I have a confession: I can’t stop, won’t stop hoarding coffee mugs. I’ve reached a point where the designated shelf in my cupboard is overflowing with mugs big and small. They’re all mismatched, with each serving a different need or evoking a different memory, like the tiny orange bunny rabbit mug my mom bought for me when I was eight and has been with me ever since. And while there’s a special place in my heart for every mug in my collection (that’s why I can’t seem to part ways with any of them, despite the overflowing cabinet situation), there are certainly ones I gravitate toward almost subconsciously when I go to make my morning coffee.
- A cult favorite: East Fork Mug
- The coolest mug for gifting to friends (or yourself): Peter Shire Splatter Mug
- The secret to always hot coffee: Ember Smart Mug
- For the budding latte artist: Fellow Monty Milk Art Cup
I’m currently deep in the honeymoon phase with the espresso machine I got last year, so I’m reaching for mugs that allow me to practice my (not terrible but far from good) latte art skills. The one I use most often is a black-and-white number I made in my weekly pottery class some time ago. It’s large enough to accommodate a double shot of espresso and just the right amount of milk for a cappuccino, is wide enough to fit my milk art attempts, and the glaze on its striped handle dripped in the kiln in such a way that it feels molded to my hand—a happy accident if there ever was one.
You can’t buy that mug, of course, but I’ve left my second favorite latte art-friendly mug for you below—along with recommendations from a host of other BA staffers.
The best mugs
Below you’ll find picks designed to keep your beverage hot through chaotic mornings filled with kid breakfasts and school drop-offs, as well as large vessels that are perfect for enjoying your coffee or tea while curled up on the couch with a book during lazy afternoons. It’s a sort of choose-your-own-coffee-adventure.
Haand 10-Oz. Short Mug
Haand’s 10-oz. Short Mug is by far the most stylish mug I own, in a sort of timeless way. I love the modern look of its straight sides and the somewhat unexpected proportions. It’s also handmade, so it’s perfectly imperfect and reminds me of something I might be really excited to find at a thrift store or flea market. But unlike my vintage treasures, the matte glaze on this porcelain mug is lead-free and dishwasher-safe (it’s microwave-safe, too, though I’d never microwave my coffee).
Beyond looking good, this is the mug I reach for when I want to feel cozy while I sit and savor my coffee. Because it’s shorter and wider than a classic diner mug, I can comfortably wrap both hands around it. —Emily Farris, senior commerce writer
East Fork Mug
East Fork Pottery has a bit of a cult following, and the brand’s standard ceramic mug (called, quite simply, The Mug) is probably its most popular product—and my mug of choice. It’s thick and hefty, and it keeps its contents nice and warm for a long time. This is important to me as someone who often makes tea, forgets they made tea, and later rediscovers the tea and still wants to drink it.
The mugs come in a couple different sizes and an ever-changing variety of attractive, limited edition glazes, all of them dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Be careful if you’re prone to collecting; you might just end up filling a cabinet with a rainbow of East Fork mugs. —Wilder Davies, commerce writer
Peter Shire Splatter Mug
My favorite mug is the pricey but beautiful Splatter Mug designed by the Los Angeles–based artist Peter Shire, which gives you the luxury of drinking coffee out of a cute little sculpture every morning. Shire was one of the founding members of the Memphis Milano design group, renowned for its love of kitschy shapes and color combinations, and these brightly hand-painted, slab-constructed mugs certainly deliver on that aesthetic. But don’t be fooled by the unconventional look of the Splatter Mugs—they’re surprisingly ergonomic and pleasant to drink from; their thick sides have good heat retention; and the stable, sturdy bases protect surfaces from heat and prevent tipping.
I like to give these as very special gifts because they are truly one-of-a-kind (each colorway is produced in limited batches, and each cup is signed and dated by the studio). Pro tip: If you’re local to LA, wait for Shire’s yearly studio sale to pick one up at a discount. —Paz Mendez Hodes, director of creative development
Fellow Monty Milk Cups
I’m in a committed relationship with my Breville espresso machine, and part of being in said committed relationship is working on my latte art game. The Monty Milk Cups from Fellow were designed for just that. They feature a wide mouth that allows you to get the tip of your milk pitcher close to the coffee’s surface and a so-called hidden parabolic slope that’s meant to lift crema up to the top without disruption—plus they’re perfectly sized for lattes, cappuccinos, or cortados, depending which one you choose.
Another reason I love them? They’re designed to be stackable for easy storage in my overstuffed drinkware cabinet. Do note that these are hand-wash only—a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the sake of my latte art journey. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer
HMM X Spring Pool Glass W Glass Mug
I’m a sucker for any glass that looks old. I have green wine goblets with crystal stems (that I bought at a secondhand store on vacation before realizing they wouldn’t ship them home for me), I got my mixing bowls on auction, and I jumped when I saw these handmade amber mugs from Sightglass roasters in partnership with HMM. They’re just big enough to sip through a cup of coffee or tea before my drink gets cold, and the polygonal shape gives my fidgeting fingers something to do in the morning. But while the outside of the mugs has those soft tapered angles, their interior is smooth and round, making them easy to clean.
