How To Hold Your Coffee Cup Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong (2024)

How To Hold Your Coffee Cup Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong (1)

Have you ever really thought about the way you hold your coffee cup? Unlikely. You probably spend most mornings trying to get coffee into your body as soon as humanly possible. If that’s the case then the way in which you hold your mug is likely to be pretty low on your list of priorities in that moment. We all know that tea drinking is linked with some very strict and complicated etiquette. For example sticking your pinky out while drinking tea is commonly thought to be fancy but it’s actually quite rude and is a sign of elitism. If you drink tea with your pinky sticking out you’re pretty much saying that you think you’re better than everyone you’re drinking tea with. Yikes!

But what about coffee? Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette says the correct way to hold your coffee mug is like this. “Loop your index finger into the handle and keep your thumb on top of the handle. Your remaining three fingers — middle, index and pinkie — are tucked into the palm of your hand.”

Correct Way To Hold Your Coffee Cup -

How To Hold Your Coffee Cup Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong (2)

This means that wrapping your hands around your steaming hot mug of coffee on a chilly winter day isn’t the done thing. Just quietly we don’t care much about that - a hot cup of coffee is like a mini-personal heater so clutch away, friends. República says yes to the coffee clutch.

IncorrectWay To Hold Your Coffee Cup-

How To Hold Your Coffee Cup Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong (3)

But who cares?

The handle should also remain at the 3 o’clock position at all times so if you’re wearing lipstick, the lipstick stain stays in the one spot rather than marking the whole ring of your cup. This also prevents your own lipstick from getting smeared all over your face so this etiquette tip has some extra hidden benefits. When stirring milk or sugar into your coffee, never stir around in circles. Correct etiquette days to stir up and down in a straight line, from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock.

Leaving your spoon in your coffee cup is also considered uncouth, it should be placed on a saucer on the table... Or the work kitchen dishwasher. It should never be left on a table or kitchen counter. And for those of you that love a Tim Tam Slam, unfortunately dunking of any kind of biscuits or sweet treats does not meet the coffee drinking etiquette standards. Bummer. At least you won’t have to go fishing around the bottom of your mug for the soggy second half your Scotch Finger biscuit.

Etiquette is fun to know and interesting to think about, but short of loudly slurping your coffee and annoying your dining companions, we think just about anything goes when it comes to drinking coffee... Including dunking biscuits.

So, now you know how to hold your cup - it' time to fill it with coffee! Check outRepublica's Zero Waste, Big Taste® range here.

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How To Hold Your Coffee Cup Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong (2024)

FAQs

How To Hold Your Coffee Cup Because You’re Probably Doing It Wrong? ›

According to Meier, here's what you've got to do: Curve your index finger through the handle while keeping your thumb on top of the handle. Then curl the remaining three fingers into the bottom of your hand. Also, the cup should be positioned at 3 o' clock, which will help keep your lipstick marks all in one place.

How to properly hold a coffee cup? ›

Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette says the correct way to hold your coffee mug is like this. “Loop your index finger into the handle and keep your thumb on top of the handle. Your remaining three fingers — middle, index and pinkie — are tucked into the palm of your hand.”

What does the way you hold your cup say about you? ›

For instance, people who cradle their cups in one or both hands are more likely to be nurturing or to need nurturing. Holding a cup by the handle, on the other hand, has been associated with confidence and a desire for order. Pay attention the next time you pour and sip that wonderfully comforting brew.

How do you handle coffee properly? ›

For them, the “right” way to drink comes down to how you hold your mug. They advise looping your index finger around the handle, keeping your thumb on top of it, and leaving the rest of your fingers folded into your palm. And, for some reason, it's also important to never stir in circles.

What is the coffee spoon etiquette? ›

The coffee spoon

A common gesture is to put the coffee spoon in your mouth after stirring. Well, etiquette tells us not to do that! The coffee must be stirred gently from bottom to top, immediately afterwards it is good to place the spoon, even if dirty, directly on the saucer.

Do you serve coffee from the left or right? ›

Coffee is served on a saucer, turning the handle of the cup to the left (40 degrees from the guest), and placing the spoon on the right, with the handle facing the guest. Most people are right-handed, so it will be convenient for them to stir the sugar in the drink. Offer options.

What is the hold time for coffee? ›

Brewed coffee that doesn't have milk or creamer added to it, such as a pot of black coffee sitting on a burner, is likely OK to drink for up to 4 hours. Coffee with milk should be consumed within a couple of hours.

How do you hold a cup like a woman? ›

“Today, most all etiquette authorities agree; The proper way to hold a tea cup is with one or two fingers of the right hand put through the hole of the cup handle, while balancing the cup with your thumb on the top of the handle. Your other fingers should be curled beneath the handle,” says an article on Etiquipedia.

What does mind your cup mean? ›

While it might have started as a standard college-party rule, the idea of minding his cup has since evolved into something with a deeper meaning. “Now it means mind your cup — you're a vessel. Nobody can fill you up; nobody can pour you out. You do that yourself,” he said.

Why do people hold cups with two hands? ›

Using two hands when holding, giving, or receiving an item is considered excellent manners — a sign of respect for the object and the person who offered it. The practice of holding cups and bowls with both hands conveys cultural respect and appreciation.

What is the golden rule of coffee? ›

Coffee-to-Water Ratio

A general guideline is called the "Golden Ratio" - one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water.

What is coffee etiquette? ›

The coffee cups and saucers are special. They should be on the front or right side of the drinkers, the cup ear should be pointing to the right. You can hold the cup ear with your right hand when drinking coffee, the left hand holding the coffee dish gently, and sip lightly toward the mouth.

What's the healthiest way to drink coffee? ›

Keep your cup from overflowing with empty calories with these seven ideas.
  1. Skip the drive-through. ...
  2. Limit caffeine to one or two cups per day. ...
  3. Sweeten your coffee with less sugar. ...
  4. Choose low-fat milk options. ...
  5. Switch up your cup. ...
  6. Pay attention to nutrition labels. ...
  7. Customize your order to avoid extra calories.
Dec 9, 2021

How to drink coffee without dribbling? ›

Instead, after taking your sip, pull the cup down vertically from your mouth, rather than horizontally, so that your lower lip drags up and over the rim of the cup. Any drips will slide back into the cup.

Is there a proper way to hold a tea cup? ›

“Today, most all etiquette authorities agree; The proper way to hold a tea cup is with one or two fingers of the right hand put through the hole of the cup handle, while balancing the cup with your thumb on the top of the handle. Your other fingers should be curled beneath the handle,” says an article on Etiquipedia.

When serving coffee and cup handles should be positioned? ›

"The handle starts on the left so the customer can hold the cup steady with the left hand while stirring in sugar with the right. Once that's done, the customer turns the handle clockwise, around the top, so the handle is easy to pick up with the right hand. That's how we taught customers to drink their coffee."

How does the coffee cup sleeve work? ›

This slim piece of cardboard acts as an insulating layer between your customer's hand and their toasty beverage. Though it might not seem like a layer of cardboard offers a whole lot of protection, this cylindrical sleeve will comfortably insulate your consumer's drink for optimal holding temperature.

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