Coffee helps me maintain my perfect never killed anybody streak
– unknown
You can get your fix of coffee served to you in many diverse ways. Undeniably (at least from my perspective) the least sensual way is in the ubiquitous white foam cup. You know the one. That being said I’ve had a lot of coffee that way over the years. This is how you are gonna get it at construction sites, logging camps, and at gas stations along the Alcan. I can’t recall ever getting good coffee in one of these cups, but I have had some great cups of coffee this way. Because… at times the greatness of a cup of joe is not measured by what’s actually in the cup, but by the situation you are in, and by whom you are sharing it with.
Equally ubiquitous is the paper cup. Arch rival of the foam cup in the disposable cup industry. Paper cups are often touted as being more environmentally friendly than a foam cup. Don’t be completely fooled by this. They are both bad. Paper cups have a massive carbon footprint, and really aren’t easily recyclable either. I’ve certainly had my share of coffee this way as well. A lot of the same creepy coffee that you get in similar situations as a foam cup, but some of the good times as well. Fun memories like drinking coffee from the iconic Anthora cup, got from some bagel cart or bodega, whilst trying to stave off a cold NYC winters morning standing on a subway platform.
To be fair of course, you can get some really decent coffee served up in a paper cup. Fancy coffee houses pretty much all serve their java this way; especially considering our coffee to go culture, which demands it. (At least in North America) I’ll have more to say about loitering in coffeehouses in another article, but for now… I’ll just say that when I do, I never get a to go paper cup if it can be helped.
For me ceramic or glass are the way to really savor a good cuppa. But even here not all cups are created equal. Some coffee houses have some pretty plain and basic ware. Others however, have stuff that’s special. The Mudd House had hand made ceramics, all one of a kind. At Raging Sage if you get a large coffee it comes in a beer glass; looks as if you are drinking a Guinness at 0600… Coda has lovely cups with their logo on them.
When at home we have a whole cupboard full to select from and of course I have my favourites…
The raggedy mis-shaped homemade cup I pick for my everyday coffee. I can’t recall where I got it from, or who might have made it. It’s a bit rough and tumble, but not too big, and not too small; and very pleasing to hold. Close by my hand as I type this very article, under the stars in the cool pre-dawn morning.
Doublewall glass cup I use to savor the frothy goodness of an Americano, because coffee is a visual experience as well.
The Cambridge and Oxford cups my wife and I have enjoyed together on Saturday mornings for the last 10 years or so. They are getting faded, and have some nicks, but they are a tradition now.
My sea turtle espresso cup, that I got at a plantation on the big island
When traveling my choices are three:
My trusty Yeti thermos mug, and my much used and abused French Press mug for car camping and road tripping brews
My beat-up titanium cup I sometimes take into the high country. Alas, except in this rare case it usually sees naught else than instant in it.
When I am visiting friends and family there are usually a collection of cups on offer. Almost always one of them speaks to me to let me know that I should use it as opposed to one of the other rabble in their collection…
