Food + Drink + I Want This

Things to drink coffee out of.

I have a problem with buying mugs. I love coffee (and tea, and spiced almond milk), and there’s just something about drinking it from a perfectly-weighted, beautifully-designed mug that makes the whole experience so much nicer. I’m not content to stop with a set of 8 matching mugs, though—no, I need to keep buying more and more mugs (usually in pairs, with the odd single here and there) and consequently finding more and more places to stash them. There are certain ones I prefer for weekday mornings, others that feel right on a Sunday, and the ones I gravitate toward when I’m being stupid and drinking coffee at 10:00 at night.

coffee mugs

1. Bono mugs by Catharina Kippel, Design House Stockholm

Of all of the mugs featured here, these are the only ones I own. Actually, I only own the two in the top row—I have four of each! For a short period of time several years ago, C&B was selling these mugs individually for a great price, so I stocked up out of fear that they’d break easily and then I’d be sad. Happily, they’re all still in great shape! When I have guests, these are the mugs I serve coffee in. They’re also the ones Evan and I use most frequently on weekends. I love love love them.

2. Black Dot mugs, Schoolhouse Electric

I’m obsessed with these mugs. Every time I see a picture of one on Jen’s Instagram, I am filled with lust and greed. Don’t they just look like they’d be so nice to hold?! The little ones are particularly well-proportioned. I love how creamy the white is…I bet they’d look really good in my kitchen.

3. Yellow Fire-King mug, Vint

I’m a sucker for bright yellow, and I love Fire-King glassware. I saw this mug at Vint last night and had to force myself to not buy it. It’s like drinking out of a lemon! Perfect for tea.
Vint is kindly offering a 16% discount for anything in the shop until 12/20. Use the code DOOR16 at checkout!

4. Black Harlequin and Gold Harlequin Thermo mugs, Ferm Living

I pretty much want everything at Ferm Living, these mugs included. I was concerned about the lack of handles at first (I have a few handle-less mugs, and I always wind up having to hold them with napkins), but then I realized they’re actually “thermo” mugs. They have a dual-wall design, so your coffee stays nice and hot inside, but the part that touches your hand is cool. Neat!

coffee mugs

5. Arne Jacobsen letter cups, Finnish Design Shop

Yeah, I know I just said I’m averse to handle-less mugs, but LOOK AT THESE. Worth the burns. (Or, you know, you could keep pencils in them. Or let your coffee cool down and stop being so impatient.) I first spotted these letter cups at Design Milk months and months ago, and I can’t stop thinking about them. The typography dates back to Arne Jacobsen’s signage design for Aarhus City Hall from 1937, and it still looks fresh and modern today. I’d love to have a digitized version of this typeface for my own use!

6. Tu Es La Vague cup, House of Rym

The entire House of Rym product line is beautiful. The ceramics are designed by Swedes Anna Backlund and Elisabeth Dunker (my favorite!). It’s probably not enough to just buy one cup, though, since they look so great when combined with a mismatched saucer as part of a mismatched set. So many pretty photos of all of the options on Elisabeth’s blog!

7. Stig Lindberg Bersa cup & saucer, Huset

Eternal wish-list item. Sigh. What is it with Swedes and ceramics? What is it with Swedes and everything? I’ve been dreaming about owning a set of Stig Lindberg cups and saucers for years, but they look so delicate. I’d probably drop them all in the first week and be sad forever. So pretty from afar, though.

8. Silkkikuikka Mug, Marimekko

Any mug with FIVE Ks in its name is good enough for me! I can tell you from experience that the handles on Marimekko mugs are perfectly positioned for maximum comfort. They’re a pleasure to hold, and small enough that your coffee doesn’t cool down too much before you get to the bottom.

OK, now I want coffee…

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31 Comments

  • Reply Jennifer December 12, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    I’m SO happy you linked the Bono Mugs! I bought one of the raindrop ones at C&B when they had them a couple years ago and it was my very absolute favorite mug until it broke tragically a while back. SO SAD! The shape and thickness and everything was totally perfect. I had no idea they weren’t a C&B exclusive. I’ll definitely be getting a set ASAP.

    • Anna @ D16 December 12, 2012 at 4:36 pm

      Jennifer, I just updated the link to the kind with handles! I didn’t realize I was linking to the cups instead of the mugs. 🙂

  • Reply Charlie December 12, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    I LOVE the Bono Mugs an Cups. Highly considering bringing some home from work, this month!

