Coasters

A drink coaster, also known as a beermat, is a familiar item to many who have frequented a bar, pub, relatives, or friends’ home. Coasters are made of various materials, from silver and silverplate to wood, metal, soapstone, and the most commonly used thick absorbent paper for beer and spirits brand advertising.

The first known coasters were designed for use with decanters and wine bottles. These early coasters allowed the bottle to be slid or “coasted” across a tabletop without damaging the table’s surface. These early coasters were in use from about 1760ⁱ on and were designed as shallow trays or dishes made of wood, papier-mâché, silver, or silver plateⁱⁱ.

In 1880, coasters were first made of cardboard created by Friedrich Horn, a German printing company.ⁱⁱⁱ By the 1920s, coasters were being used in the United Kingdom to advertise beer and ale brands. Most coasters in bars and pubs are made of thick, rigid paperboard with high water absorbency and desirable printability.^iv

These coasters serve the dual purpose of absorbing condensation that accumulates on beverage glasses and advertising products and services. In my case, to advertise my books and to offer you a small, practical gift by which you may enjoy the books with your favorite beverage.