How Your Coffee Cup Affects the Taste of Coffee

Did you know that not only the coffee bean and brewing method, but also the cup in which you drink your coffee , can have a major effect on the taste experience? It may sound like a detail, but the material, shape and color of your coffee cup influence how you experience bitterness, sweetness and aroma.

In this blog, we delve into the science behind the coffee cup and explain why the right cup can really make your coffee taste better.

1. The material: ceramic, glass or metal?

The composition of the material partly determines the taste, temperature and general experience of your cup of coffee.

Ceramic is by far the barista's favorite. It is neutral in taste, retains heat well and is pleasant to drink from. Double-walled ceramic cups are ideal for home use.

Glass looks beautiful, but loses heat quickly. In addition, coffee from glass is often perceived as milder.

Plastic and cheap metal can absorb or release flavors, making your coffee taste less pure. Therefore, choose high-quality stainless steel if you want to use a to-go mug.

2. The color: white makes bitter, blue makes sweet

A groundbreaking study by Van Doorn, Wuillemin & Spence (2014) showed that the color of the cup affects how we taste coffee:

In a white mug, coffee was perceived as more intense and bitter .

The same coffee was actually found to be sweeter from a blue or transparent mug .

This has to do with color contrast and association . A white background visually darkens the coffee and therefore makes it more bitter in our brain. While blue (the complementary color of brown) visually softens this bitterness.

This phenomenon is called crossmodal perception. Crossmodal perception is the brain’s ability to integrate information from different senses to create a meaningful and coherent experience of the world. This means that one sensory experience (e.g. visual) can influence the perception of another sense (e.g. auditory), and vice versa.

Tip : Serve a slightly sweet filter coffee in a blue mug and taste the difference.

3. Shape and size: the role of headroom and oxidation

Not only the material or colour plays a role, shape and size are also decisive.

Headroom (space between coffee and the top rim of the cup) influences how intensely we perceive aromas.

A narrow cup enhances acids and aromas.

A wide cup increases oxygen uptake, enhancing sweetness through accelerated oxidation.

The surface area of ​​the liquid also affects the temperature and therefore the mouthfeel of your coffee.

Tip for baristas and enthusiasts: A tulip-shaped cup enhances aromas, while a domed cup provides a rounder taste.

Conclusion: The perfect coffee cup exists (and is more important than you think)

Want to get more out of your coffee? Think beyond bean or roast . Choose wisely:

Ceramic for neutral taste and heat retention

Blue or transparent mugs for a sweeter experience

A shape that suits your favorite coffee profile (aroma, sour, sweet)

By choosing wisely, you can enjoy every sip even more. And that is exactly what coffee is all about.

Curious which cups go best with your favorite coffee? Discover the science behind taste in our other blogs !