Drinking, whether it’s water, coffee, or soda, is such an essential part of human life that we usually do it on autopilot. That’s why we also take for granted the vessel we’re drinking from, not realizing how much it can affect not only the taste but also the entire experience. Materials can subtly change the flavor of the drink or even create toxins, while uninspiring designs can affect our moods without us even realizing why we feel so sour or down. More importantly, we rarely take into account how our cups and glasses can affect the health of the planet in the long run. That’s definitely a lot to take in for a single cup, but this simple yet striking glassware makes it all so simple, providing a design that’s not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside, especially for the world we live in.
Glasses, mugs, and cups are so ubiquitous that we barely give them a second look whenever we drink. But like the mess that starts to pile up on our desks or in our rooms, they actually have an effect on our minds and our moods. Drinking from a plain, uninspiring, and rough cup is a completely different experience from using a smooth, beautiful, and luxurious vessel. The latter makes every sip feel special as if enjoying fine wine even when you’re simply drinking water. It uplifts the spirit as much as it nourishes the body.
And there’s the fact that not all drinkware is made equal, even those made from metal and glass. They can have harmful chemicals mixed in that interact with the liquid inside, changing their flavors and sometimes even causing harm to our health. They also slowly kill the planet, especially the numerous plastic drinkware that fill the market and our cupboards. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel great not only because you’re drinking from a beautiful glass cup but also because you know you’re doing your small part to protect the planet? That’s the blissful drinking experience that this exquisite glass cup is offering, made from recycled glass that, in turn, is also completely recyclable.
Why is this the Best Glass Cup
This sustainable glass cup has a beauty that goes beyond just appearances. It uses glass that’s collected and recycled by Taiwan’s largest glass recycling center and the product is a material that’s also 100% recyclable glass. This means that at the end of its life, this beautiful glass cup can be properly disposed of or even recycled for some other use, creating a circular economy that keeps on giving without harming the planet in the process.
Admittedly, that invisible detail might be lost on some people, especially when they’re distracted by the cup’s beauty. Rather than just a straightforward cylindrical body, the glass’s faceted shape has 12 angles that stand for the 12 hours on a clock’s face, symbolizing the cycle of the day and of life. And instead of being clear and transparent, glass-dyeing techniques add a visual flavor to the cup whenever light passes through it and the beverage inside. Each glass is handmade by seasoned craftsmen, which sometimes results in tiny bubbles or traces on the surface of the glass. Rather than being imperfections, these give each cup a unique character and story, adding to the vessel’s charm.
Who this Glass Cup is For
With such a stylish and elegant glass, anyone can experience a more meaningful drink, regardless of their preferred beverage. With a heat-proof handle, holding a cup of your favorite coffee blend is no problem. And with its smooth circular inner surface, cleaning after a drink of wine is no sweat at all. A delight to the eyes and a treat for your lips, this Sustainable Glass Cup turns every sip into a deeper, multi-sensory experience, allowing you to savor not only the unadulterated flavors of your favored beverages but also the gratifying thoughts of supporting a circular economy that will create a brighter and greener tomorrow.
I’m sure you have a beverage of choice that you need whether in the morning, the evening, or night – usually, it is coffee or tea. For me personally, it is coffee! I love coffee, I need it to start my day, or else I simply refuse to start my day! It’s the boost of energy, dose of motivation, and rush of serotonin that I need every morning. And, I’m pretty sure that’s the case for most of us. We all need our cup of tea or coffee. There is a different satisfaction and pleasure in sipping caffeine that you know is the result of your hard work, something precariously prepared with your personal touch to it. And, you need the perfect mug or cup to drink from it. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of well-designed, functional, and aesthetically pleasing cups and mugs that will make a great addition to your kitchen.
1. Hug Cup
Called Imre’s Hug Cup, this cute little mug was designed to embody the designer’s belief that, “we give special attention to things we use in our everyday life. We like to have a personal relation to the objects we touch closely, such as a cup.” The innovative design offers a unique take on the mug’s traditional side handle.
Why is it noteworthy?
