Science and etiquette are two extremely different areas, so when it comes to the proper coffee drinking etiquette it's best to follow the advice of a professional. Etiquette expert Myka Meier, founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, states that the proper way to hold a coffee mug is to: "Curve your index finger through the handle while keeping your thumb on top of the handle. Then curl the remaining three fingers into the bottom of your hand. Also, the cup should be positioned at 3 o' clock, which will help keep your lipstick marks all in one place."
Tea and coffee cups are different sizes and weights and thus require a different cup holding technique. Meier instructs that the proper way to hold a tea cup is as follows: “You never loop your index finger into the handle. Instead, your index finger should meet your thumb through the handle as if you were pinching, and your middle finger should support by being placed under the handle. Think ‘pinch and support!’” Also forget what you learned from Alice in Wonderland and keep your pinky down!
Rules and etiquette change depending on where you are in the world. It's true the British are known for their 'high teas' but tea was born in China and they have their own unique set of customs when it comes to teatime. The Chinese perform an entire ritual when it comes to serving up this hot beverage and can vary between the regions, but when it comes to holding their cups one thing stays the same - use both hands to hold your tea.
Coffee and tea are nice, but what about alcohol? The glass depends on the beverage and so does how you hold the glass. Martini glasses are elegant and precarious drinks to carry, however, etiquette dictates you should hold it by the stem. The same rules apply to wine glasses - this prevents changing the temperature of the drink. Brandy is the exception to the stem rule and should be cupped by the bowl of the glass - in this case the warmth from your hands improve the aroma.
Out of all the drinks it seems like there is no wrong way to drink a beer - wrong. It's intuitive to grab a beer bottle by the base and enjoy, but a Quora thread suggests this could ruin your ice-cold beverage. Our hands transmit heat and in turn, holding a beer bottle by the base can heat your drink up faster - instead try holding it by the neck.
