I’m really into tech, science, and all that jazz. After all, tech introduced me to the wonderful world of fanfiction, and science created Ingenuity, my favorite Martian space helicopter (it also plays a big role in one of my go-to shows: The Big Bang Theory).
That being said, I also rarely gift tech- or science-related presents to my friends or loved ones. First of all, getting someone a tech gift is hard. There are boundless things you have to consider. For instance, how can you make sure they don’t have it already without giving yourself away? Can you gift Android devices to an Apple cultist? What if they don’t use it and just dump it in the typical basket or closet for unused gadgets?
There’s also the price. Tech gifts can be expensive, and I am not looking to spend that kind of money on the office Secret Santa or on a gift for the cousin I see once a year. No offense.
Faced with this panorama, and as a tech enthusiast, I’ve often gifted the next best, tech-adjacent gifts: coffee mugs. They’re the perfect small yet thoughtful gift that people can actually use. Every time I use one of my mugs—the most recent is a Jigglypuff-themed one I got in a white elephant exchange—I fondly remember the person that gave it to me, and then proceed to show it off.
Working late or early, or just want a better way to start off the day? Grab your favorite mug. You don’t even have to be a coffee drinker. I fill them with tea, water, kombucha, and even beer (off the clock, of course).
Here are a few of the geeky, original coffee mugs that 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, lots of other options out there, so if anything, use this list as inspiration to get those mental wheels turning.
Snorlax coffee mug
I am not a morning person. In fact, I’m not even a person at all until I’ve chugged down some sweet caffeine. That’s probably why I think Snorlax is one of my spirit Pokémon (who said you should limit yourself to one?) and why I don’t mind being compared to a round, lazy, fictional creature that’s always sleeping. I don’t do that nearly often enough.
Lego mug
How I wish I were a Lego person. I’ve tried. I would really love to have some Lego flowers in my apartment, given that I can’t have real flowers because of my cats. But I’ve long 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 get behind. Besides this model, there are also cups with a winking Lego girl, a Lego skeleton, and a silly Lego man sticking his tongue out.
Princess Peach mug
There were two reasons this rad Princess Peach mug caught my eye. First: Princess Peach, duh. Second: the color. Pink is cool! We need more pink in the world. This lovely Princess Peach mug will make you feel like a winner every time you take a sip of your coffee/tea/beverage of choice.
For the cherry on top, let out a casual, “Oh, did I win?” while you’re using your mug.
Super Mario Bros. mug
If the person you’re shopping for has a love for 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 great cup changes color depending on whether the beverage is hot or old. Who said you needed a screen to see cool special effects?
Stranger Things mug
It’s taken almost a decade, but this month we’ll finally learn just how things end for our favorite band of “kids” (*cough* adults *cough*) in Hawkins. Honestly, I’m not upset that it’s taken Netflix forever to finish this show. I like it! I may not remember what happened in season four, but I like it.
One thing I do remember is my girl, Eleven, who will live on in my heart as an eternal badass no matter what happens at the end.
Star Trek mug
I may be a homebody, but even I would be willing to pack my suitcase if it meant getting to visit the USS Enterprise. Unfortunately, a ship like the Enterprise is unlikely to be built in my lifetime. That only leaves the next best option: living vicariously through merch.
This was the mindset I was in when I stumbled upon this ultra-cool USS Enterprise camper mug. It’s just the reminder you need to boldly go where no man has gone before.
It’s fine meme mug
Overall, I try to have a good and positive attitude, but even I have those days where everything seems to be on fire. In fact, I sometimes joke that I feel like the meme of exasperated Elmo in hell or the dog surrounded by flames. Of course, my first choice in this case was Elmo in hell (I just think his little arms look kind of funny in that meme), but I wasn’t able to find a cool mug that did the meme justice. (Damn you, Sesame Street lawyers!)
I was able to find a mug with a dog surrounded by flames, though, and I’m already thinking about the beer I’ll fill it up with at the end of a long day.
Star Wars mug
This wouldn’t be a Gizmodo list if I didn’t include a Star Wars mug, and I think I’ve managed to find just the one that makes the inexplicable Force in George Lucas’ world easy to understand. Yeah, it’s a bit corny, but given how much shit is going on in the world right now, we could all use a little help from the Force.
Legend of Zelda Hyrule Crest Earthenware mug
To my eternal shame, I got stuck on one of the puzzles at the beginning of Tears of the Kingdom and got so frustrated that I abandoned the game. Sigh. Playing video games isn’t my strong suit, so I just stick to watching others. Luckily, it is within my capabilities to drink from this cool Legend of Zelda mug, which is an ideal gift for fans of the game.
Demon Slayer Nezuko mug
With the release of Infinity Castle, Demon Slayer proved once again that it’s one of the greatest animes to come out in the past few years. And with great success comes a whole lot of merch. I am definitely digging it, but when there’s this much hype, I prefer to go for merch that’s a bit more unique.
That’s how I found this delightful Nezuko mug, which connected right with my inner cat mom. Not many of my favorite things in life sit in places where they fit, but Nezuko and my cats do.
Howl’s Moving Castle mug
Out of all of Studio Ghibli’s magical characters, Calcifer from Howl’s Moving Castle may be my favorite. I love how the sassy little fire makes room for everyone in their odd and misshapen moving castle, even though he does complain while he’s doing it. And who can forget his infamous phrase? “May all your bacon burn.”
Now imagine that on a mug.
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