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I Granted in tech, science, and all that jazz. Afterwards, I was introduced to the tech of wonderful world of fanfictionand science was born wiselymy favorite Martian space helicopter (it also played a major role in one of my shows: The Big Bang Theory).
That said, I also rarely give technology or science related gifts to my friends or loved ones. First of all, getting a person is a gift of technology difficult. There are endless things you need to consider. For example, how can you make sure they don’t have it if you don’t give yourself away? Can you gift Android devices to an Apple cult? What if they don’t use it and just throw it in the typical basket or closet for unused gadgets?
There is also the price. Technology gifts can be dearand I’m not looking to spend that kind of money on an office Secret Santa or a gift for the cousin I see once a year. There is no sin.
Faced with this panorama, and as a technology enthusiast, I always give the next best, adjacent technology gifts: coffee mugs. They are the perfect small but thoughtful gift that people can use. Every time I use one of my mugs—the latest is a Jigglypuff-themed one I got at a white elephant exchange—I fondly remember the person who gave it to me, and then proceed to display it.
Working late or early, or just want a better way to start the day? Grab your favorite mug. You don’t have to be a coffee drinker. I fill them with tea, water, kombucha, and even beer (off the clock, of course).
Here are some of the geeky, original coffee mugs I’m coveting this year. If you’re looking for a small gift that’s fun and original, you can’t go wrong with one of these. There are, naturally, many other options out there, so if anything, use this list as inspiration to get the mental wheels rolling.
Snorlax coffee cup
I’m not a morning person. In fact, I’m not even a person until I’ve consumed some sweet caffeine. That’s probably why I think Snorlax is one of my spirit Pokémon (who says you have to limit yourself to one?) I don’t do that nearly as often.
Lego mug
How I wish I was a Lego man. I tried. I would love to have some Lego flowers in my apartment, because I can’t have real flowers because of my cats. But I’ve long since accepted that I’m an idiot when it comes to trying to build anything with Legos.
Now, a Lego-themed coffee mug? That I can go home. Besides this model, there are also cups with a blinking Lego girl, a Lego skeleton, and a crazy Lego man sticking out his tongue.
Princess Peach mug
There are two reasons this rad Princess Peach mug caught my eye. First: Princess Peach, duh. Second: the color. Pink is beautiful! We need more pink in the world. This beautiful Princess Peach mug will make you feel like a winner every time you sip your coffee/tea/drink of choice.
For the cherry on top, let out a casual, “Oh, did I win?” while you use your mug.
Mug of Super Mario Bros
If the person you are shopping for has a love of nostalgia and Super Mario Bros.fear not, our favorite red-hatted plumber has you covered. Besides being an homage to Nintendo’s first Super Mario game in 1985, this large cup changes color depending on whether the drink is hot or old. Who said you need a screen to see cool special effects?
Stranger Things mug
It’s been almost a decade, but this month we’ll find out how things ended for our favorite “kids” band (*cough* adults *cough*) in Hawkins. Honestly, I’m not mad that it took Netflix forever to finish this show. i like it! I probably don’t remember what happened in season four, but I loved it.
One thing I remember is my daughter, Eleven, who will remain in my heart as an eternal badass no matter what happens in the end.
Star Trek mug
I may be a homebody, but even I’m ready to pack my suitcase if it means visiting the USS Enterprise. Unfortunately, a ship like Enterprise may not be built in my lifetime. That only leaves the next best option: living vicariously through merch.
This was the thought I had when I stumbled upon this ultra-cool USS Enterprise camping mug. This is just a reminder that you must be bold enough to go where no man has gone before.
This is a great meme mug
In general, I try to have a good and positive attitude, but even I have days where everything seems to be on fire. In fact, I sometimes joke that I look like a meme of an angry Elmo in hell or a dog surrounded by fire. Of course, my first choice in this case was Elmo in hell (I think his little arms look funny in that meme), but I couldn’t find a cool mug that did the meme justice. (Damn you, Sesame Street lawyers!)
I did find a mug with a dog surrounded by flames, though, and I’m already thinking about the beer I’m going to fill it with after a long day.
Star Wars mug
It wouldn’t be a Gizmodo list if I didn’t include an STar War mug, and I think I’ve found one that makes the incomprehensible Force in George Lucas’ world easy to understand. Yes, it’s a little corny, but with so much going on in the world today, we could all use a little help from the Force.
Legend of Zelda Hyrule Crest Earthenware mug
To my eternal shame, I was stuck in one of the puzzles at the beginning of Tears of the Kingdom and was so disappointed that I left the game. Sigh. Playing video games is not my strong suit, so I just stick to watching others. Luckily, it is is the within my capabilities to drink it cold Legend of Zelda mug, which is an ideal gift for sports fans.
Demon Slayer Nezuko mug
With the release of Infinity Castle, Demon Slayer has proven once again that it is one of the greatest anime to come out in the last few years. And with great success comes a whole lot of sales. I definitely dig it, but when there’s that much hype, I’d rather go for merch that’s a little more unique.
That’s why I found this delightful Nezuko mug, which is directly connected to my cat mother. Not many of my favorite things in life sit where they belong, but Nezuko and my cats do.
Howl’s Moving Castle mug
From all the Studio Ghibli characters, from Calcifer Howl’s Moving Castle maybe my favorite. I love how the sassy little fire makes room for everyone in their weird and wrong acting castle, even if she complains while she does it. And who can forget his shameful words? “May all your bacon burn.”
Now imagine that in a mug.
