How to choose the perfect Coffee Cup

We all dream of that perfect coffee moment, where we get to enjoy the perfect cup of coffee from the local cafe on the weekend or taking that coffee break from the office. 

Some factors could be better than a delicious cup of coffee, or some may even enhance the overall experience of drinking coffee. 

Few key factors that come to mind are 

• the warm and gentle aroma; 
• the first sip allowing the flavour notes to hit you for the first time; 
• that satisfying mouthfeel and aftertaste;

All coffee lovers put in a lot of time and effort to select the best coffee beans, milk and even the espresso machine. Still, we sometimes forget the difference a perfect coffee cup makes towards the overall coffee drinking experience!

You may be someone who likes to enjoy your coffee over a weekend newspaper or someone who routinely likes to enjoy your favourite cappuccino on your commute to work, or you enjoy simply savouring a cuppa from the comfort of your couch; there are a few factors to consider before selecting the perfect cup to make your coffee or tea in.

The science behind choosing the perfect coffee cup

A 2017 cross-cultural study examining the shape-taste relationship between mugs and the coffee served in them found that test subjects tended to associate narrower mugs with more excellent aromatics, shorter profiles with bitter and intense coffees, and wider cups with sweeter flavours.

Other studies, such as van Rompay et al. in 2016, have looked into a bitter drink's perceived flavour (coffee) versus a sweet drink (hot chocolate). Bitterness ratings were reportedly 27% higher when participants drank from a mug with a 3D-printed angular surface pattern, while sweetness ratings were 18% higher when participants held a rounded-surface profile.

Fabiana Carvalho, the Brazilian PhD researcher behind The Coffee Sensorium, an academic research project into the flavour, is currently working on matching certain vessels with specific coffee flavour profiles. 

According to her studies, the colour pink and rounded cups strongly associated with sweetness.

What can a good coffee cup do for coffee?

Volume

The amount of coffee you like to drink will determine the ideal size of your coffee cup. A typical coffee cup is around 12 ounces, with sizes varying from 4 ounces up to 30 ounces.

If you are someone who will pour your second or even third cup before you are out of the door, maybe you should try a larger mug such as 16 ounces. 

If you tend to drink while getting ready and doing your chores and then end up leaving half on the counter, you should go for a smaller 8-ounce size. 

And for iced coffee, you'll need a a large or jumbo cup to hold both the ice and the coffee.

Cup shape and design

You must look for design options such as a conical bottom that help pour the perfect cup without causing a splash or too much of a stir. 

Check for washing and care instructions. Is it dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and good to go at all times?

Material

Whichever material your coffee cup made of will have a direct impact on the heat retention and temperature stability of coffee (as well as the cup's durability).

The type of material will have a direct impact on how quickly the coffee cools.

Tritan™ is a material engineered to be better than glass and better than stainless. And better than any other plastic or single-use cups. Tritan doesn't contain BPA, BPS or any other bisphenols. Products made with Tritan plastic are clear, durable, safe and stylish. 

It is built strong and supports maximum re-use and highly chemical resistant, which is super handy as coffee stains! It won't retain smell or odour and does not interfere with the taste of your coffee.  This way, the coffee tastes better in a Tritan cup as there are no contaminants, and you get 100% of the coffee flavour.

Tritan from Eastman is a clear plastic that retains its colour and gloss even after dishwasher cycles. Tritan™ plastic looks like glass until you drop it and it doesn't smash. Other transparent plastics or stainless products lose their lustre after repeated dishwashing.

It won't crack, discolour or warp in the dishwasher and, unlike stainless steel, Tritan won't dent or ding.

Apart from all this the material you use will have a direct impact on your carbon foot print. Australians alone throw out 2.7 million single-use or disposable coffee cups every single day. This adds up to 1 billion coffee cups thrown out every year.

Swapping to a reusable coffee cup or a Keep cup is one step towards Zero Waste living.

Using a BPS free reusable coffee cup will help you get the full taste profile of your coffee at the right temperature while feeling good about your decision to reduce the pressure on our planet one cup at a time!

See our range of BPS free Tritan Reusable coffee cups.

Check out our blog about why you should choose Uppercup, the perfect BPA free Reusable coffee cup.