| Table surface | Risk without a coaster | Verdict | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid wood / veneer (lacquered) | Condensation and heat leave white rings | Yes | Put one under hot mugs too |
| Oil-finished wood | Water soaks in and stains fast | Absolutely | Absorbent materials like diatomaceous earth are safest |
| Marble and other stone | Water marks and ring-shaped etching | Yes | Acidic drinks etch stone; wipe spills at once |
| Glass / laminate | Nothing a wipe won't fix | No | Use them anyway if drips or clinking bother you |
Do You Need Coasters at All?
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If your table or desk top is wood or stone, yes; if it's glass or laminate, a quick wipe does the job. The white ring a sweating glass leaves on a wood finish is genuinely hard to remove.