Every morning, I open our cupboard and choose a coffee mug. Some days I reach for one of my fiancée’s handmade mugs. Other days, I pick one of the slightly chunky mugs I made myself.
The coffee might be the same, but the experience never feels exactly the same. One mug fits my hands beautifully. Another makes me slow down. And yes, sometimes I choose one simply because I like its colour that morning.
That made me wonder: can the mug actually change how coffee tastes, or do I just enjoy drinking from it?
Can a coffee mug change the taste of coffee?
A mug does not change the coffee you brewed, but it can change how you experience it. Its shape may affect how you encounter the aroma. Its weight, texture and colour can influence what you expect before you take a sip. How comfortable it feels—and whether you can drink while the coffee is at a temperature you enjoy—matters too.
Researchers have found that characteristics of a cup can influence people’s ratings of coffee aroma, taste and enjoyment. That does not mean a handmade mug magically improves a coffee or that everyone will prefer the same shape. It means the cup is part of the sensory experience.
How I fell into making pottery mugs
A couple of years ago, my fiancée brought handmade pottery mugs into our home. I liked their weight and the feel of the clay in my hands. Before long, choosing a mug became part of making my morning coffee.
Then I decided to try pottery myself. With help from Emily, my instructor at a local studio, I began learning how to shape clay into something I could actually use. My first mugs were a little chunky. Making a handle that feels good in your hand is harder than it looks.
Later, I ran into Emily at Millarville Farmers Market and again at the Inglewood Night Market. Seeing her work outside the studio gave me a new appreciation for how much thought goes into a mug that feels effortless to use.
Emily is the artist behind cerEMics. We worked with her on a small collection of one-of-a-kind mugs for Crickle Creek. Those mugs have sold out, but I still wanted to share her place in this story. She helped me notice an object I had held every morning without thinking much about it.
What should you look for in a coffee mug?
There is no one perfect mug, but a few details are worth noticing:
- The opening: A wider opening gives you room to smell the coffee as you sip. A narrower one may feel different to drink from and may help keep heat in.
- The rim: Notice whether it feels comfortable against your lips. A beautiful mug that is awkward to drink from will probably stay at the back of the cupboard.
- The handle and weight: Can you hold it comfortably when it is full and hot? I learned to appreciate this detail quickly when I started making my own.
- The size: Pick a mug that suits the amount you brew. A small coffee in a very large mug can cool before you finish it.
- The finish: A textured exterior can feel lovely in your hands. For everyday use, I want a smooth, easy-to-clean surface where the coffee touches the mug.
If you are buying handmade pottery for drinking, check with the maker that it is intended for food and hot beverages, and ask how they recommend washing it.
Try the same coffee in two mugs
If you are curious, make enough coffee to pour into two different mugs. Try to serve similar amounts at about the same temperature. Smell each cup, take a sip and switch back.
Do you notice the aroma differently? Is one easier to hold or drink from? Which cup do you reach for again after you have stopped analyzing it?
I would not treat this as a test with a correct answer. It is a small way to pay attention to a coffee you already enjoy. If you want another tasting experiment, our guide to coffee flavour notes can help you find words for what you notice.
I still care enormously about the coffee itself: how it was grown, processed, roasted and brewed. But making pottery reminded me that the experience continues after the brewing is done. Sometimes the mug you made with your own imperfect hands becomes the one you want every morning.
Happy brewing,
Alejandro