Coffee, Mugs, Joy
Where does your coffee taste best?
I’ll admit, work week coffee has its place. For me, it’s a necessary morning ritual while I ease myself into the inevitably hectic, corporate slipstream. I enjoy it, but there’s something about the environment, the aesthetic, and the taste that alone and considered collectively, feels unsatisfying. I find satisfaction in brewing a pot of coffee, and the idea of being handed a paper cup at a café with a limited capacity, knowing it likely leaches microplastics, doesn't sit well with me. Neither does the experience at my office. I came into the world before the era of instructing a matter synthesizer for a cup to my specifications and after the communal pot in the employee lounge had faded away. At my office, tired-eyed colleagues queue in silence next to a single-serving machine that squirts and belches an unpredictable amount of tepid water unceremoniously into white, unadorned mugs from the cupboard. Dear reader, throughout my travels, I have not encountered mugs as utilitarian or lacking character as the ones provided by my employer. If coffee is synonymous with being the elixir of life (which I will enthusiastically defend), the vessel carrying this liquid should be something worthy of such a role.
All of this is to say, I prefer coffee on the weekend, and I love mugs that have a spark to them. There’s an incredibly satisfying feeling as I make my way down the stairs into the kitchen on Saturday morning after a shower, choosing my favourite mug while a pot of delicious coffee brews. To that end, here are two of my favourite mugs and why they brighten my weekend morning!
notNeutral LINO coffee mug (10oz)
If you’ve ever decided to eschew the paper cup from your favourite upscale coffee establishment and settle into a cozy nook with their house glassware, there’s a good chance you’ve held a mug by notNeutral. The soft, subtle curves, comforting weight and robust porcelain that keeps your latte hot combine to create an elevated drinking experience that brings a refined café aesthetic into your home. My favourite feature is the unapologetically curvy handle that widens and flows seamlessly into the rim of the mug, creating the perfect, natural spot for your thumb to rest. Available in various colorways and sizes, I prefer the 10oz option because it keeps the coffee piping hot. Though it depletes more quickly, it gives me an excuse to stretch my legs and top up from the coffee pot. This branded version, from my favourite specialty coffee company in Colorado—Loyal Coffee—reminds me of sitting in the warm afternoon sun on their patio sipping a velvety smooth latte. As I close my eyes now on this crisp winter day this mug reminds me of being there, gazing at the same mountains I breathlessly ran down in the early dawn. There’s a synergy present in this mug, where form meets function that as a design aficionado speaks to me.
If you’re local to Calgary, Alberta—pop in and check out Eight Ounce Coffee in person or online for their great selection of coffee and gear. This is where I’ve picked up several of my LINO mugs and my current setup (Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select)
Ember Mug 2 (10oz)
An entire pandemic came and passed (but did it really?) before I mustered the temerity to move this item from ‘Saved for Later’ into my cart on Amazon. As a self-confessed technophile, I’m not unaccustomed to flexing my budget on an item that promises to deliver the future, today. However, something about spending well over $100 on a smart, self-heating mug presented some friction that took surviving a global health crisis to overcome. I love my coffee hot and the prospect of avoiding trips to the microwave to speed up the molecules in my brew and eliminating that unsatisfying taste of finishing lukewarm dregs was enough to make this bold leap into the future. How does the future feel? It feels pretty good! The battery life of 1.5 hours has been as advertised on my 10oz mug. When used with the included charging coaster, I can wander around my home all morning, sipping pleasantly hot coffee. While the handle is a bit too thin and utilitarian for my tastes, it does complement the overall sleek and futuristic aesthetic of the mug. One-year after purchasing this I have no regrets and look forward to the tiny joy of feeling like George Jetson, while I sip my weekend coffee. All that’s missing is a pet dog named Astro saying ‘I ruv roo’.
With my favourite mug brimming with coffee and the sun peeking above the horizon on the weekend, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on my blessings and anticipate the adventures the next few days will bring. Long live weekend coffee.
Every time you share an independent writer’s work, a new coffee mug is filled. Maybe.
