The Shatter-Proof Way A Former Barista Stores Her Coffee Mugs

You've probably experienced this before: While reaching for a coffee mug early in the morning, it slips out of your hand and shatters on the countertop. Well, this doesn't have to be a risk anymore. While keeping your mugs in an upper cabinet may feel like an unspoken rule, this just isn't the case. Laura Honey, Homes & Gardens eCommerce editor and former barista, gives you permission to rethink your mug storage solution. "Pre-caffeine, it can feel a bit risky reaching for triple-stacked mugs," she told Homes and Gardens. "It's almost inevitable that your favorite one will break. In my home, I keep all of my mugs in a low drawer."

Storing your mugs in a low drawer is much safer and removes the risk of your items breaking since you'll reach down to retrieve them. Another benefit is that this hack will leave you more room inside your upper cabinets for other kitchen supplies or dishes. It's best to store items that aren't as fragile or are easily stackable in these cabinets, such as metal water bottles, plates, bowls, etc.

While this is great advice, there is one issue you may face: Your mugs could easily bang up against the sides of the drawer or one another and chip. Luckily, there are a few products you could purchase to ensure your mugs stay safe when utilizing the drawer. The first way is by lining the bottom of the drawer with a shelf liner. One option, called Gorilla Grip, can be purchased from Amazon, comes in multiple colors, and can easily be cut down to the perfect size for your space.

The second option is to use a foam mug holder, which keeps glassware safe while traveling inside a motorhome or a boat, so it'll protect your mugs as well. Finally, if you use your mugs sparingly, keep them inside their original packaging. While this will make using them difficult, it will also protect them from any harm, especially if your collection is very special to you.

When storing your mugs in a low cabinet, you can take other preventive measures to avoid breaking them. For instance, replacing your eclectic collection with one that's stackable could benefit you greatly. These could be purchased from retailers like World Market, which has a white porcelain option, or Schoolhouse, for amber glass mugs. On the other hand, if you don't want to buy all new mugs, declutter your collection and keep them unstacked. 

Another tip is to flip your mugs over so the bottom faces upwards. This will keep dust out, which is harmful to ingest in large amounts. Further, it may also help your mugs stay in place better, as the rim is typically larger than the bottom. Finally, when deciding which lower drawer is right for you, choose one close to your coffee maker. This will also reduce the risk of breaking your mugs by cutting down the walking distance to fill your cup to the brim in the morning. This drawer must also be deep enough to hold your tallest items to avoid chipping them.