« All about Platters | Home | All types of bowls, and I still want more »
Mugs, coffee mugs, tea cups, and more mugs
By admin | January 8, 2009
There are almost as many different mugs and cups as there are beverages to drink. Cups and mugs are both a handled container to hold beverages. Traditionally, a Cup is round and wide at the top, and round and small at the bottom, and is paired with a saucer. The saucer will have a well (or depression) in the bottom, where the cup will sit. Today, many people use the term Cup and Mug interchangeably. Here are some of the more popular types of mugs.
Mug – usually holds 10 to 16 ounces of fluid, though many tall or jumbo mugs are designed to hold up to even more liquid. Mugs come in a wide variety of shapes.
Coffee Mug – common name for most Mugs.
Can Mug – this name defines the shape of the mug. The most common shape of Mugs is the Can Mug (the mug is cylindrical in shape, like a can with a handle on it). One reason for the Can Mug’s popularity is that the Can mug shape is the easiest shape to decorate, for it has the “flattest” surface on which to apply decoration. Because the Can Mug is shaped like a cylinder, only 1 curve defines the shape of the mug, making it very easy to decorate with decals.
Jumbo Mug – like the name says, it holds a lot, usually starting at 16 ounces. Jumbo Mugs are a variety of shapes, including a can shape. Fiesta dinnerware by Homer Laughlin created a Jumbo Mug (18 ounces) for their dinnerware line, and the shape of the mug is consistent regardless of color. The Jumbo Mug is one of the more popular pieces in the Fiesta dinnerware line.
Cappuccino mug – size varies by manufacturer. A Cappuccino mug is usually a wide mug, sometimes the body of the mug is as wide as it is tall. The wider mug shape maximizes the enjoyment of froth or whipped cream which sits on top of the hot beverage.
Pedestal mug – a mug with a pedestal base, usually a very decorative styling of Mug shape.
Demitasse Mug – a small mug, can also be called a Demitasse cup (traditionally a demitasse cup will be paired with a demitasse saucer, while a Demitasse Mug is a stand alone item.)
Cup – usually holds 8 ounces. A Cup shape is usually round and wide at the top, and round and small at the bottom, and is paired with a saucer
Tea cup – usually hold 8 to 10 ounces. Many older and / or higher priced porcelain and bone china tea cups are decorated inside the cup, in addition to decoration on the outside of the cup. When holding the cup in your right hand, with the handle at a 3′oclock position, the inside decoration for the cup is often placed approximately at the 1′oclock position, rather than 12′oclock position, for the ease of a right handed person to gaze at the inside decoration, while drinking the beverage.
Saucer – a small plate with a well or depression in the center, where a cup sits. Usually 4″ in diameter.
Java Mug – usually a mid to large sized mug, with a capacity of 12 – 16 ounces.
Souper Mug – usually a Souper Mug is wider than it is tall, designed to function as a soup bowl with a handle. The Souper Mug was primarily made by Pfaltzgraff.
Topics: Dinnerware information | No Comments »