There’s nothing like settling into the morning with a hot cup of tea or coffee in a familiar mug. And if you’ve ever had a favorite, go-to mug, you know that it has the power to turn a rough morning around, at least for a little bit.
Plus, they’re useful in all seasons and times of day. Whether it’s the middle of winter or a warm, summer day, mugs can accompany you on a camping trip, an afternoon reading by the fire, or a travel trek that requires an extra caffeine boost.
We’ve put together a list of 20 highly rated, lovable mugs that you can add to your own stash or give to friends, family, and coworkers for holidays and birthdays. Because mugs really are a timeless, useful gift that keeps on giving.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
This mug changes when you fill it with a hot beverage, making for a fun morning ritual. At room temperature, the microwave-safe mug is adorned with flowers that are a bit darker, but they lighten up and come to life as the mug heats up. A list on the bottom helps you identify each flower, so you can brush up your botany skills while getting your caffeine for the day.
Sold as a set of two, these ceramic coffee mugs offer a simple, earthy feel. You can start your day cosplaying as someone who would actually pick up pottery as a hobby, and lean into the artsy, natural vibes before logging onto a day of meetings on Microsoft Teams.
Meet the mug and saucer version of TikTok’s most popular kitchen purchase. Influencer Nara Smith popularized Gustaf Westman’s rounded-edge plates, which retail for 55 euros each. You can save your cash and lean into this trendy style with your morning beverage instead. Note that due to a ventilation hole in the base, putting these mugs in the dishwasher is not recommended.
This mug is so cute that I am clicking through to buy it as we speak. Adorned with sky blue paint and simple clouds and equipped with a matching saucer, it makes for a dreamy setup that will make you want to go through all of those extra tea bags you’ve been saving for a rainy day.
If you want to brush up on your cat breed knowledge while sipping your morning tea, this is the mug for you. Plus, it’s from Friends NYC, a retailer that prioritizes women-owned businesses. Note that it’s a metal camp mug, so it’ll keep your hands extra warm due to its metal conductor powers.
This W&P mug is commuter friendly: if you don’t finish your morning bevvy before heading to work, no problem! Simply pop on the lid and get going. Plastic-free and available in nine different colors and patterns, you’ll want to snag one for yourself and everyone you need a gift for in the future.
Another Friends NYC find, this cake mug and lid seems like something Chappell Roan would use every day. For under $30, you can bring joy to your morning routine and have one of the best icebreakers of all time. Just be sure to have a sweet treat on hand if this kicks your cravings into high gear.
This floral ceramic mug comes in a funky shape with cute, small flowers that even line the inside of the rim, making for an uplifting, colorful experience no matter the time of day.
You can now combine your love of coffee or tea with your love of traveling, thanks to this customizable map mug. Choose either a map of the USA or one of the whole world — your purchase comes with a marker to color in the places you’ve visited. Once you’re done, follow the accompanying baking instructions so that your design remains permanent.
If you’re someone who needs a lot of beverage at once, this 14.2-ounce mug might be your new best friend. It comes with a to-go lid so that if you can’t drink it in one sitting, you can easily take your coffee on the run. Plus, the chic feather design and terracotta lid will help it stand out among the crowd of boring white to-go cups.
If you’re more of a tea person, this ceramic elephant mug will change your world. You can sip your beverage from the cute, heat resistant container and, when your tea is finished steeping, place the used bag in the side compartment so you never over-brew.
Enjoy your coffee with an everything bagel on the side like a real New Yorker with the help of this vintage-style NYC mug that’s actually ceramic and reusable. There’s a bonus stoner vibe to the design, but it’s hard to notice unless you’re looking for it, so your boss is unlikely to make a big deal about it on your video calls.
If you’re willing to splurge for some new technology, this self-heating mug is designed to keep your morning beverage warm for you all day long. Gone are the days of forgetting you made tea until you find a lukewarm brew: instead, you can choose the temperature to keep your drink at, and sip on it without worrying it’ll go cold before you’re done.
The quality of artwork available on Etsy never ceases to amaze, and this Magic Eye-esque mug might take the cake for the most jaw-dropping piece. Complete with an entire nature scene of mushrooms, ferns, and flowers, this mug is sure to get compliments throughout your work day. The mug itself is flat and smooth, but the designed is rendered to create an illusion of depth and dimension.
Another high-tech solution that’s won over a slew of coffee drinkers, the Ember mug lets you control your drink’s temperature from a smart app on your phone. The temp control lasts for 80 minutes or all day long if you keep the mug on the charging port. Get it in either 10-ounce or 14-ounce sizes, depending on where you shop.
One of the most delightful motifs in the mug world is the ceramic “peeking” creature that live in the bottom of a mug and emerges as you sip away at your beverage. This cat version makes for a cute, fun surprise mid-sip and brings a spark of fun to an otherwise ordinary morning.
Have no fear, iced coffee consumers: this mug is here for both your hot and cold beverages. Covered in cute, colorful fruits, these ceramic lid-and-mug sets come with straws that you can insert for iced drinks. (They’ll still hold hot drinks too, of course.)
Sometimes you just need just a hint of personality, instead of an entire mug covered in it. This minimal cup might look like an ordinary object at a glance, but thanks to a few strategically placed shapes you’ll see that it actually has the face of a duck.
If you have a golfer in your life, this might be the perfect gift to snag for them. These tumblers are multitaskers: they keep drinks warm or cold throughout the day and keep track of golf scores all at once. Simply twist the numbered rings to have a portable two-in-one scoring system for long days on the links.
