If you’ve seen a movie or TV show that takes place in New York City over the past five decades, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a blue and white, Greek-themed, disposable coffee cup somewhere in the scene. Since its debut, the “Anthora” coffee cup has become so ubiquitous in the city that it has turned into a symbol of NYC itself.
Also known as the “We Are Happy To Serve You” cup, the phrase printed on one side, this humble piece of packaging debuted in 1963, and was once described by a New York Times writer as “perhaps the most successful cup in history.” The Anthora cup’s packaging prominence may have diminished over time, but thanks to three decades of omnipresence in caffeine-fueled New York and numerous cameos on screen, this simple coffee vessel has left a continuing and indelible mark on the city’s culture.
These days, when we order coffee, it’s often served in a single-use cup. It’s easy to take for granted that practical to-go cups for hot coffee are possible, though it’s only been realistically possible since the 1960s.
