1. History
    Coffee cup lids 

2. Shapes and sizes
    Cafe drinkware  Cappuccino  Demitasse  Gibraltar or cortado  Shape innovation 

3. Materials
    Porcelain  Ceramic  Paper  Bamboo  Polystyrene  Coffee cup sleeve 

4. References

A coffee cup is a container that coffee and espresso-based drinks are served in. Coffee cups are typically made of glazed ceramic, and have a single handle for portability while the beverage is hot. Ceramic construction allows a beverage to be drunk while hot, providing insulation to the beverage, and quickly washed with cold water without fear of breakage, compared to typical glassware.

A coffee cup may also be a disposable cup in which hot beverages, including coffee, can be contained. Disposable coffee cups may be made out of paper or styrofoam. At coffee shops, paper cups are commonly used to give beverages to customers on the go, usually with a coffee cup sleeve to provide insulation against heat transferred through the container.

A new alternative trend sees consumers purchasing reusable coffee cups instead of disposable cups as a more sustainable approach to coffee consumption becomes more popular. These can include bamboo cups, americano cups made from polypropylene as well as other organic materials such as starch and paper pulp. Research shows that only 1 in 400 single use cups are recycled and media coverage has encouraged consumers to look for alternatives ^[1]

History

In the past, other materials which have been used to make coffee cups are clay, wood, strengthened glass, metal, ceramic and porcelain.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

Coffee cup lids

Usually made of plastic, the first patent for a coffee cup lid design was filed in 1967, and focused on creating a tight seal between the cup and the lid to reduce leaking and a vent hole to allow steam to escape.^[2][3][4] However, there was no opening for drinking, and the consumer would have to tear into the lid.^[5] In 1986, the Solo Traveler lid was created; it is found in the Museum of Modern Art's 2004 exhibit "Humble Masterpieces".^[6][7] Recent lid designs like the Viora have improved on Solo Traveler's design, which has too small a vent to allow sufficient air to enter while drinking.^[3] Louise Harpman, co-owner of the world's largest collection of coffee cup lids and co-author of the book Coffee Lids (Princeton Architectural Press, 2018), suggests that coffee cup lids "represent a major shift in American 'to-go' culture".^[8]

Shapes and sizes

Cafe drinkware

There are cafe cups in various sizes, standardised to reflect paper cup sizes. They are typically 225, 336, 460 and sometimes 570 ml. Slight variation is to be expected among various coffeehouses, but these sizes are the standard. These are the cups that house mochas, lattes, and other coffee drinks. These cups are also made of porcelain and shaped to encourage and aid in creating latte art.

Cappuccino

The cappuccino is served in its own cup, a 171 ml porcelain cup served on an accompanying saucer. The size of the cup reflects the traditional cappuccino, a drink with a 1:1:1 ratio. 57 ml espresso, 57 ml steamed milk, 57 ml integrated foam.^[9]

Demitasse

The Demitasse is a cup specially crafted for espresso. It is 60-80 ml in capacity, and usually served on a saucer. The traditional macchiato: 2 shots of espresso and a dollop of foam is also served in the demitasse, on an accompanying saucer.

Gibraltar or cortado

The "Gibraltar" or cortado is served in a 115 ml rocks glass.^[10]

Shape innovation

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain allows for heat retention and crema preservation. However, porcelain cools down quickly due to air bubbles in the cup. Crema is the coffee foam at the top of a shot of espresso. Preserving it in cups allows for latte art to occur in milk based espresso drinks.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

Ceramic

Ceramic is a general term for all clay materials excluding Porcelain. It is a more sturdy material than Porcelain and since the material is thicker the cup walls have better heat retention abilities. Ceramic is a preferred material when the coffee cup must be more robust and resistant to damage.

Paper

Bamboo

The world’s fastest growing plant, bamboo can be used to make re-usable coffee cups. They are a great alternative to disposable coffee cups. They are heavier than a traditional paper cup but much lighter than a ceramic mug, BPA and phthalate free as well as light, sturdy and fully dishwasher safe. Often with silicone sleeves and non-drip silicone lids. Bamboo is a wonderful material, as it’s naturally sterile. Bamboo actually neutralises bacteria left on the surface after 24 hours, which is perfect for use in food & drink products.^[15]

Polystyrene

Coffee cup sleeve

Coffee cup sleeves are roughly cylindrical sleeves that fit tightly over handle-less paper coffee cups to insulate the drinker's hands from hot coffee. The coffee sleeve was invented and patented by Jay Sorensen in 1993 and are now commonly utilized by coffee houses and other vendors that sell hot beverages dispensed in disposable paper cups. Coffee sleeves are typically made of textured paperboard, but can be found made of other materials.

References

• Methodius of Antioch
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