# Why do coffee cups require saucers and mugs don't? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 10, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784 "2014-07-10T19:36:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/1 "2014-07-10T19:36:54Z")
We don’t own any of these [dainty cups & saucers.](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/ikea--coffee-cup-and-saucer__22811_PE095649_S4.JPG) But we’d politely serve guests with the saucer if we had any. 😉 Why are mugs exempted from the saucer etiquette rule? Is it a faux pas to serve guests coffee in a mug? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/2 "2014-07-10T19:42:44Z")
Somebody probably would consider it a breach of etiquette. I would imagine, if it’s fancy enough to warrant a cup and saucer, you don’t want drips puddling on the table and the saucer also functions as a coaster. My family has always been a mug family. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/3 "2014-07-10T19:49:27Z")
tea cups are top heavy and a saucer adds stability. also the thinner end allows dribbles with the dainty drinking methods. mugs are stable containers with a thick non-drip edge. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/4 "2014-07-10T19:49:39Z")
Someplace to put the spoon after they doctor it to their tastes ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/5 "2014-07-10T19:54:40Z")
Mugs are for husky German he-men to drink BEER out of in the comaraderie of their fellow husky German he-men in the Rathskellers. Drinking coffee out of a mug was just an afterthought. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/6 "2014-07-10T20:02:02Z")
Saucers are also used to serve the tea, making it much easier to place on the table without spilling. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/7 "2014-07-10T20:11:09Z")
I collect a few pieces of vintage restaurant ware. I bought several Victor insulator restaurant coffee mugs from Ebay a few years ago. Mine date back to the 30’s. We use them daily. Reminds me of the mom & pop cafes where grandad had his morning coffee. I’d go with him sometimes. I love those[old mushroom shaped mugs.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3053/3034341288_d1f8f11fb6.jpg) A piece of my childhood. They keep the coffee hot too. They are too big to fit on a saucer. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/8 "2014-07-10T20:18:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I love those[old mushroom shaped mugs.](https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3053/3034341288_d1f8f11fb6.jpg) A piece of my childhood. They keep the coffee hot too. Yeah, what is it about those mugs? Coffee and tea both seem to taste better in them. Probably because I know I’m only gonna get 6-ish ounces. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/9 "2014-07-10T21:49:49Z")
Coffee cups are for serving, and can allow the person you are serving to mix in their own additions without spilling and provides a place for spoon, napkin and maybe even a cookie. Mugs are self-service devices for casual personal use. You are supposed to do your milk and sugar in the kitchen where you poured it. ---
**Author:** ![cookiecuttercc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@cookiecuttercc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookiecuttercc)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/10 "2014-07-10T21:54:24Z")
practical reason: someplace to put your spoon without leaving a mess. esoteric reason: tea/coffee expensive and only for the wealthy in the 17th/18th century. Lowly plebians drank cheap grainy beer out of clay mugs, rich people drank out of expensive porcelain cups placed onto expensive porcelain saucers. The nouveau riche merchant class wanted to mimic the upper class so they adopted the cup/saucer as well. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/11 "2014-07-10T23:37:09Z")
That’s an interesting point. I’ve seen coffee served at the table and people add their cream/sugar. Then they have a wet spoon to deal with. I fill my coffee mug on the kitchen counter. > [@even\_sven](#): > > Coffee cups are for serving, and can allow the person you are serving to mix in their own additions without spilling and provides a place for spoon, napkin and maybe even a cookie. > > Mugs are self-service devices for casual personal use. You are supposed to do your milk and sugar in the kitchen where you poured it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/12 "2014-07-10T23:40:39Z")
Post 4! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/13 "2014-07-11T00:19:04Z")
Thanks AncientHumanoid. I drink my coffee black and didn’t think about the problem of a wet spoon. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/14 "2014-07-11T01:05:26Z")
I like my coffee like I like my women… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/15 "2014-07-11T01:25:31Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > I like my coffee like I like my women… I like my women like I like my coffee. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/16 "2014-07-11T01:42:28Z")
hot and wet? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/17 "2014-07-11T02:21:17Z")
Covered in BEES! Strong, black, and sweet Hot and creamy Cold, greasy, and with odd lumps ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/18 "2014-07-11T02:45:58Z")
Tied up in a sack & thrown over the back of a mule? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/19 "2014-07-11T02:46:20Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > I like my coffee like I like my women… Dark and bitter? ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784/20 "2014-07-11T04:09:11Z")
The practical consideration of the tea cup is to make it small so that one can fit more tea cups into one box, like for a picnic set. Of course, the etiquette then goes on to require the saucer, so that the cup can be wet on the outside, due to spills and drips, but the saucer’s bottom is kept dry. This would be important to avoid brown stains on white clothing… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-coffee-cups-require-saucers-and-mugs-dont/692784.md?page=2)