A bonus for me is that they’re made of 100% recycled glass, which means that even though my mugs are relatively new, the glass used to make them could be the most vintage thing in my kitchen. —Joe Sevier, senior SEO editor, cooking
Ember Smart Mug
Imagine a world where coffee never gets cold. This utopian dream is my reality with the Ember Mug 2, a battery-powered coffee cup that keeps any liquid piping hot for up to 90 minutes or even longer if returned to the charging dock. After pouring my morning mug, over two hours lapse before my small kids are fed, dressed, and dropped off at daycare.
Despite being constantly dragged away from my coffee, every sip I take upon return is heated to my preset target temperature of exactly 137°F. I know when this heat level is reached because we live in the future and this magical coffee mug is synced to my iPhone. It’s not an exaggeration to say this is a life-changing product that I use multiple times per day. It has eliminated lukewarm coffee from my life, and I’m never going back. —Dan Siegel, senior director of creative development
Heath Ceramics Stack Mug
How do I adore my Stack Mug? Let me count the ways. It’s dishwasher-safe. It’s beautifully glazed and shaped to, well, easily stack in your cabinet. It’s got a just-thin-enough lip and is substantial without being heavy. The handle feels almost custom-fit, looping snugly around my finger as I tote hot cups of tea around my apartment.
And, I will argue, it is the perfect size. This is no behemoth mug, but an 8-oz. marvel that delivers steamy hot sips from first to last. There’s no leftover pool of chilly coffee to chug because the Stack holds a Goldilocks-level amount of your preferred drink, which you’ll happily finish before it goes cold. —Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior service editor
Le Creuset Vancouver Mug
In a cupboard filled to the brim with niche kitschy mugs, I find myself gravitating to my nectarine orange Le Creuset Vancouver mug. I’m very particular when it comes to mug size, in that they need to be larger than my hand. The Le Creuset fulfills that need, which means it's big enough for highly caffeinated chai, milky matcha lattes, and cozy hot chocolates. The handle is super comfortable.
Because it’s made with stoneware, this mug is also durable. I’ve popped it into the dishwasher many times without issue and have accidentally toppled it over without causing any cracks. I’ve also found that it microwaves well. The handles on a lot of other mugs I own heat up to the point where I can’t touch or handle them out of the microwave even after just 30 seconds, but I’ve found that this isn’t the case with this cup. If you’re not a fan of orange, it also comes in a bunch of other colorways. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, associate director of social media
Felt and Fat Coffee Mug
Generally speaking I am not short of opinions, but when it comes to mugs, my most volatile inner Anton Ego runs free like a spilled cup of coffee. Too rough! Too small! Weird handle! Too shiny! The fact is, I don't get out of bed for less than a 350 g (think 12-oz. if that helps) pour of coffee, which I brew right into my mug. Felt and Fat’s 12-oz. mugs are just the right size, and their feel and profile is reassuringly balanced with soft, clean lines and and an ergonomic handle. My coffee filter holders sit comfortably and stably within them with zero tippiness.
I love the look of their confetti-spatter-painted design in particular, which features a restrained spray of color against a neutral background, making them integrate well with my cabinet graveyard of colorful but ultimately inadequate mugs that didn’t make the cut. —Chris Morocco, food director
Miir TruEnamel Camp Cup
Do I need a specific mug for my coffee? No. But I find that a good coffee chalice makes for a more pleasurable morning, which sets the tone for the day. More times than I can recount, the one you least expect surprises you. The Miir TruEnamel Camp Cup was an afterthought add to our overstuffed mug shelf (yes, a purge is long overdue), but has become a go-to.
It arrived as part of a package that included Miir’s excellent double-walled stainless-steel carafe and scale. It’s simple and light, but its smooth enamel finish and sleek handle feel great in your hand, while the thin lip makes for a pleasurable drinking experience (I want the same from my glassware, especially a wine glass). Bonus: The tight-fitting lid turns it into a travel mug—perfect for the days when you run out of time to savor your brew and need to bolt to get the kids to school on time. —Pervaiz Shallwani, senior staff writer and editor, global foodways
Hasami Porcelain Mugs
Like what I assume is every 20-something, my mug collection was a cohort of misfits, some with handles, some without, each with a background story of how I acquired them. In my 30s, along with the adult acne no one told me to watch out for, came a deep and sudden dislike for the mismatched mugs I’d once found charming. Now it just looked cluttered and I was desperate to replace them all. I knew I wanted stacking mugs (to save space in my NYC apartment) with handles (so I could actually drink a hot beverage without burning my hands). I settled on a cluster of Hasami Porcelain mugs, their muted, earthen tones filling me with the tranquility of a stone garden.
I have two different sizes and they stack so neatly the columns of mugs are almost militant in their order. There’s a texture to them, a subtle grit akin to running your fingers over fine beach sand. They’re sturdy without being clunky, dishwasher-safe, and I’ve even microwaved a mug cake or two in my time. —Shilpa Uskokovic, senior test kitchen editor
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