A ZILLION COFFEE MUGS

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

If you are looking for new mugs that are lead and cadmium-free, read on for a couple of ideas.

Last week I posted on my frenzied hunt for replacement coffee mugs, mentioning a great blue-banded retro "diner" looking find. Thank goodness, a kind-hearted poster mentioned it might be one of the many ceramic items that could have lead in the glaze, due to its extremely low cost.

That made me check, and the manufacturer made no claims as to toxin-free glazes. That was enough to make me look elsewhere, since there are literally thousands of other choices out there. I asked the mods to remove my post, since the mugs I mentioned could not definitively be said to be safe.

We already had gotten Serami mugs from Amazon earllier, in my preferred material of stoneware, and preferred size of 14 ounces. Those WERE lead and cadmium-free. But they are a tall shape that doesn't fit under my mini Keurig unless I remove the little platform. So not ideal, but fine for tea, etc.

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If you like the simple, clean contemporary lines of Corelle mugs, but want something a bit bigger, these "Glendale" ones by Serami look just like a bigger version. I think the other colors they come in are cobalt, black and maybe gray.

AND, Serami has good customer service. We had ordered four, and one arrived broken. We informed them, and they responded that they were going to send us, at their expense, another whole box of four for free!! So now we have seven.

So, to get a slightly shorter, but still 14 ounce mug, and lead and cadmium free choice, we looked to them again, and ordered their "Bistro" design. They are a little wider and shorter, with the perfect height for my Keurig of 4 1/4 inches:

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Both simple designs could be considered midcentury, and they are smooth and seem well-made.

Not everyone cares about the lead and cadmium thing, but I like having one less thing to be a potential concern! By the way, among dinner sets, I did research and found that Corelle's "Winter Frost White" dishes are also lead-free.

Edited to add--- Oh, now I am scared to make recommendations given my previous mug fiasco, so I will add this disclaimer. Serami does say right up front that both "Glendale" and "Bistro" are lead and cadmium free. I don't know if anyone has done independent testing on them to prove that out. But I figure that for them to make that a central part of their claims, the chances are good that it is true!

I do know that someone like "Lead Free Mama" (ha-- I think that's her site) has said that "Winter Frost White" has indeed actually been independently tested, and passed!

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

The FDA is responsible tor testing dinnerware, china, serveware that are imported into the US for lead. The mfg can say what they wish but it's still sampled and tested.

That said, the FDA samples only about 1% of imported items and they're probably behind because of Covid.

You can buy a test kit for lead at a real hardware store or online to test either your imported or antique pieces to make sure they're food safe.

I just buy Fiesta. Colorful, made here and lead free.

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

@Oznell wrote:
If you are looking for new mugs that are lead and cadmium-free, read on for a couple of ideas.

Last week I posted on my frenzied hunt for replacement coffee mugs, mentioning a great blue-banded retro "diner" looking find. Thank goodness, a kind-hearted poster mentioned it might be one of the many ceramic items that could have lead in the glaze, due to its extremely low cost.

That made me check, and the manufacturer made no claims as to toxin-free glazes. That was enough to make me look elsewhere, since there are literally thousands of other choices out there. I asked the mods to remove my post, since the mugs I mentioned could not definitively be said to be safe.

We already had gotten Serami mugs from Amazon earllier, in my preferred material of stoneware, and preferred size of 14 ounces. Those WERE lead and cadmium-free. But they are a tall shape that doesn't fit under my mini Keurig unless I remove the little platform. So not ideal, but fine for tea, etc.

If you like the simple, clean contemporary lines of Corelle mugs, but want something a bit bigger, these "Glendale" ones by Serami look just like a bigger version. I think the other colors they come in are cobalt, black and maybe gray.

AND, Serami has good customer service. We had ordered four, and one arrived broken. We informed them, and they responded that they were going to send us, at their expense, another whole box of four for free!! So now we have seven.

So, to get a slightly shorter, but still 14 ounce mug, and lead and cadmium free choice, we looked to them again, and ordered their "Bistro" design. They are a little wider and shorter, with the perfect height for my Keurig of 4 1/4 inches:

Both simple designs could be considered midcentury, and they are smooth and seem well-made.

Not everyone cares about the lead and cadmium thing, but I like having one less thing to be a potential concern! By the way, among dinner sets, I did research and found that Corelle's "Winter Frost White" dishes are also lead-free.

Edited to add--- Oh, now I am scared to make recommendations given my previous mug fiasco, so I will add this disclaimer. Serami does say right up front that both "Glendale" and "Bistro" are lead and cadmium free. I don't know if anyone has done independent testing on them to prove that out. But I figure that for them to make that a central part of their claims, the chances are good that it is true!

I do know that someone like "Lead Free Mama" (ha-- I think that's her site) has said that "Winter Frost White" has indeed actually been independently tested, and passed!

@Oznell

Thank you for that information. I have been trying to find just such for not only Keurig but the Nespresso. If I make the tall mugs of java in my Nespresso, I have the same problem.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

Seems like i recall some Federal legislation years ago that banned ceramics containing lead from importation into the US. Seems like most came from Mexico and the danger was in using them with citrus drinks that caused the lead to leach out of the glaze and become soluable. People commonly used pitchers for lemonade and OJ. I wouldn't worry about coffee cups.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Etoile308 · ‎01-04-2014

I've gotten away from stonewear and even Corelle mugs. They've just started to seem too heavy for me anymore. And with arthritis I sometimes find myself almost dropping things. Few years back I found double walled thermal plastic mugs at Target. They seem to keep the coffee warmer than my old Corelle.

Twins Mom · ‎04-03-2016

@Oznell

Helpful info. While we hear that lead is supposedly checked for, we know some slips by. Last weeks info on metals and chemicals in baby food - even organic - reinforced thought that we have to be observant and research to best we can.

I have been slow to purge mugs but definitely not letting ani new in cupboards.

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

Agreed, @Twins Mom , I'm gradually weeding out some old ones too. Not to go overboard with this, but the presence of cadmium is also a bit disconcerting, considering the adverse health effects it can cause. It doesn't hurt to be on the lookout for better options!