  • Reply Tiffanie December 12, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    Isn’t it funny how we can gravitate to a certain kind of cup or mug for a certain moment? I do that all the time.

    Nice choices. I’m curious, do you like Heath Ceramics? Do they have much of a presence on the East Coast? Heath can do no wrong by me, I love all of their cups. Opaque white is our “pattern” for all the pieces in our small collection.

    • Anna @ D16 December 13, 2012 at 12:01 am

      Yes, I love Heath Ceramics! They’re definitely more well-known on your side of the country, but I am a fan…I’m obsessed with their tiles (which I cannot afford).

  • Reply amanda December 13, 2012 at 12:08 am

    I thought I was the only one with this same type of obsession. my husband wanted to throw away all of our mismatched mugs when we got a new dish set and I refused. I don’t care if I have 18 mugs, I NEED and LOVE them all. this is the one in our new set and I really love the shape/feel even though it has no design on it http://www.crateandbarrel.com/essential-mug/s256870

  • Reply Adriana December 13, 2012 at 12:09 am

    Oh my God. I can totally relate. I have specific mugs that i like for specific moods, beverages, mornings etc. The best mug that i ever used was a Laura Zindel ceramic from 2009 (see the style a few posts down on this blog http://sfcarrots.wordpress.com/category/gifts/page/2/). I was at a friends in LA this past January and drinking tea out of that mug at her front garden picnic table on a sunny Los Angeles morning was perfection. It was big but so, so light and the handle was in the perfect place. I checked two stores in town that weekend but her 2012 collection was a totally different style! I spent the rest of the trip obsessively trolling the internet for three year old mugs! Sadly no luck, I only have my mug memories now.

  • Reply Helena December 13, 2012 at 9:01 am

    Oh man, that top left one (with the teardrop pattern) is the mug I stare at whenever I’m in Selfridges. I love it, LOVE it, and I’m glad we agree!

  • Reply Jill December 13, 2012 at 11:21 am

    I’m going to have to pony up and get a set of those Design House Stockholm mugs at some point. They are just so pretty and petite. Also, I can’t even tell you how long I’ve had an eBay alert set for Stig Lindberg listings. Every few days I look at the emails wistfully, then delete them. It’s so hard to let go.

    You’ve probably already heard of these guys, but back when I visited the south of Sweden I was able to go to a factory outlet of Höganäs Keramik. I bought my mom a lovely little set of handle-free tea mugs and they are awesome. But that said, their new lines are pretty incredible. Especially if you like wooden saucers! http://www.hoganaskeramik.se/web/hoganaskeramik.nsf/en/our_products_mugs_coffee_mug_with_wooden_saucer_33_cl

  • Reply Amy December 13, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I saw the Schoolhouse Electric mugs in person over this past weekend. They’re nice and substantial. The small one is really small though, so I’m not sure what it would be used for aside from espresso.

    I hope House of Rym starts their online store soon – so many pretty things on their website!

  • Reply Annie Markantonatou December 13, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    no 3 is my fav!

  • Reply Kristy December 13, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Anna have you seen these:
    http://www.designhousestockholmusa.com/tabid/210/productid/300/default.aspx

    The description isn’t that great on the website but they have them in a local shop where I live and the sales person explained the whole design to me, they are so awesome. You can use them for hot drinks or cold but the lines around them are sort of rubbery so your hands don’t get hot. But it’s not like ugly rubber, it’s so soft. They feel beautiful to hold. The first time I saw them I actually thought, “this is the kind of thing Anna from Door Sixteen would like” haha, little obsessed with your blog! Also they come in black! I have a thing about drinking coffee from something clear – I don’t own any clear glass mugs but there’s something about it that I really love.

  • Reply Christina P. December 13, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Just, FYI coupon code isn’t working at Vint. Lots of cool suggestions though!

    • Anna @ D16 December 13, 2012 at 2:42 pm

      Oh no! I’ve emailed the shop owner to let her know, but if there’s something you’d like and the code isn’t working, send her a convo—I’m sure she’ll help you out.

    • Anna @ D16 December 13, 2012 at 2:45 pm

      Just heard back from Charlie (the shop owner), and she said the code is working fine and that others have used it. Make sure you’re entering DOOR16 (all caps, no spaces, numerical, no quotes).