The mug allows users to securely grip the Hug Cup while letting them feel the warmth of the liquid contents inside. Imre says “The whole cup creates an intimate tunnel through the cup itself for your finger, you may enjoy the heat of your beverage without burning your palm.”
What we like
Provides an innovative and contemporary twist on a typical mug design
What we dislike
It could take a while to adjust to the new form of the handle. Some users could find it uncomfortable to use
2. Ceramic Mug
Say hello to the Ceramic Mug – this lovely little mug is the perfect example of earth meets wood. It is a symphony of textures that is designed to be an excellent treat to your fingers and lips. When you slowly drink from the mug, you experience an enriching sensory stimulation, which creates a whole new drinking experience for you. Click Here to Buy Now: $60
Why is it noteworthy?
As you drink tea from the mug, you slowly come into contact with the surface, which forms a relaxing and soothing mood for the whole tea-drinking experience. The mug is an engaging product with interesting contrasts.
What we like
Built from quality Japanese ceramics
The mug is quite smooth and interesting to touch and drink from
What we dislike
You cannot put the mug in a microwave, which is quite inconvenient
3. Eterna Glass Mug
Say hello to the Eterna Glass Mug – a stunning mug that lets you enjoy your favorite beverage in style while ensuring you also look after the planet, owing to its glass design. The mug is made from recycled glass, and it is a 100% recyclable product. The drinkware is pretty stunning, merging expert craftsmanship with a love for the environment.
The delightful mug showcases a mesmerizing display of light in every drink. Each glass is made by hand and displays little bubbles, which gives each glass a unique and captivating character. The mugs also showcase a rather luxurious and elegant appearance.
What we like
Sustainable and recyclable product
Boasts an aura of elegance and style
What we dislike
Seems quite delicate, and must be handled and cleaned with care
4. Biomorphic Mugs
These fascinating mugs are inspired by the real and organic beauty of coral reefs, cellular structures, and the networks of mycelium. The diverse pieces seem to be alive with movement. The handles seem to sprawl and move around like living extensions of the cups, forming intriguing web-like patterns, which offer a new identity to the same-old mugs.
Why is it noteworthy?
The handles feature curves and twists, which allow you to playfully interact with the mugs, converting the everyday act of holding a mug into something engaging and sensory. The mugs are also visually quite attractive and unique, allowing them to add some personality to your kitchen or dining table.
What we like
Plays around with the concept of mugs
What we dislike
The handles have a unique form, and they may be tough to hold and drink from
5. Unfiltered Titanium Whisky Glass
Named the Unfiltered Titanium Whisky Glass, this lovely glass draws inspiration from metallic hues in turn building a captivating light and color interplay. This glass provides an exciting visual experience as it is amped with a 1/f fluctuating pattern which reminds you of a murmuring stream. The glass is made from pure titanium and elevates your drinking experience.
Built using cutting-edge technology which creates an interesting color play. The glass is biocompatible and safe, in fact, even more than platinum or glass. It is resistant to odors and stains and maintains long-term hygiene.
What we like
Makes use of advanced space development technology
What we dislike
You’re unable to see how much liquid you’re pouring into the glass
6. Earth-Friendly Tumbler
Called the Earth-Friendly Tumbler, this eco-friendly glass is made from PAPLUS – a new thermoplastic resin that uses biodegradable paper to add durability, moldability, and heat resistance. Normal PLA usually lacks these qualities, making the tumbler pretty amazing.
PAPLUS builds a rather unique and novel texture that is similar to ceramic or wooden cups. When you take a sip from the tumbler, you taste a lovely flavor, which also forms an engaging sensation on your lips.
What we like
Makes drinking water a whole new sensory experience
Equipped with a heat resistance of f 120°
What we dislike
The natural color does become uneven and fade from use, which may not be preferred by all users
7. Eatsy
The designer Jexter created Eatsy by asking himself the simple question, “How might we design an adaptive tableware to enhance the dining experience for the visually impaired?”. The collection includes a set of multi-functional tableware including a plate, bowl, cup, and other utensils integrated with a silicone flap.
Why is it noteworthy?
