Research shows evidence that the vessel from which a coffee is drank from, can significantly change the quality of the drink itself. In terms of sustainability, taste, and convenience, let’s talk about the paper cup versus ceramic mug debate.
Recently, on the News and Brews Instagram account, I asked my followers if they prefer their hot drinks in a paper cup or a coffee mug to get a vague idea of people’s general opinions towards the paper versus ceramic debate. 8/10 voters opted for a coffee mug rather than a paper cup.
Working in a café since I was 17 years old has taught me the so called ‘ins and outs’ of specific coffee requirements, from its temperature to its amount of milk and so on. At first, I never understood the paper cup preference, silently complaining a little when a customer demands a mug when our dishwasher is broken or all the mugs are being used. However, since leaving home and buying coffees from a variety of new places in Newcastle, I’ve found I would also much prefer to sit down and drink my hot coffee from a mug rather than a paper cup.
Many claim the paper cups just don’t have the same taste as drinking the same coffee from a ceramic mug instead. Why is that?
Let’s Discuss Taste
Coffee mugs, being made from a more insulating material, maintain the hot drink’s temperature for longer, which can often improve a coffee’s taste significantly, and the flavour is better kept.
Paper cups are lined with plastic which prevents the cup from soaking up the liquid and leaking, this chemical (polylactic acid), which is a biodegradable polymer which derives from corn starch or sugarcane, can sometimes leak into the coffee, potentially affecting the coffee’s taste. This is also why you might find your coffee tastes a bit like cardboard or paper.
Furthermore, the paper cups material encourages absorption of the coffee into the paper of the cup, which might lead to certain coffee oils and flavours being lost to the cup itself.
A study by Fabiana M.Carvalho et al, into the effect of paper cups when drinking coffee, shows that texture can greatly affect the quality of a hot drink’s aftertaste, which supports the view that the type of ‘drinking vessel’ that your coffee comes in, is a valid debate amongst coffee lovers. See more:
The Environmental Explanation
Mugs offer a more environmentally friendly option for drinking and serving hot drinks, although paper cups are a cheaper immediate option, investing in mugs are a better long-term solution in terms of cost and their reusability.
Ceramic mugs tend to use a lot of energy to create, and aren’t immediately the more eco-friendly decision. However, if taken care of and used many times over a longer period, ceramic mugs become an easy environmental solution.
The general paper coffee cup in the UK is made from, “paper fibre and a 5% polyethylene lining” according to the Environmental Audit Committee, House of Parliament, which are made difficult to recycle due to its mixed components that need to be separated before they can be recycled. See more:
Source: Jolie Brennan
Jony, in an article from Anzhu, a sustainability solutions company, states that coffee mugs are said to become more eco-friendly than paper cups after approximately 18 uses, at this point the cost of production and reusing the mug balances out the waste of the disposable cup.
Convenience
Ultimately, a paper coffee cup is perfect for a coffee on the go, when you can’t sit for a while or when you simply don’t have access to a ceramic mug. Obviously, some prefer the paper cup experience as its easier and proves convenient in more situations, but if you are a regular hot drink consumer, consider getting a travel mug and save yourself some money after around 18 uses! Even better, you’ll find it tastes a whole lot nicer.
Follow News and Brews on Instagram
Let us know how you prefer your coffee in the comments!
Be First to Comment