New Research Shows Why You Should NOT Drink from White Coffee Mugs

Your favorite mug is probably not white. I’m not saying you have a color bias, but some scientists are.

A study released in Flavour, a scientific journal, claims that coffee in white mugs is perceived as bitter and more intense than the same coffee in a transparent or blue mug.

Participants rated the coffee’s intensity, bitterness, aroma, quality and acceptability for each mug color. The results show that the coffee in blue mugs was interpreted to be sweeter (even scientists make typos) and the most acceptable to drink. Glass mugs were pretty inoffensive and unimpressive, while white mugs drew the strongest negative reactions for each category.

The researchers suspect the contrast between the color of the coffee and the mug affects the drinker’s perception of the beverage.

If you feel like stepping up your coffee game, switch up your mug usage. Cheap coffee in a blue mug can start feeling like a gourmet blend in a white mug.