Last month, I wrote an article about making a personal stand against throwaway cups. Since it got picked up by the Huffington Post, it’s about time I demonstrated that I’m a man whose words are equally balanced by his deeds.
In short: meet my mug.
Yes, it’s from Starbucks. Stake me to a tree and set wild leopards on me if you like, but I feel it’s a gracious act to choose a receptacle sold by the beverage vendor most likely to fill it. Also, I couldn’t find another one as nice at the time. But mainly the first reason, I promise.
The Starbucks Venti Carrot-Grip BeanBuster (this is my own name for it, I should add) is fashioned from reassuringly hefty ceramic and is laterally enrobed in an endearingly tactile band of faux-rubbery orange plastic. It’s microwave and dishwasher proof, and it’s made in China. For Starbucks.
Ethical crusaders may be kicking up a fuss here. Where in China? It’s plastic. And, and it’s Starbucks! But it’s a nice mug and it’s a start. It’s a tote bag for liquids – and I’m sure I can think of other tote bag analogues to work into my lifestyle.
But there’s another thing I like about it. It doesn’t have a handle.
I like this for 2 reasons.
Firstly, it feels every-so-slightly medieval, distinctive and rebellious to drink out of such a cup – and you can’t quaff from a handled cup, dammit.
And secondly, I used to work at a pottery – and my job was processing mug handles before they got stuck on. I’ve had my life’s share of them (over a million, I’ve estimated). I believe I’ve earned the right to opt out.
Cheers.
Any chance you can post a link to it? I've checked both the US and UK sites for Starbucks and they don't have the mug. Ditto for my local store here in the US.
I've been hunting around for a link, but I can't find one either. I'll keep looking.
Otherwise, I'll ask the staff next time I'm in that branch, and get back to you.
you may have produced a million handles, but only 500 of them were any good, and only 2 of them are still on mugs. (i think doug stuck them on)
Oh, I've never seen that one. I have a few starbucks mugs but all have handles so they're not so convenient for strolling down the street with. Do you get raised eyebrows when you ask Nero or Costa to fill it?
now i feel kinda proud that i inadvertently took you for coffee in Edinburgh to a venue that puts its lattés into handle-less glasses. Even if you did have a tin of juice.
Pete –
I've yet to be faced with that situation.
I guess I'll just have to stare them down. And watch they don't spit in my drink.
belly –
Yes, it's true, my work was shoddy and lacked joie de vivre and commitment. But at the end of the day it's not about the work, it's about something else, something deeper. It's about the real reason we all work together in this factory-based adventures we call "work", the reason that I like to think of as the very heart, the almost spiritual essence of the modern world. The best and only reason to strive ever onwards.
And so when I think back to those days, I get a warm glow when I think that at the end of the day, yes, my work was crap, but I bloody well made them pay me for it.
Thus endeth.
Pete –
I've yet to be faced with that situation.
I guess I'll just have to stare them down. And watch they don't spit in my drink.
Helen –
Two tins of juice. Damn fine juice it was, though, so no regrets on the handleless front. But I do want to go back and have a proper slap-up lunch there. The menu looked fun.
And I'm *definitely* going back to the food shop round the corner.
i adore your use of the word "quaff" and the phrase "tote bag for liquids".
Thank you, Lan.
I've always loved "quaff", but never mastered the actual act and end up with beer / fruit juice / other quaffable substances all over my face and chest. This is probably an accurate way of quaffing, according to European medieval table manners – but it's not an elegant thing to do in a public place.
Really, I'm not obsessed:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&a…
Do you happen to know the capacity of this mug?
I don't think one can really quaff anything hot. Not without causing injury, anyway. Quaffing is best applied to mead, drunk out of tankards, accompanied by hearty back slapping and surrounded by wenches.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in my longboat.
i think the word 'pay' is bordering on libel!
however, i am glad you look back on those days so fondly. i would have imagined you would wake, in a cold sweat, screaming at the thought of having to conquer 'tea bag mountain' once more.
i know i would, if i had been lucky enough to have been there…………………