Types of Coffee Cups

Americans are the leading consumers of coffee.

Leading the world's coffee consumers, Americans drink 146 billion cups of coffee per year. Many of these are consumed outside the home, making coffee retailers the fastest-growing segment of the restaurant industry. This 7-percent annual growth rate creates a growing need for disposable coffee cups, a true environmental concern that has led to initiatives for more re-usable and recyclable options.

Traditional Coffee Mugs

Basic styles are still popular.

Ceramic or porcelain coffee mugs are the norm for most restaurants and households. Ranging in size from 4 to 12 oz., the mugs come in a variety of colors and styles. Find everything from witty sayings to photographs of family on personalized coffee mugs, or stick with a plain white mug. Unusual coffee mugs are a favorite gag gift so finding unique and even odd ones presents no difficulty at all.

Stainless Steel Travel Mugs

Commuters find stainless steel travel mugs convenient.

With coffee shops appearing on every corner, bringing coffee to work in a stainless steel thermos has become less and less common. Even so, the stainless steel single-serving coffee cup is a popular choice for coffee-drinking commuters. Fitting nicely into car drink holders, these travel mugs offer a way to keep coffee warm and secure while on the move.

Disposable Cups

Disposable cups create landfill waste.

Disposable cups offer convenience for coffee-drinkers on the go. Most to-go coffees come in styrofoam or polystyrene-coated paper cups and this creates significant waste. Unlike simple paper cups, these cups are neither biodegradable nor recyclable. They range in size and generally come with lids to prevent spills, adding further landfill waste.

Eco-friendly Options

Re-using is even better than recycling.

Any coffee cup that is re-usable is environmentally preferable to disposable cups. Some coffee shops even offer a discount for bringing in your own cup. There is much debate regarding the environmental impact of disposable polystyrene versus paper cups. While paper is a renewable resource and polystrene foam requires the use of petroleum, a non-renewable resource, paper also requires the harvesting and processing of many trees. Neither is really a good option.

References

• Coffee-Statistics: Coffee Statistics Report 2011 Edition
• University of Wollongong: One Less Cup
• Ask a Scientist: Paper vs. Polystyrene foam Cups
• Stainless Steel Travel Mug: Stainless Steel Travel Mug Advantages