As an avid collector of unique coffee mugs, I have found that there is an endless supply of mugs to, almost, eternally grow my collection. I have recently reorganized my collection so that the different categories of mugs can be displayed and viewed without confusion. Doing this has helped keep my viewers from having to ask so many questions. I have organized my collection primarily by function and fabric. By categorizing the mugs this way, people seem to be drawn towards a specific category when viewing my collection. This seems to make the experience much more enjoyable and less monotonous.
The first area of my mini museum houses mugs designed for home or restaurant use. These mugs are mostly made of various earthen ware. Ceramic, bone china and pottery made mugs are most typically used in these capacities. Although the materials are similar, the styles, designs, shapes and sizes very drastically. Some mugs are simple, white utilitarian mugs, while others contain whimsical shapes and colors. There are so many unique coffee mugs in this one section of the display that it may take visitors thirty to forty five minutes just to see them all.
The second realm of the museum houses the long term storage mugs. This category creates a series of unique coffee mugs just by the nature of the category. Most of these mugs have some sort of lid or closure device. They are made to be spill proof. The vast majority are stainless steel with a unique thermal lining. This allows for the user to keep the coffee hot for extended periods of time. Some of these mugs are simply accessories to a larger thermos. These thermoses have handles for ease of carrying. Many of the mugs in this section are over sized. Many of them are great examples of yesteryear.
The final section of the museum show cases the travel mugs. These mugs are almost all made of plastic. They have been acquired from multiple locations around the world. Many have come from coffee shops, gas stations, yard sales, grocery stores, convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Many of them have been personalized with logos, photos, funny comments and odd shaped handles. These are, often, the most liked mugs in the collection because people can relate to so many of the companies that the mugs represent. With so many unique coffee mugs available, starting a collection is a great way to journal a life of coffee drinking.