do not conduct heat, so piping hot coffee can be consumed without risk of burning the hands. Despite this convenience, Styrofoam cups have perhaps the most drawbacks of any cup options. Due to the fact they are rarely re-used, these cups are currently filling up landfills around the world. The major problem with this is that if left out in the elements, it would take today"s Styrofoam cups at least 100 years to break down. There is also a major issue with the transport and development of these cups, as both processes sap non-renewable resources and cause unnecessary harm to the environment. We can see that, despite its practical advantages, Styrofoam is clearly the least environmentally friendly coffee cup option.
The Classic Ceramic Mug ̣€“ The old standby has endured for a reason. The classic mug is the favorite of many coffee drinkers due to its texture, reliability and, surprisingly, its heat transfer. People often take comfort in the way their coffee mug warms their hands as they drink their coffee and there is certainly something to be said for the reusability of these types of cups. Some coffee drinkers use the same mug for their entire life, only switching if their cup becomes damaged or lost. The combination of reliability, durability and low impact on the environment continues to cement the ceramic mug as the cup of choice for millions of coffee drinkers around the world.
The Travel Mug ̣€“ These metal cups have seen surges in popularity over the last couple of decades. Coffee drinkers prefer them for use in the car due to their no-spill tops and ability to keep their beverages hot for a longer period of time. Despite these advantages, there are some inherent drawbacks. Some coffee drinkers complain that these cups tinge their coffee with a metallic taste, while others are bothered by the tendency of the cups to hold odors for a long period of time, even after being washed.