Eatsy includes a unique silicone flap that can be utilized to increase the ease of usage while eliminating the stigma by combining it with existing tableware. The collection is created for the visually impaired, and it enables them to feel the edge of the container, helping them get through their tasks, and letting them pour water correctly.
What we like
Subtly offer unique sensory cues for the visually impaired
What we dislike
Requires user to have a firm grip on the cup
8. Floating Mug
Called the Floating Mug, this unique little mug is designed with beauty in mind. It is an elegant drinking solution designed to be not only a mug but also a coaster. It serves as two handy products, packed in a minimal and compact form, which is pretty easy to use. The mug doesn’t need any coaster to prevent any stains, since it has an in-built coaster.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Floating Mug is truly a wonder for tea and coffee drinkers, as it functions as two products as one. You don’t need to add a coaster under the mug since it already has one attached to it. You can handle the mug as any other standard drinking glass, and it works just fine as that too.
What we like
Serves as two products in one
What we dislike
The handle is breakable, so it should be used with care, and like a regular mug
9. Mμ
Say hello to Mμ – a coffee cup designed to celebrate the everyday rituals. These stunning Porcelain coffee cups are designed to push the boundaries of ceramics manufacturing. They are designed to be frictionless, and they feature a ribbed design which ensures that your beverages stay hot, and ready for you to drink whenever you wish to.
Why is it noteworthy?
The coffee cup is designed for speed and convenience, and they are made with complete attention to detail, using premium materials and craftsmanship, elevating your everyday tea or coffee drinking ritual.
What we like
The unglazed porcelain exterior offers a tactile feel to the cup
What we dislike
They aren’t portable, so you can’t use them for on-the-go coffee
10. Ceramic Travel Cups
These stunning travel cups by Rebecca Heasman are truly unique and one-of-a-kind. These travel cups are made on a pottery wheel and the rim of each travel cup is thrown at a precise width which enables the silicone lids to fit properly after firings. The designer spent hours testing, measuring, and calculating to finally create the perfect travel cups.
Why is it noteworthy?
The travel cups are designed to be unique pieces of art, and you can admire them as you drink coffee or tea from them. They’re great for your daily commute, work, and when you’re simply chilling at home. Each cup is a beautiful blend of shape and design, and you can choose your preferred liquid amount and have it created.
What we like
Unique and colorful aesthetics that make the mugs stand out
Hollywood has romanticized the idea of living in space or on other planets, but our current technologies have yet to catch up to the future painted by science fiction. Never mind the risks of blasting off into space, living on a space station can be extremely challenging, especially in the absence of gravity. Zero-G, as it is often called, can be fun once in a while and in short bursts, but having to constantly live in that environment turns activities we consider normal and mundane into an exercise in patience. The simple act of drinking, for example, requires sipping from a straw all the time, not exactly the most comfortable method for enjoying precious Earth liquids in space. That’s the problem that this space cup solves, but it accomplishes this impressive feat by taking on a shape that is almost literally out of this world.
Designer: Donald Pettit, Mark Weislogel
It’s only logical that liquids wouldn’t stay still inside a cup without the power of gravity, which is why drinks in space are taken from pouches with straws attached to them. It’s a simple and practical solution that makes drinking feel more like a mechanical act of survival than something that is enjoyed and treasured like those on Earth. NASA researcher Mark Weislogel and NASA astronaut Donald Pettit worked together, the former on Earth, the other on the International Space Station, to come up with a design that brings back the comforting experience of drinking normally from a cup.
The secret behind this “zero gravity coffee cup” is twofold. One is the special design where the cup has sharp crevices where two edges meet. The other is the way liquid behaves when placed in such a receptacle in zero gravity. The liquid is naturally drawn to those narrow spaces following the principle of capillary channel flow and, as if by magic, actually sticks to those edges without spilling out.
Owning the title of being the first cup that was actually designed in space, this zero-gravity drinkware’s first form was actually just a sheet of Mylar taped together at the edges to form a teardrop-shaped container. Of course, such a design hardly counts as a comfortable cup to drink from, so a more refined 3D printed food-grade plastic cup was made on Earth. Another model, this time made from ceramic, was later developed and became the first patented product invented outside of our planet.
