There's a surprising amount of complexity behind the best coffee mugs on the market. It's not just a matter of style and sentimentality: your mug will affect the flavors of your coffee.
Relatively new research has shown that the weight, shape, colors, and materials will change how much you enjoy your coffee and the flavor notes that you can detect. Even if you own one of the best coffee makers in the world, without knowing it, you could be limited by your cup.
There are, of course, already different cups and mugs for different hot drinks. As a former barista, I'm familiar with the best espresso cups, long latte mugs, and cozy cappuccino cups you enjoy in your local cafe. I've taken my expertise, paired it with research into cup psychology, and curated a list of the best mugs on the market.
After hours of researching the best cappuccino cups, mug sets, and smart options available, I've created a list covering all coffee options. They'll keep your coffee hot, whilst the handles stay cool, and will look slick whilst doing so. From stackable and space-saving to sturdy and heavy-duty, these mugs offer the familiarity of your favorite cafe, but from the comfort of your own home.
Best coffee mugs
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Size: 10 oz
Dimensions: 5 x 3.5 inches
Material: Porcelain
These mugs were designed by baristas, so you know they're technically excellent. Every feature has been thought about, from the thin lip for easy sipping to the thick insulating base. Even the slightly flattened handle top is deliberate: it makes it easier to hold. They're available in a range of colors and sold wholesale, so you might recognise them from your local.
Size: 14 oz
Dimensions: 5.85 x 6.24 inches
Material: Stainless steel
These became an internet sensation when entrepreneur Jeff Bezos shared Ember as his top pick to sip his coffee from. The Ember has a built-in heater which can keep your coffee at a stable temperature for 80 minutes, ensuring it stays away from sour flavors (which develop as your coffee cools). You can choose between black or white and with or without the handle.
Size: 14 oz
Dimensions: 4 x 5.2 inches
Material: stoneware
Of course we had to include Le Creuset on our roundup. Their classic, sturdy stoneware makes this feel every part the luxurious mug. It keeps coffee warm for much longer than the average mug, so is well-suited to those who like their coffee so hot it almost burns their tongue. The lip tapers for easy sipping, but the round handle might slip a bit in your hand. The matte colors also easily pick up fingerprints.
Size: 13.5 oz
Dimensions: 3 x 3.3 inches
Material: ceramic
Stackable and simple, this understated mug offers organic, warm textures to any mug collection. The neat saucer fits on the bottom and can double-up as an insulating lid, which you'll need. Although the wide opening helps you take in the full coffee aromas, it means these cool quicker than other cups.
Size: 15 oz
Dimensions: 4.3 x 5.5 inches
Material: borosilicate glass
These huge mugs are incredibly wide, offering you a full nose of your coffee's aroma. Normally, this could mean that your coffee cools (and sours) quickly, but Zwilling's double-walled vacuum ensures that coffee stays piping hot for ages. As a big cup drinker, these are my personal favorites. I just wish they were stackable.
Size: 8 oz
Dimensions: 3 x 5 inches
Material: ceramics
If you're short on space, these small, stackable mugs are the perfect options. They're a classic choice and almost universally popular. People particularly praise its flattened handle and thumb rest. Combined with excellent insulation, these cups are easy to cradle. However, a thinner lip would make them easier to sip from.
Size: 10 oz
Dimensions: 4 x 3 inches
Material: porcelain
If you want to take in all your coffee aromas, these wide-mouth mugs are a go-to. They still have excellent insulating capacity and an easy-to-hold, flattened handle for resting your thumb on. Again, the lip is quite thick, which doesn't make it as easy to sip from. Whilst these are available in a vast range of colors, they're not stackable.
Size: 9 oz
Dimensions: 3.25 x 4 inches
Material: borosilicate glass
I can attest to the quality and practicality of these glass mugs. Nine ounces isn't that small, especially considering plenty of coffee orders sit around six ounces, but these are designed to be compact. Whilst this is great, it means that the handle can probably only fit a finger and the narrow opening doesn't give you access to all your coffee's aromas.
Size: 10 oz
Dimensions: 3.7 x 4.8 inches
Material: Earthenware
You might recognise Emma Bridgewater's pottery. She hand-crafts incredibly collectable, limited-edition mugs. The half-pint capacity is perfect for coffee, but the twee style isn't for everyone.
How to choose the best coffee mug for you
As I mentioned earlier, there's a lot behind the psychology of your coffee cup, so, whilst you need to consider buying your coffee cups in a set; the aesthetics of them; and the price, there are some equally important factors you'll need to take into account too.
I've thought about these for you, but it can never hurt to learn a little bit about why these are the best.
Size
The average coffee cup should be between seven and eight ounces. I like a large cup of coffee, so my go-tos are closer to 15 oz. If you really only drink flat whites, you'll want a smaller cup, around 5 oz. It's important to choose an appropriate size, because if your cup is too small, your coffee will overflow. If it's too big, your coffee will cool quickly.
Material
The composition of your coffee cup is largely a subjective choice. If you want to look at the physics, ceramic and porcelain are going to insulate your coffee much better than glass, which will cool quicker. If you prefer sipping cooler coffee, you'll want to opt for a glass cup.
Weight and thickness
This is important for how easy your cup is to hold, but it will also affect how good your coffee cup is at insulating. The thicker the base and walls of your coffee cup, generally means that they'll keep your coffee hot, even as you sip your way through your mug.
Handle
Not every mug has a handle. In fact, handleless mugs can feel very natural and comforting to hold. They often look modern and sleek too. The shape of a handle can make all the difference to your cup experience. Round handles look nice, but they can be difficult to get good purchase on. If there's a flat top, it can be easier to get some leverage. It's also important that the handle has enough room for you to get your fingers through.
Extras
Some coffee cups come with a saucer, or they can even have smart technology and extra insulating and thermoregulating features. You might pay more for these features, but if you think they're worth it, then you should splurge.
If you want to learn more about psychology and the technicalities behind your coffee cup, I strongly recommend reading the book Gastrophysics, which is available at Amazon. It’s packed with really insights about how the utensils we drink from can shape our perceptions of foods and it informed how I chose the coffee cups on this list.
How we researched these coffee mugs
At Homes & Gardens, we are committed to giving you expert advice. That’s why we made sure we do thorough research before recommending any product to you.
I’ve scrolled through hundreds of expert and customer reviews to find the most popular, most prestigious coffee cups on the market. I’ve made long lists and shortlists and even shorter shortlists of what the market has to offer. Combined with personal experience both as a barista and with some of these mugs, I’ve got all the information you need to make a secure decision on which coffee cups are the best.
If you're interested in finding out more, we have a page dedicated to how we test.
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