What Is a Seasoned Coffee Cup? (& Does It Actually Improve the Flavor?)

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Plus, find out if drinking from a seasoned coffee cup is safe

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Last Updated: December 18, 2025

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• What is a seasoned coffee cup?
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• Why People Season Their Coffee Cups
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• How to Season a Coffee Cup
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• Is it safe to drink from?
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• Flavor Impact
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• Navy Origins
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

A new coffee trend is taking the internet by storm, but this one is more about the cup or mug you drink your coffee from than the beverage itself. We're talking about seasoning your coffee cup! While some people claim that the patina of coffee oil staining their cup enhances the coffee flavor, other people think it's gross to never wash their coffee cup. If you're on the fence, this article may help you decide. Keep reading to learn what a seasoned coffee cup is, why people season their coffee cups, how to season your coffee cup, whether they're safe to drink from, and much more!

Seasoned Coffee Cup Trend Explained

A seasoned coffee cup is stained on the inside with a thick patina of dark coffee oils. The oils build up on the sides and bottom of the coffee cup over time if the cup is never washed, only rinsed out. People do it because they believe it enhances the flavor of their coffee, and also because it's a military tradition.

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Section 1 of 6:

What is a seasoned coffee cup?

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1. 
   A seasoned coffee cup has layers of coffee oil from not being washed. Look inside a really well-seasoned coffee cup, and you'll see a thick, brown patina on the sides and bottom. You can even feel the texture of it with your fingertip and scratch through it with your nail. These aren't just stains, though. They're made of black coffee oil residue that has built up over hundreds of uses. The oil residue lingers inside your cup when you don't wash it, sticking to the sides and bottom.

   • Did you know? It's called "seasoning" because the oil supposedly adds extra flavor to the coffee, and also because it's similar to the process of "seasoning" a cast-iron skillet with hot oil to make it nonstick.
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Section 2 of 6:

Why do people season their coffee cups?

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1. People do it to enhance the coffee flavor or to follow a military tradition. Many people online claim that they like the layers of coffee oils because it adds flavor and depth to their morning cup o' Joe. Many veterans and current US military members also season their coffee cups because it's a longstanding tradition originating in the Navy.

Section 3 of 6:

How to Season a Coffee Cup

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1. 1
   Drink black coffee from the cup without milk or creamer. Brew a pot of black coffee with whatever beans you desire. Just don't add any dairy products to sweeten or flavor it. If you dilute coffee with milk or creamer, you won't get that buildup of coffee oil inside your cup that you're looking for. Additionally, you'll have to wash your cup in soap and water, since dairy products curdle and leave bacteria behind. If you need to reduce the bitterness in your coffee, simply stir in sugar to your liking.

   • Use a ceramic or a stainless steel coffee cup. Ceramic and stainless steel will develop and hold on to a coffee oil patina much more easily than glass. That's because glass is non-porous.
   • Avoid seasoning copper coffee cups. Pouring hot coffee into an unlined copper cup can cause the metal to leach into your beverage. Copper is toxic to the human body in high amounts.
2. 2
   Clean the cup by rinsing it out with warm water only. Lightly rinse the inside of the coffee cup with warm water to remove any coffee grounds or leftover coffee. Avoid washing it with soap or scrubbing it with a sponge, brush, or washcloth. Let it air dry before putting it away or using it again.
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Section 4 of 6:

Are seasoned coffee cups safe to drink from?

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1. Yes, it's safe to drink from a seasoned coffee cup (as long as it's yours). As long as you're the only one drinking from the cup, feel free to go without washing it. The coffee oil will break down over time, but it won't become toxic, so you don't have to worry about getting sick from it. Avoid sharing the cup with others, though, since that's how germs and illness spread.

   • Remember to avoid using dairy products to sweeten or flavor your coffee. Milk and creamer can spoil and leave bacteria that could potentially make you sick if you don't wash the cup out with soap.

Section 5 of 6:

Does seasoning a coffee cup affect the flavor?

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1. Seasoning a coffee cup probably won't enhance the coffee flavor. That's because coffee oils break down the longer they're exposed to oxygen, leaving behind a stale and flat flavor. In other words, "seasoning" your coffee cup won't make your freshly brewed coffee taste better or lend it a richer flavor.

   • Some people still claim that a seasoned coffee cup makes their coffee taste more flavorful. For example, TikTok user @lawnanswers posted this video claiming he could tell the difference between coffee from his seasoned stainless steel tumbler and a new, unseasoned tumbler.
   • Others say it makes it taste worse or makes the cup too gross to drink from. @thecoffeesnob posted this TikTok ranting about how coffee oils break down just like food, so they couldn't possibly improve the flavor of your drink. He also dislikes the fact that people who season their coffee cups don't wash them, saying, "Just wash it already!"
   • Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. If you like your seasoned coffee cup, keep drinking out of it! If you think the trend is gross, keep washing your mugs with soap and water!
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Section 6 of 6:

Why do Navy officers not wash their coffee cups?

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1. Seasoning coffee cups is a tradition started in the US Navy. The practice may have started during World War II, when the milk in the Navy's supply deliveries was always spoiled. This meant the sailors had to drink their coffee black. It became traditional in the Navy (and in other branches of the US military) to not only drink coffee black, but also to never wash their coffee cups. A well-seasoned coffee cup is a point of pride for many veterans, then and now.

   • Some people theorize that the tradition started because of metal coffee cups. In the World War II era, sailors drank from metal coffee cups, not ceramic or glass like most people do today. The oils from the coffee would stick to the inside of the cup and prevent the coffee from taking on a metallic taste.

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