Many people cherish their coffee for a wide range of reasons. To some people, coffee is a source of that magic energy that help them get their days started. There are also a lot of rituals that go hand-in-hand with coffee drinking—from putting the same amount of sugar and cream to sitting on the same spot or couch to enjoy it. One ritual that’s rarely mentioned is the fact that many coffee lovers prefer to have the coffee in the same mug or certain glass cups for hot drinks. What could be the reason behind this phenomenon? Well, here are a few reasons why you may be glued to that glass coffee travel mug.
1. Sense of Personal Ownership: People tend to overvalue their possessions. This is called the endowment effect. The same is true of coffee mugs—coffee lovers ascribe greater value to coffee mugs that they own. If you unknowingly grabbed a person’s personalized coffee mug in a relative’s house or a break room, you will understand how the possessive the mug owner can be. In a past Heinz survey, 30 percent of participants admitted that they were more likely to sulk if someone else used their coffee mugs.
2. They evoke certain memories: a number of customized coffee cups are often given as gifts, keepsakes, and souvenirs and people associate them with their beloved ones, time, and place. The emotions that mugs evoke can be potent, even if the owner isn’t aware of the source. According to many coffee lovers, there is just something about their favorite mugs that feels good and safe, even on an unconscious level. The cups provide continuity of their past and reminds them of who they used to be.
3. Some mugs convey personally meaningful messages: Some coffee mugs are embellished with quotes, logos, and slogans, which can be inspirational or non-inspirational. The messages often inform others about your personality, identity, and affiliations. In other words, the messages embellished in your coffee cup can go a long way in letting other people know that you are a proud parent, cat lover, or Star Wars fan.
4. Some mugs are likened to a friend that will never leave you: people will come and go in your life, but your favorite coffee mug doesn’t. You get to see it on a daily basis, and it is always there when you need it. Even when you have an emotional morning, the cup will still offer you he comfort that you need to get through the rest of the day.
There are a plethora of reasons why people have emotional attachment to their coffee mugs. They provide comfort, warms, and unique things to relate to.