# Take a sip from a mug. See that little drop? What is that? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513 "2019-08-11T20:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/1 "2019-08-11T20:22:59Z")
I hate to do this to you all, but I have to know. Okay, so I have a mug of coffee. Nice and hot and delicious. I take a sip of the coffee. When I take my lips away from the mug, there is a little drop of coffee on the outside rim of the mug. No matter how I contort my lips during or after the sip, I cannot take a sip of coffee without leaving that little drop. It is driving me crazy. Why is this? Am I doing it wrong? Does it happen to you? Would it happen if the mug were square? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/2 "2019-08-11T20:31:42Z")
I feel like there should be a snigglet for this… ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/3 "2019-08-11T20:41:56Z")
Having looked up “snigglet,” I must agree. I was hoping to get a whole swath of Dopers looking at their coffee cups, going crazy about that little droplet. It could happen. Somebody on here once got thousands of people to see if their wedding ring would fit up their nose. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/4 "2019-08-11T21:24:03Z")
Easy, easy. All you have to do is wipe upwards and over the edge of the cup with your lower lip during the disengagement sequence. Completely fixes it. Others may laugh, but down deep inside they’re just pretending that drop doesn’t eat at them. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/5 "2019-08-11T21:31:43Z")
My first thoughts have to do with the viscosity and surface tension, but then I recalled the bit about why coffee spills form rings - [the coffee ring effect](https://www.npr.org/2011/08/17/139681851/scientists-crack-the-physics-of-coffee-rings) - and wonder if has something to do with coffee doing this in particular (if it does). That effect is due to coffee containing spherical particles and how they pack. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/6 "2019-08-11T22:02:35Z")
It happens with tea, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/7 "2019-08-11T22:13:14Z")
If you find out the answer to that, perhaps someone can tell me why, when you stir the milk and/or sugar into your hot drink and tap the spoon on the rim of the mug, the sound it makes goes up the scale as you tap. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/8 "2019-08-11T22:15:32Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > My first thoughts have to do with the viscosity and surface tension, but then I recalled the bit about why coffee spills form rings - [the coffee ring effect](https://www.npr.org/2011/08/17/139681851/scientists-crack-the-physics-of-coffee-rings) - and wonder if has something to do with coffee doing this in particular (if it does). That effect is due to coffee containing spherical particles and how they pack. No s\*\*t? That is amazing! I thought maybe it had to do with mugs being (mostly) inherently round. I am frankly impressed that there is a scientific answer for this. Thank you! doesn’t help stop it though. dammit! hahaha ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/9 "2019-08-11T22:16:10Z")
My Indian relatives all tout their ability to drink from glasses and cups without letting their lips touch the glass. They do wo with water bottles too. I suppose that would avoid the droplet. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/10 "2019-08-11T22:17:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If you find out the answer to that, perhaps someone can tell me why, when you stir the milk and/or sugar into your hot drink and tap the spoon on the rim of the mug, the sound it makes goes up the scale as you tap. Perhaps, as the liquid is forced by tapping to leave the spoon, it changes the tone the spoon makes in tapping? (i.e., less deadening) ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/11 "2019-08-11T22:19:50Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > My Indian relatives all tout their ability to drink from glasses and cups without letting their lips touch the glass. They do wo with water bottles too. I suppose that would avoid the droplet. That is legendary. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/12 "2019-08-12T00:16:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If you find out the answer to that, perhaps someone can tell me why, when you stir the milk and/or sugar into your hot drink and tap the spoon on the rim of the mug, the sound it makes goes up the scale as you tap. Sounds like a variation of the [hot chocolate effect.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chocolate_effect) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/13 "2019-08-12T01:13:31Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > That is legendary. 🙂 To be clear, their method is to tip the head back and pour the liquid into the mouth, instead of sipping from the glass or bottle. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/14 "2019-08-12T01:38:49Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Sounds like a variation of the [hot chocolate effect.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chocolate_effect) Whoa … how did you even know about that? I mean, I’ve noticed it too subconsciously and accepted it as representing a natural aspect of physics or fluid dynamics or whatever. But I never would have suspected that it is a named phenomenon with its own wikipedia page. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/15 "2019-08-12T02:15:25Z")
Whenever I have random or esoteric knowledge where I’m not sure of the provenance, chances are I read it on the straightdope at some time. [The master speaks](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1029/when-i-stir-my-coffee-why-does-the-sound-gradually-change-pitch/). Sorry, Chefguy, looks like you’ve [asked it before](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=199983). ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/16 "2019-08-12T14:07:57Z")
So we need Rich Hall to give us a sniglet for the elusive drop then. Seeing as I misplaced his email again (as if…) I propose either _miplet_ or\* lipdrip\*. FWIW, my favourite sniglet of all time has to be _Essoasso_, or the person that cuts through a gas station to avoid a red light. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/17 "2019-08-13T02:28:42Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Whenever I have random or esoteric knowledge where I’m not sure of the provenance, chances are I read it on the straightdope at some time. > > [The master speaks](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1029/when-i-stir-my-coffee-why-does-the-sound-gradually-change-pitch/). > > Sorry, Chefguy, looks like you’ve [asked it before](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=199983). :smack: And got the same answer. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/18 "2019-08-13T13:46:47Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > To be clear, their method is to tip the head back and pour the liquid into the mouth, instead of sipping from the glass or bottle. I prefer a straw. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/19 "2019-08-13T15:18:36Z")
It seems to me that attending to this droplet would be the responsibility of your valet or “gentleman’s gentleman”. Following a sip, he should discreetly wipe the cup. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513/20 "2019-08-14T04:25:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > It seems to me that attending to this droplet would be the responsibility of your valet or “gentleman’s gentleman”. Following a sip, he should discreetly wipe the cup. So… a “two men, one cup,” kind of thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-a-sip-from-a-mug-see-that-little-drop-what-is-that/838513.md?page=2)