Coffee Cup Types

**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. **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--Paper cups may be lined with wax or plastic to prevent leakage. The Anthora paper cup designed by Leslie Buck for the Sherri Cup Company in 1963 is recognized as an iconic part of New York City daily life. Unfortunately, the plastic-lined cups, although accepted by a few composting facilities, produce plastic fragments and contaminate the ecosystems where they are processed. Once the plastic contaminates the environment, it has not shown to biodegrade, and after a lot of accumulation it will be nearly impossible to clean up. **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. **Polystyrene--Polystyrene, better known under the trademarked brand name Styrofoam, is used mostly because of its insulating abilities. The use of polystyrene is controversial in coffee cups and other containers because it is non-biodegradable, a major part of marine litter, difficult to recycle, and has various health risks. It is banned as a food and drink container in several U.S. cities including Portland, Ore. San Francisco, Calif. and Amherst, Mass. Many more cities are proposing banning the cups. The doughnut company and coffeehouse chain, Dunkin' Donuts, has been criticized for continuing to use styrofoam cups. The company has argued that there is no other material that is as insulated, and has an official statement about their foam cups on their website. However, they have begun phasing in doubled-walled paper cups designed to look like their signature foam cup.**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.