Mugs
I only purchase a mug if I see one that really catches my eye. I spent some time looking for the right mug online and I could not find one that I liked. I let myself embrace serendipity and I ended up finding two mugs from which I really like to drink.
Below I list the mugs from which I drink and have drunk in the past.
Hamptons Tea Mug
Backstory
Before I was a coffee drinker, I used to drink tea. There was a time in my life where I would have three or four cups of tea a day. I liked tea. My favorite brand was Twinings.
My family knew that I liked tea. On one Christmas, a family member bought me a tea set. The tea set had a set of tea bags and a mug. There may have been some biscuits in the set too. I cannot remember.
Up until I received that mug, I only had one mug for myself. All the mugs in my house were communal.
I used the Hamptons mug for a number of years. I primarily drank tea out of the mug until I became interested in coffee. For the first few months of my coffee journey, this was my go-to mug.
I no longer have this mug.
Description
A white mug with a black body. The body displays the Hamptons Tea logo.
Morrisons Mug
Backstory
A few days after I decided that I was not going to buy a mug online, I found one that I really liked. I went down the Home aisle in Morrisons and found a beautiful mug. It was ceramic. I had been looking at ceramic mugs online with a keen interest for a while.
The aesthetics appealed to me as soon as I laid eyes on the mug. When I picked up the mug to examine it more closely, I could feel a heavy weight. I like a mug that has some weight. I feel like I'm not going to break it as easily. I dropped my Hamptons mug on the carpet a few times and it survived.
I paid three pounds for the Morrisons mug. I used it every day until I got my new mug.
Appearance
A ceramic mug with a clay-like pattern.
Starbucks Mug
Backstory
Starbucks merchandise is only available from their stores. I do not live near to a Starbucks. I did not want to buy a mug second-hand online so I said that I'd wait until I next visited a Starbucks to check out what they had to offer.
When I was on vacation, I was lucky enough to be close to two Starbucks branches. On my first visit, I saw an excellent mug. It was black and had the Starbucks branding written on both sides. I picked up the mug and it felt premium, just like the Morrisons mug.
I knew that I may not be back in Starbucks for a while so I purchased the mug alongside a flat white. I have used this mug ever since I purchased it.
Appearance
A black ceramic mug with a somewhat square handle. Starbucks lettering appears in white on both sides of the mug.
Espresso Cup
Backstory
When I started to get into making espresso at home, I decided that I would need a cup in which to pour my espresso shots. My existing mugs were too big for just one espresso shot. I did have some espresso cups in the cupboard but none of them felt right so I decided to buy a new espresso cup.
My espresso cup was purchased from Loveramics.
Appearance
A caramel-coloured ceramic mug with a handle
Cappuccino Cup
Backstory
In excitement at the prospects of making cappuccinos at home with real espresso, rather than filter coffee, I decided to purchase a cappuccino cup. As I write, this mug has not been used because I am still getting my espresso right. I hope to bring this mug into use when I pour a better espresso so that I can make cappuccinos and enjoy them in their own cup.
This cappuccino cup, like my espresso cup, was purchased from Loveramics.
Appearance
A grey ceramic mug with a marbled texture. The cup has a small handle.
Starbucks Edinburgh Mug
I saw this mug while I was waiting in line at the Starbucks in the middle of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. I only needed to pick up a bottle of water as I had been walking for a long time. But, I saw the mug and thought it looked great. When I went into the store, I asked how much the mug was (9 pounds) and then purchased it.
Appearance
This mug features a variety of landmarks in or around Edinburgh.
Loveramics Tumbler
One day, I was in Fortitude Coffee, York Place, Edinburgh. I ordered a flat white which was served to me in a beautiful ceramic mug that was placed on a tray alongside an espresso spoon and a glass of water. The mug caught my eye. I was not so interested in the specific mug itself as I was the shape and size of the mug. Well, I am unsure if ceramic tumblers count as mugs. I don't have an opinion on that. Semantics aside, a few days after my visit I done some research and found that Loveramics was selling ceramic tumblers. I liked the design of them so I decided to order a 150 ml tumbler. This is my smallest, non-espresso mug, but one from which I thoroughly enjoy drinking. I like drinking from smaller cups and this one just feels the right size. The tumbler is also really nice to hold.
Appearance
The top half of the mug is pale green and the bottom half of the mug is white.
