From Glass to Ceramic: A Deep Dive Into Different Coffee Cup Materials

Hi everyone! Who else's not a morning person? Not to be overly dramatic, I seriously feel I can't function or think straight without having my first cup of coffee, and I bet some of you know exactly what I'm talking about!

I do love my first-thing-in-the-morning coffee, but I'm not picky about what I drink, and I'm also not fussy about whether it's home-brewed, grab-and-go at a chain, or those *gasp* instant coffee packets. When you have a busy day ahead of you, you gotta do what you gotta do girl!

But what about the type of cup that you use to drink your coffee with? With so many options, what's the difference between them? In this post, let's take a look at some of them!

1. Glass

From Glass to Ceramic: A Deep Dive Into Different Coffee Cup Materials

Often transparent, glass is a non-crystalline solid that during the manufacturing phase, can be easily formed into a variety of shapes and styles, including drinkware. Glass cups come in a wide range of colors and are relatively inexpensive, making them an ideal choice for the home. A very popular option for hot beverages is the double-walled glass mug, which because of its double-layer, keeps your coffee warm for a longer period of time and also minimizes heat transfer.

If being used for coffee or other hot beverages, it's important to make sure that the glasses you're using are made of high-grade borosilicate glass. What makes it so special? Well, borosilicate glass is a type of glass whose components include silica and boron trioxide and because of these components, borosilicate glass is resistant to thermal shock and less susceptible to thermal exposure. In fact, it can withstand a temperature range of -4 °F to 302 °F, perfect if you love your coffee extra hot!

Ever tried pouring hot water into a glass and you hear that sickening *crack* sound? Yup, I feel your pain. I did that once with a beautiful crystal cup a friend gave me. Absolutely no idea why I thought that was OK. I chalk it up to a Monday morning.

2. Ceramic

Credit: Natali Hordiiuk

Ah, the ubiquitous ceramic coffee mug! Hands down, my favorite way to enjoy a nice hot cup of java. Nothing beats how soothing a warm mug feels in my hands as I start the day.

Generally speaking, ceramics are any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at high temperatures. Like glass, ceramics come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. As you've probably guessed, the thicker the walls of the mug, the longer your coffee will stay warmer.

If I have to be picky, I'll say the biggest disadvantage of ceramic mugs is how heavy some of them can be. To be fair, the one I'm using now holds a hefty 16 oz! But I would say ceramic mugs are best enjoyed sitting next to a table or desk where you can put it down and reach for it easily when you want to take a sip. Maybe that's why they're called coffee tables!

3. New Bone China

Credit: Priscilla Du Preez

To make this super clear – despite its name, new bone china doesn't contain any animal bone ash, making it a vegan-friendly option! Also called new fine china or fine china, it's not as light or translucent as fine bone china, but it's a great alternative for those who prefer not to use animal products. The animal bone ash used in traditional bone china is replaced with a non-organic compound such as calcium oxide.

Because new bone china is intended to imitate the properties of fine bone china, the cups tend to be whiter, finer, and more durable. Because the walls are thinner, I'm not sure of their heat-retaining properties, but then again, I personally think that choosing a new bone china coffee cup has more to do with aesthetics than anything else. There's no denying how beautiful and elegant they look compared to my clunky but trusty ceramic mug!

4. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel coffee mugs, specifically those with a leak proof lid, are absolute saviors for those of us on the go. Ever rushed out the door in the morning with your lunch bag in one hand and a travel mug in the other? Available in what seems like an infinite number of colors, patterns, and prints, you are spoilt for choice.

You really can't beat the convenience, but I have to admit that cleaning them isn't the easiest or the quickest. The lid is chock full of crevices that can be hard to reach (remember to clean under the silicone ring!) and because most travel mugs tend to be slimmer in design to fit into car cup holders and bags' side pockets, my hand can't fit into most of them to scrub them properly.

A great hack I discovered – you know how the inside of your travel mug can get kinda icky with brown stains that refuse to come off? Google it and you'll find many recommendations to use baking soda and vinegar. It didn't work that great for me, so I popped in a Polident instead to soak overnight and voila, next morning it was like brand new! Just remember to give it a really good rinse before using.

I'm off to make my next cup of coffee! I don't know, it seems to be a mocha kind of morning. And I'm pretty sure I have a can of whipped cream in my fridge. Time to indulge!