Anthora facts for kids

The Anthora is a special paper coffee cup design. It has become a famous symbol of daily life in New York City. Its name sounds like an Eastern European way of saying the word amphora, which is an ancient Greek jar.

The Famous Anthora Cup

The Anthora cup was first designed in 1963 by Leslie Buck. He worked for the Sherri Cup Co. He wanted to create a cup that would appeal to Greek-owned coffee shops in New York City. Later, many other companies copied his design.

Its Unique Design

The original Anthora cup shows a picture of an Ancient Greek amphora. An amphora is a type of tall, two-handled jar. The cup also has a special pattern called a Greek key design around the top and bottom edges.

The words "WE ARE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU" are printed on the cup. They are written in a unique font that looks like ancient Greek writing. For example, the letter E looks like a capital sigma (Σ), which is pronounced like "s". The cup's blue and white colors were inspired by the flag of Greece. Because of its unique look, the Anthora cup quickly became the most recognized coffee-to-go cup in the New York area.

A Pop Culture Icon

The Anthora cup became very popular. In 1994, about 500 million of these cups were sold. At that time, it was the most popular design for the company's cups. By 2005, sales had dropped to about 200 million cups each year. A writer for The New York Times once called the Anthora "perhaps the most successful cup in history." Later, in 2007, it was even called one of those "endangered artifacts" in a TV review.

Today, the Solo Cup Company owns the trademark for the Anthora cup. They allow other companies to sell it. The Anthora coffee cup is often seen in movies and TV shows that are set in New York City. Some examples include Goodfellas, The Sopranos, Friends, Men in Black, and How I Met Your Mother. You can also spot it in shows like Brooklyn 99, Suits, and the Law & Order series.

The Creator: Leslie Buck

Leslie Buck did not earn extra money from his design through royalties. However, as a salesman, he was well paid because the cup was so successful. When he retired in 1992, he received a special gift. It was 10,000 Anthora cups printed with a message thanking him for his work. After Leslie Buck passed away in 2010, a writer for The New York Times said that the cup's motto, "WE ARE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU," had a kind and welcoming feeling.