A coffee mug is not just something to drink from; it is the symbol of friendship and social interaction with our friends and family. The first thing we offer a friend who visits is a coffee. When you can offer them a drink in a coffee mug that is extra beautiful or unusual in some way, then it will make them feel even more special and can become a real talking point.
Years ago it was the teacup and saucer that was used, with a special teaset being kept for visitors, while the everyday ones were used for the family. Then someone invented a way to lessen the busy mother's workload; the coffee mug. Using a coffee mug meant that there was only half as much washing up to do after the visitors left. It was almost as good an invention as sliced bread. There are other points in its favour. A coffee mug holds more than a teacup, so you get more without having to ask for it. It also keeps the tea or coffee hotter for longer due to the tall, straight-sided shape.
A teacup is much shorter and flares out at the brim, giving a larger surface area of liquid compared to the depth, so it cools off very quickly. Since talking is at least as important as drinking when you are having coffee with a friend, you don't want your coffee to have gone cold by the time you get around to drinking it. This is why coffee mugs are so popular.
