Strange

A Saga, My Starbucks Travel Mug

by ryan | January 3, 2008 at 03:59 pm

7063 views | 13 Recommendations | 7 comments

My trusted Starbucks travel mug is an intrinsic part of my daily routine. Crawl out of bed, turn on coffee maker, pour coffee into travel mug, drink coffee on bus.

This morning my routine was thrust into mayhem when I couldn't find the lid to my travel mug. And a travel mug without a lid is just a mug. In a state of panic I filled the mug half way and precariously tried to drink from it while walking to the bus. By the time the bus came the coffee was cold and I dumped out whatever hadn't spilled on me. Usually by the time I get off the bus I'm caffeinated and ready for the day, but today I was unbuzzed and cranky (just ask Rob).

I accepted the loss of my lid and made up my mind to saunter over to Starbucks this afternoon to pick up a new mug. Jarrett and Rob accompanied me. I perused the new mugs and decided on a 16 fl. oz. stainless steel beauty, sleek and durable. The barrista thoughtfully gave me a free cup of coffee with my new mug. I was on my way.

My first sip, as expected, was a little awkward. I was adjusting to the vacuum seal lid. But the second sip was painful. The third one even worse. I realized that the design of the lid thrust my upper lip directly into the stream of the hot coffee. See here where Rob demonstrates a similar problem (on a different model of mug).

The pain continued as I struggled to consume this sweet nectar of wakefulness. After about 15 sips I gave up. I could not drink coffee in pain. I fear my experience foreshadows another tumbler recall. At least it had nothing to do with lead or China.

I marched back to the Starbucks. Hesitantly, I asked for a refund, apologizing for being a jerk but I just couldn't drink the coffee. The barrista apologized and quickly gave me refund. I finished my coffee in a good old paper cup.

But what am I going to do tomorrow morning?

Not only do have to deal with a burnt lip, I'm being mocked on The Consumerist.

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Rob Peters

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:30 on January 3rd, 2008

Awkward first sips are like awkward first dates: just keep your tongue in your mouth and hope for the best.

Jarrett Martineau

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:41 on January 3rd, 2008

A travesty of industrial design. Do they not lip-test these mugs before
releasing them to the ravenously unassuming public? Like Ryan, I too purchased a commuter mug today, but wisely decided not to take the free coffee. I did, in fact, ask for a raincheck on the free mug o' java, but was politely declined.

Undeterred, I returned to the office - mug in hand - with Rob and Ryan. But on hearing Mr. Nadel's Sweeney Todd-esque screams of horrified frustration, on trying to get an actual sip of coffee into his mouth without scalding his upper lip, I knew that I would also soon be facing too complicated a cup of joe.

So I've resolved to return my shiny new S-bucks cup, unused, after work today. But the mug dilemma remains.

The cheap $9 plastic version I purchased from my preferred local organic indie-coffee house broke down in less than a week and was made just as poorly in China. Now what's a junkie to do?

It's time to consider other options.

Jordan Yerman

at 06:51 on January 4th, 2008

I just gut it until I get into the office (which is before dawn)... The trick is to keep moving, because, if you stop, you'll fall asleep wherever you happen to be: bus stop, bus, doorway...

PEP

at 02:10 on January 5th, 2008

You could go to McDonald's instead.

Imagine the possibilities in themed mugs as McDonald's baristas serve up your specialty coffee.

ryan

at 09:38 on January 5th, 2008

Actually, that's exactly what I did yesterday morning! But I haven't purchased a new mug yet.

IslandGirl98 (not verified)

at 10:12 on August 19th, 2008

You could look for a replacement of your old starbucks travel mug on ebay. Hopefully you can find the same one and spare your mouth any more hardship. :)