The space cup’s unusual shape has raised a few eyebrows, and while it’s now available for sale on Earth from some sources, it doesn’t have the same magical capabilities demonstrated in zero-gravity space. Its alien design, however, does show how outside-the-box thinking will be necessary to have more “normal” experiences in space, and we have to expect that the first generation of what we consider to be ordinary products will take on sometimes unusual forms just so they can function in the same way.
Whether you’re working from home, or in a corporate office, you still need an ergonomic and well-designed desk. A desk is probably one of the most important pieces of furniture in our modern lives, only because we spend the majority of our day on it. You may be typing away to glory, munching away on a snack, or simply fidgeting with a random object – you do end up spending hours on your desk. And hence, it’s really important that your desk be neat, tidy, and uncluttered. Not only will this improve your work routine and productivity, but it will also help you maintain a clearer and more streamlined mindset. And, I’ve discovered that adding limited, quality, and innovative products to my desk setup can help me in achieving these goals! And an excellent addition to your workdesk would be Grovemade’s planters and pen cups.
Grovemade’s desk accessories and office gear always tend to be pretty immaculate. They’re simple, well-designed, minimalist, and highly functional. They are utilitarian yet good-looking pieces that are an added bonus to your workdesk. And Grovemade’s newly expanded collection of planters and pen cups fit the bill perfectly! Made the hard old school way in Grovemade’s Portland OR factory, the cups, planters, and dishes are carved from solid maple or walnut. The detailed pieces are then hand-sanded and finished with a clear vegetable-based oil which highlights the natural warmth, elegance, and sheer beauty of the wood.
The collection basically consists of cups, dishes, and planters in a variety of different woods. The cups are tall containers that are ideal for holding your pens, pencils, scissors, markers, etc. The dishes are wider and can be used to store your paper clips, push pins, loose change, and other tiny workplace items. The planters feature a custom metallic liner cup to hold your favorite miniature flora! The cup comes in two metal options – brass and stainless steel. They’re an excellent means to add a touch of green and nature to your otherwise chaotic workdesk.
The entire range of hardwood containers is clean, thoughtfully designed and not to mentioned well-priced. The prices start at $50! You can deck up your desk with some new additions without burning a major hole in your pocket.
Water is vital for life. Humans can survive without food for weeks but would only last for a couple of days without water, proving how essential water is to our bodies. After all, your body is composed of about 60% water. Even if it’s not about a life or death situation, however, drinking water is crucial in maintaining our health, providing many health benefits such as improving memory and mood, aiding weight maintenance, and preventing dry skin. Most of us are aware of how important it is to keep hydrated throughout the day, but very few actually do. One trick to increase your water intake during your waking hours is to have water nearby, and this cup makes it not only easy but also attractive to place your drink within arm’s reach.
Design studio TENT joined forces with another design studio ZARIGANI WORKS and plastic parts manufacturer Sakae Kogyo to create this minimalistic drinkware to improve your water intake routine. Some water bottles are large, bulky, and visually loud, making you feel like they are constantly nagging you to drink water. In contrast, the Upside-Downside drinkware’s subtle yet elegant presence on your table, desk, or bedside table doesn’t distract you but kindly encourages you to take a sip of water once in a while. Its simple design blends into any space or aesthetic you’ve got going without being obtrusive.
Of course, the Upside-Downside drinkware is not only for water but for all your favorite beverages and more. It comes as a set of tumblers in slightly different dimensions and offers versatile usage. The slightly different sizes allow one tumbler to be put upside down on top of another, acting as a lid to prevent any unwanted particles from getting into your drink. Whether used as a tumbler and lid, two tumblers, or a tumbler and a snack bowl, it will bring life to any beverage it holds.
Upside-Downside feels as good in your hands as it looks on the table, and you’ll be surprised by its high level of clarity. The manufacturer of the drinkware Sake Kogyo has been producing plastic parts for home appliances and cars for over four decades and is known especially for high-quality, clear plastic products. Thanks to their expertise, the Upside-Downside drinkware does not show any wavy lines or patterns known as flow mark that is usually visible in products made from plastic resin. Instead, its hand-polished glossy smooth surface reflects light and shines like a precious jewel.
