Mini MINI travel mug.

MUG: A 12 ounce (unusual size... more on that later) travel mug by Savor (Made in China... like every other consumer good in the USofA). It's a double-walled stainless steel mug (but not a vacuum design like a Yeti), as opposed to the stainless steel exterior/plastic interior design that's become more common (and cheaper). This one is sold by MINI dealers, and has a nice integrated 3D MINI logo inset on it.

COFFEE: Ethiopian Guji Shakiso from the Southgate Central Market. Light-roasted by Frank.

NOTES: The 12 ounce size is about the same volume as a standard coffee mug. In some ways, this makes more practical sense than does a 16, 18, or 20 ounce (like my Yeti Rambler... which also comes in a ridiculous 30 ounce size) travel mug. The realistic heat-retention for an 11 ounce mug is fine. I mean, you're gonna DRINK it now. Otherwise, you get a genuine Thermos, so you can drink it later.

The neat thing about this small-sized travel mug from MINI is that it clears the switch gear in the car. I can have coffee to drink and still roll down my windows, or turn on my fog lamps!

This travel mug was a gift from my new service adviser at MINI of Austin, Roy Myers.

Thanks, Roy! Very much appreciated.

Hot Dr Pepper.

MUG: A 'Sainte Germain Collection' cup from Sur le Table. Made in China, but a pleasant drinker in an attractive 'restaurant/hotel' design.

COFFEE: Not coffee, but a German mulled wine, Nurnberg Christkindl Glühwein.

NOTES: Served hot, sitting before the fireplace. It reminds me of drinking hot Dr Pepper with lemon as a kid. Damn fine living, even if I did forget the cinnamon sticks.

Coffee Dump.

MUG: Paper cup. Optional lid passed by. It's a paper cup, with plastic coating. There's not much else I can say.

COFFEE: Starbuck's Pikes Place medium roast coffee, brewed by a machine that grinds beans and forces water through the grinds into a holding tank, and then almost literally dumps the coffee into the cup. Whoosh! The stream you see pouring into the cup is the last bit from the reservoir.

I had my choice of three coffees (medium roast, medium roast de-caf, dark roast), or a hot chocolate. Or a blend of coffees (haf-caf). Not a bad quickie car dealership coffee.

NOTES: Another fun adventure at MINI of Austin. All's well that ends well.

Goodbye Kitty.

MUG: Waechtersbach (Germany) Christmas Cat Mug.

COFFEE: Colombian Santander via Central Market and Frank.

NOTES: The Twelve Days of Christmas come to an end today.