  • Reply Kali December 13, 2012 at 6:08 pm

    Love the saucer set! Believe it or not I made a list of 30 things to do before I’m 30 – which probably half won’t get done, but one of them was to find myself the perfect tea cup and saucer set – for my many well earned cups of tea. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect size and weight – love this post, lots of good leads.

  • Reply Laura December 13, 2012 at 10:55 pm

    Great round up! The Japanese don’t put handles on mugs because if it’s too hot to hold, it’s too hot to drink.

  • Reply Sara December 14, 2012 at 3:55 am

    Hi Anna
    Nothing to do with this post!, been reading your blog for years…..but I thought you might be interested that BBC radio in England has a special Hour long programme on Dec 13th 22:00 hours uk time (so 5pm your time in NY?), on BBC Radio 2 called ‘The Smiths at the BBC’ (you can get that over the Internet or they will put it on the website afterwards I am sure). I heard some of the pre adverts about it and Morrissey is on there talking so I thought you might be interested.
    Merry Christmas x

  • Reply Sara December 14, 2012 at 3:59 am

    Hi there!!
    They put it on last night!!! Arghh!! Our radio listing magazine was wrong!
    It’s on the website though. You may be interested.
    Regards
    Sara

    • Anna @ D16 December 14, 2012 at 6:39 am

      Thanks, Sara! Stuff on the BBC website isn’t available to listen to in the US, but I appreciate you letting me know. 🙂

  • Reply Morgan December 14, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    Like Sara’s post above, this comment doesn’t pertain whatsoever to the beautiful examples of coffee mugs that you mentioned..but knowing about your equal love/admiration of both Morrissey + fabulous nail art – I think you should check these out ASAP! You will surely not be disappointed! I am getting a set myself! 🙂

  • Reply Ana December 14, 2012 at 6:04 pm

    That orange cup is just perfect in so many ways.
    I adore warm yellow.

  • Reply amy h December 14, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    These are all great. Last weekend I was selling at a ceramics sale, and I had the hardest time figuring out what people want in a mug. Half of the people said my mugs were too small — they want GIANT mugs because they LOVE COFFEE. And the other half said my mugs were too big — their coffee gets cold. So I guess medium mugs are not the way to go.

  • Reply Sara December 15, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    Hi Anna
    I didn’t realise you couldn’t listen to it ! How irritating!!. I will let them know the Queen would not be amused!
    I am sorry you couldnt enjoy it. I have enjoyed that lovely Swedish music every year since you posted it 🙂
    Kind regards
    Sara

  • Reply Sara December 15, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Anna I asked the BBC and they said:-

    Rights agreements mean that BBC iPlayer television programmes are only available to users to download or stream (Click to Play) in the UK. However, we are aware of demand for an international version. BBC Worldwide has recently launched the BBC iPlayer App for iPad and iPhone in various countries. Visit the BBC iPlayer (Global) YouTube channel for further information.

    Most radio programmes are available outside the UK in addition to podcasts, although sporting and other programmes may be subject to rights agreements.

    Do check then if you want to listen to ‘The Smiths on the BBC’ on BBC Radio 2.
    I will tell them if you still can’t as singers/ songwriters/bands popularity is worldwide and shouldn’t be limited to one country.

    So anyway, I tried!

    • Anna @ D16 December 15, 2012 at 8:18 pm

      Thanks, Sara! These things always wind up on YouTube eventually…it’s ok. 🙂

  • Reply Elisabeth December 16, 2012 at 10:45 am

    Thank you so much for the mention dear Anna. So honored 🙂
    Thanks also for the Fire-King glassware tip. Love the orange peel surface!

  • Reply jeannette December 18, 2012 at 11:42 am

    off topic, a thousand pardons, but did you see this?

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57559710-38/instagram-says-it-now-has-the-right-to-sell-your-photos/

  • Reply Amy December 20, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    I bought a set of these last weekend and thought of you – http://www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com/Products/usd0/Trademark/Menu/11602/Nordic+Wool+thermo+cup

    • Anna @ D16 December 20, 2012 at 10:20 pm

      Oooh, so pretty!!

  • Reply Kathleen December 21, 2012 at 7:49 am

    Thanks so much for this. I’m actually working on painting mugs for gifts so these designs are inspirational. I too love drinking out of a nicely designed coffee mug on lazy mornings.

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