History of Drink Coaster | Shop Bar and Drink Coaster

For many of us, drink coasters seem to be no big deal. However, they have important functions, and without them, you may damage your wooden furniture, marble countertops, tableware, and other surfaces. More importantly, you can also use cheap glass coasters and place them on the glass to prevent the drink from being contaminated by insects and debris. In addition, it is also a convenient way to indicate to the restaurant waiter that you have not finished your drink.

With this in mind, let us delve into the world of coasters. We will explore different types, materials, and reasons, and you should bring some with you to your own home.

Drink coaster history

Around 1760, drink coasters began to appear in many households. However, the early designs looked more like shallow dishes made of paper, wood, or silver. They are designed to be placed under wine bottles and decanters so that they can be "set aside" on the dining table when the servant is away.

Before cardboard became readily available, it was common in Western culture to place saucers under cups to protect furniture from condensation rings and burn marks. This practice used to be and is still the most common practice when drinking tea. For centuries, teacup and saucer sets have been common in noble families.

It wasn't until 1880 that the first cardboard drink coasters began to appear. The German printing company Friedrich Horn produces so-called "beer mats" with brand names printed on them for promotional purposes. From there, Robert Splash began manufacturing these types of coasters from wood pulp in 1892.

Drink coasters and beer mats made of wood pulp and cardboard were introduced to the UK in 1920 as breweries tried to promote their beer and ale to a wider audience. Since then, since the mid-20th century, placemats made of various materials have become standard items in homes and restaurants around the world. Today, beverage coasters play an important role worldwide. There are an estimated 5.5 billion coasters in the world, of which about 75% are produced by two different companies. 

Unless your guests have a habit of using coin display case coaster, you may need to make some reminders until they know they need coasters in your home. Of course, first, let the coaster come out for people to use. Forget to display them in the stack-this makes them look like part of the decoration, not something that can be used.

Instead, put them on the table in advance so that people are more likely to put drinks on the table. (This is purely a personal observation; searching for "beverage coaster usage research" is empty, although I did find some very cool Shop Bar and Drink Coasters.)

Providing guests with coasters instead of requiring them to use coasters is usually a gentler but direct way to allow guests to develop the habit of using coasters in your home. "Rick, I'll get you a roller coaster" sounds better than "Rick, please use a roller coaster". You may still find yourself running around while providing coasters, but when your regular customers see that you always provide coasters and encourage guests to use them, they will develop the habit of using coasters in your home.