[Aerkuld]

I don't think it has much to do with psychology, although maybe it does play some part.

I think a minute amount of the of the styrofoam/ paper/chemical treatment/wax coating or whatever gets dissolved in the coffee which taints it's flavor. A ceramic mug has a hard, smooth, glossy surface with nothing to dissolve. I've previously poured coffee at work into the styrofoam cup as I was passing the coffee pot then tipped the contents of the styrofoam cup into my mug when I got back to my desk and it still tastes like a styrofoam cup.

The same is true for beer. The old aluminum cans definitely had an effect on the taste of the beer and it was still there even if you pour it into a glass. The newer cans with a thin membrane liner are a big improvement and a bottle has very little effect on the taste. As far as glasses for beer are concerned, some are actually designed specifically to enhance certain aspects of a particular beer in much the same way that a wine glass is different for red or white wine. Of course I am assuming the wine makes it as far as the glass.