Made of extremely durable and resilient Tritan copolyester, the drinkware is shatterproof and lightweight, making it kid-friendly and outdoor-friendly. You don’t have to worry about the tumbler breaking when it falls and comes in contact with a hard surface. And when you’ve finished your drink, you can easily hand wash the cup with water and soap or simply put it in the dishwasher along with all the other dishes for effortless maintenance.
In our constantly moving, busy lives, the Upside-Down tumbler gently reminds you to take care of yourself by taking a sip of water every now and then. With a streamlined drinking vessel that can also hold your small snacks, you can stay hydrated, satiated, and healthy, in style.
Created in the likeness of the iconic characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Numskull is releasing this set of Star Trek CosCups, drinking cups cosplaying as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Worf, Deanna Troi, and Geordi La Forge. I can already close my eyes and imagine myself sipping a morning protein shake out of Picard’s head while he wishes I wasn’t.
CosCups hold 14-ounces of your favorite beverage and are available for $22 apiece from JustGeek. They’re constructed of high-quality ceramic with a molded silicone grip (the lower body portion) to ensure your beverage stays hot or cold, but your hand stays at a regular temperature. That’s a nice feature.
Will they also be releasing Data and Commander Riker CosCups in the future? One can only hope. Or start one of those change.org petitions. That’s what I did when I wanted a set of fine Star Trek tableware, and look how that turned out. You know, maybe one person really can make a difference.
The latest from Tea Shop, the Warmup collection consists of a cup, saucer, kettle, and infuser designed with fine copper details that are as functional as they are cozy feeling. Specially crafted for tea drinking, the material mixture of copper and glass is optimal for quick heating and retaining temperature.
Structure lines based on the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci sequence were used as a guidance for the product’s visual construction. This maximizes the collection’s perfect proportions without sacrificing comfortable ergonomics.
You might think you’re looking at a Thermos, but not quite. The Yecup is a connected drinking vessel with a 10,000mAh battery and enough tech to heat up or cool down the liquids it holds, and keep them there all day. If it senses the temperature deviating from what you’ve set, it’ll fire up its mechanism and bring it back. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone, through which you can make all the adjustments you want. Left in the morning with a hot coffee but suddenly realized you’d rather have an iced one? No problem. And of course, when you’re carrying a large battery around, you can use it for other things, like charging your phone or other electronics. The Yecup is made from stainless steel, and is easily washable, though it’s recommended not to stick it in the dishwasher. The 12oz. cup is fully funded on IndieGogo, and will cost you a $125 pledge.
Here is the Beer Pong upgrade that you didn’t know you needed. Think of it as a structural engineering improvement for the game. Hexcups are way better than regular beer cups. That hexagonal shape makes them harder to crush for one thing, so they last longer.
Not only that but they fit together much more nicely and the edges are touching, so there’s no gaps, therefore no room for cups to fall over or move around during play. Using these cups is like playing the pro version of the drinking game.
For a $15(USD) pledge, you get a basic set of 22 cups and 3 balls. The Hexcup Kickstarter has already raised over $40,000 towards its $50,000 goal with 18 days to go, so there’s a pretty good chance it’s going to be funded.
Who knew that the venerable game of beer pong could use a little bit of structural engineering improvements? Yet, there you have it: Hexacups are undeniably better than regular beer cups. Their hexagonal shape give them a few advantages. For one, they’re much harder to crush. Drunk frat boys tossing ping pong balls around will sometimes fall over and screw the pooch. Also, they’re much easier to rack; just press them together and the straight edges will align themselves in 1/4 of the time it normally takes. Also, since the edges are touching, there’s no gaps, nor any way for a stray cup to just fall over or move around during play. At a $15 pledge for a basic set of 22 cups and 3 balls, it’s priced just right. It’s a Kickstarter that has yet to reach its goal, but they’re not far off.
