People’s coffee mugs can tell a lot about their personalities. Whether the main function is to hold large amounts of coffee or just to look pretty on our desks, mugs can leave subtle hints about our coworkers. Some mugs show that their value to us isn’t always tied to cost. A favorite might be one we’ve had for a long time or something that reminds us of a special place or the person who gave it to us.
At Manzella, we don’t encourage stereotypes, but the characteristics of our mugs can sometimes sort people into groups. The first is the travel mug users who may spend a lot of time in their car, want their beverages to stay super hot, or are prone to spills. The next group is the disposable cup users who can’t kick that Starbucks habit or enjoy treating themselves to a Tim Horton’s across the street or are running late and didn’t have time to make a pot at home. Some people want their mug to offer a motivational mantra to get them through the day and choose one with a saying that may involve an exclamation mark, a hashtag, or a TV quote. Lastly, some mugs are used as a reminder of a happy memory such as a vacation or a summer when we were really into baseball.
If you haven’t before, look around and see if you can learn something new about the people you spend 40 hours a week with. While you read about some of the mugs in our office, you might get some insights about the people who work here, starting with me.
Caroline
My mug in 3 words: vintage, unique, pretty
I got it from… Savers Thrift store
It cost me… $2
My favorite thing about it is… As a graphic designer, I have a thing for fonts, and I have never seen anything like this. Plus it was a fun find at the thrift store.
I have had it for… 1 month
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Earl Grey Tea
Denise
My mug in 3 words… RPI Travel Hockey
I got it from… RPI
It cost me… $25
My favorite thing about it is… My son plays hockey for RPI
I have had it for… 3 years
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Hot chai tea or water
Karlie
My mug in 3 words… Half-full, hot, funny
I got it from… Amazon
It cost me… $12
My favorite thing about it is… The Office reference
I have had it for… 6 months
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Black coffee
Scott
My mug in 3 words… World’s Best Boss
I got it from… Gift from Kristin
It cost me… Nothing it was a gift!
My favorite thing about it is… It makes me smile
I have had it for… 1 week
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Coffee!
Kristin
My mug in 3 words… Calming, colorful, practical
I got it from… My husband for Christmas
It cost me… $30?
My favorite thing about it is… It keeps my iced coffee cold for hours and hours!
I have had it for… Less than a year.
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Iced coffee, all year ‘round!
Eric
My mug in 3 words… Fountain of Youth
I got it from… Folly Beach, South Carolina
It cost me… $5
My favorite thing about it is… The campy imagery and text makes me think of: summer cottages, beaches, fishing, family fun and actually living rather than existing.
I have had it for… 3 years
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Coffee
Tom
My mug in 3 words… Old, stained and faded
I got it from… My son
It cost me… ?? it was a gift
My favorite thing about it is… It was from my son
I have had it for… 14 years
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Coffee
Nicole
My mug in 3 words… Sunshine, happy, vacation
I got it from… Florida
It cost me… Guessing $10
My favorite thing about it is… Mickey Mouse
I have had it for… 10 years
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Coffee
Gabe
My mug in 3 words… Spunky, purrfect, hilarious
I got it from… Secret Santa present from one of my college roommates
It cost me… n/a, it was a gift
My favorite thing about it is… The fact that it stands on legs and surprisingly can fit a normal amount of coffee, even though it looks like the volume is smaller than a traditional coffee cup.
I have had it for… 2 years
My favorite thing to drink in it is… Coffee
Happy sipping!
