I found this mug in a small shop in Japan.
Vacillating around its purchase and adding to my already heavy luggage… it almost did not make the trip.

But here it is. In a somewhat wabi-sabi photo that captures its mug-ness.

There are wobbly vertical grooves furrowed into the stripes that give it tactile satisfaction. The size and shape of the handle is a Goldilocks fit.

Empirically, coffee tastes 7% better in this mug…
…it is simultaneously imperfect and perfect and has instantly become my favorite mug.