What Is a Coffee Holder?

A coffee holder is a device that holds a beverage container, usually a cup. Often used in automobiles and public spaces, it is typically mounted to the dash or console and allows the user to hold a beverage without having to touch the hot or cold container itself. In addition to being a popular fixture in vehicles, it can also be found in public buildings and some restaurants and cafés.

The term coffee holder can also be used to describe sleeves that go around handle-less paper coffee cups, which insulate the drinker’s hands from the heat of the brew. These are sometimes called “coffee condoms” because they protect the hand from the hot beverage much like a latex condom might protect a person’s genitals.

These sleeves are commonly made from a paperboard material, although some may be made of other materials. They can be printed with logos and brands, and many of them are marketed to consumers as promotional items for specific coffee shops.

A more ancient device for holding a cup was a zarf, a metal holder for a cup without handles. Originally, these were ornamental holders fashioned from materials such as silver, gold or copper and decorated with filigree, niello, engraving, and other embellishments. They were also crafted from woods such as coconut, ebony or other hardwoods and were often carved and set with ivory, bone, horn or tortoiseshell. They were a common feature in the elaborate service of coffee that was prevalent in Turkey for some time after its introduction to Europe in the thirteenth century.