5 Reasons Why You Need A Handmade Ceramic Mug
If you’re in the market for a new mug, and you’re wondering what all the hype is about surrounding handmade ceramics from a local maker, let us enlighten you! Read on to learn about our top five reasons why we love our handmade ceramic mugs, and why we think you will too:
1. Sustainability & Savings
If you love coffee as much as we do, you most likely visit your favorite local coffee shops at least a few times a month. But did you know that many coffee shops will give you a discount for bringing in your own mug when you purchase a drink? Bringing your favorite handmade ceramic mug with you will save money as well as help in eliminating even a small amount of single use plastics and styrofoam. Though the price tag of a handmade ceramic mug may at first seem high in contrast with disposable cups, using ceramic mugs in and out of your home is an investment that will save you copious amounts of money in the long-run, while being kind to the environment!
2. Support Local Makers
Whether it’s a local shop near where you live, or a maker you have found online, purchasing a handmade mug from a small business or local maker is an amazing way to support your community and the artists within it! You will be directly supporting an artist who puts their time, money, energy and love into each and every piece they create. One of our favorite parts of what we do is creating work from our hands to yours from start to finish, and we can say from experience that we all do a little happy dance whenever we see a new order come through! Recently we were asked what sets our handmade ceramic mugs apart from purchasing from a chain store. The answer is simple: the work that goes into it. When you buy handmade, you can rest easy knowing that our materials are US sourced, our glazes are formulated in-house, and our small team of four makers personally create each and every piece we sell by hand, with all of their talent, love and effort poured into what they do, because they simply love to do it!
3. Keep Your Drinks Hotter For Longer
Other materials such as glass, metal and plastic allow the heat from your drink to escape incredibly quickly. Alternatively, the porous makeup of a handmade ceramic mug allows your hot drink to cool down more slowly, thus keeping your coffee or tea hotter for longer. Not to mention, we’re pretty sure it’s a proven fact that drinking your favorite beverage from a handmade mug that speaks to your personal style boots serotonin levels and leaves you not only warmed up from your drink, but also happier!
4. Taste & Health
Firstly it is important to note that over time, multiple uses of many types of plastic cups will seep chemicals into whatever it is you are drinking from them. Though we can assume that this small amount of chemical seepage is not incredibly harmful to your overall heath, it still affects the taste of your favorite drink. Both metal and stainless steel mugs and coffee thermoses suffer from the same problem. Over time, the metal coating can wear away leaving a metallic taste behind in your drink. Many stainless steel products contain a layer of chromium oxide which absorbs the soap you use to wash it, as well as chemicals from the manufacturer which can in-turn end up in your drink affecting both taste and safety. You can rest easy knowing that handmade ceramic mugs will not negatively affect the tase or safety of your coffee. It will retain (and even enhance) the flavor of whatever you put in it, neither absorbing nor adding any flavors or chemicals into your drink.
5. Functional Art, A Piece of History
It’s no secret that pottery has been around well before any of us. From ancient artifacts to heirlooms passed down through generations, handmade ceramics have a story to tell. We absolutely love knowing that our work is a part of that tradition. When you purchase a handmade ceramic mug, whether from Jars of Dust or another small pottery business, you are not only investing in a piece of functional (and stylish!) drinkware, but also a piece of artwork created by a maker with their personal style and stamp. These pieces stand the test of time and, after you are done enjoying them, can be passed down through your family and friends. No matter where they end up, you become a part of their story.
More about Jars of Dust!
Come visit us in our Virginia Beach pottery shop to check out our new glaze and find more pottery gift ideas for your special someone. We’re located at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront at 607 19th St in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Our shop is open Monday - Friday from 9-5 and Saturdays from 9-1. You can check out our mugs, candles and match strikers, plates, ceramic spoon rests, and ceramic oil dispensers, and let us know which is your favorite on Instagram! Get your hands dirty with our pottery classes in our shop. You can view our schedule to choose from our list of pottery classes in Virginia Beach.