Coffee mugs are the often forgotten about aspect of coffee drinking but in reality, they are the second most important factor behind the quality of the coffee. A low quality or poorly made coffee mug can easily ruin the taste of a good coffee, while a good quality mug will actually enhance your coffee’s flavor.

The tradition has always been to drink tea in cups and coffee in mugs. These days coffee mugs need not be boring and plain as there are a plethora of different designs out there for you to choose from. You’ll find weird and wonderful coffee mug shapes, sizes and made of varying materials. The most common materials that coffee mugs are made from are porcelain, with glass, stainless steel, ceramics and hard plastics trailing behind.

Different occasions call for different coffee mugs. A party may call for nice classy porcelain mugs with a plain yet not too boring design. If you are especially décor conscious, consider matching your mugs to your house draperies and table cloths! Your guests will take note of and may even comment on your attention to detail.

Office workers generally drink coffee throughout the day (perhaps to stay awake). Most workers buy a special mug just for the office. Because this mug gets washed in the lunch room with all the other mugs, the owner should make sure that their mug is unique. This can be a good opportunity to show off a sense of humor as there are many novelty coffee mugs out there.

Along with design and material, you should also consider the size of your coffee mug. There is no point having a tea sized cup as it just won’t hold enough coffee. On the other hand you probably won’t enjoy having one of those oversized coffee cups where your regular coffee only fills half of it! A 12 ounce mug is the ideal size for most occasions.

Porcelain mugs are a bit delicate and are prone to cracking or smashing if you drop them. If you know you’re going to be a in a volatile place such as an outdoor work site, plastic or foam cups are a good idea. If you choose the foam variety, ensure they are the type that can be recycled.

The best way to get the most out of your coffee is to find a mug that not only looks and feels good, but allows the full coffee flavor to come out!