The cup is the object of the table that is often chosen alone, for yourself — and that is perhaps why it says so much about the one who chose it.
There's nothing ordinary in the cup we use every morning. It is the first object that is seized when you rise, the one that you hold in your hands still half asleep, the one in which you pour coffee, tea or infusion that marks the beginning of the day. A nice cup does not change the taste of coffee — but it changes the experience of drinking it. And this is far from negligible. At Amberkiln, our selection of cups covers all the sizes and styles: espresso coffee cups, fine porcelain coffee cups, artisanal stoneware mugs, tea cups with or without saucer, Japanese cups without handle, cappuccino cups — in materials, colors and finishes that reflect all the tastes and rituals of the morning.
Espresso cup, mug or teacup: what format according to your ritual?
The espresso cup — 6 to 8 cl — is the smallest of the family. Its reduced capacity is calibrated for espresso, which is drunk in two or three sips. The thick wall of some models (the style "bar cup" in thick ceramic) keeps the heat in the time of tasting. Other models in fine porcelain favour elegance over thermal insulation. Our espresso handcrafted ceramic cups, with slightly irregular glazes, are the ones we also come out for the guests — they deserve to be seen.
The coffee cup classic — 10 to 15 cl — accommodates elongated coffees, hazelnuts, short milk coffees. This is the intermediate format between espresso and mug, the one associated with continental breakfast or mid-morning break. With a saucer, it takes on a more formal dimension; without saucer, it is more relaxed.
The mug — 25 to 40 cl — is the Anglo-Saxon format that has been established in French habits. Coffee long, tea, infusion, hot chocolate — it contains everything with the same generosity. Its large size and the absence of saucer are the object of the morning to walk from the kitchen to the sofa at the office without worrying about the conveniences. Our handcrafted sandstone mugs, with their matte glazes and slightly irregular shapes, have become objects that are chosen as a book — according to what they evoke and what they say about us.
The teacup with saucer is wider and lower than the coffee cup — a shape that promotes the cooling of tea and allows to place the sachet on the saucer. In British and Japanese traditions, the choice of teacup is an art in itself: fine porcelain for delicate teas, thick sandstone for robust teas, unglazed ceramic inside (Yixing style) for pu-erh teas.
Porcelain, sandstone, ceramic: the material that makes the cup
The fine porcelain is the classic material of the coffee and tea cup. Its translucent wall, its delicate weight, its fine edge at the touch of the lips – all contribute to a refined tasting experience. A white porcelain cup with a golden edge or a color stripe is one of the most universally elegant pieces of dishes ever. It supports the dishwasher for most contemporary models.
The sandstone gives cups and mugs thicker, heavier, more rustic — and much warmer to the touch. This warmth is very appreciated in the morning: a sandstone mug stays warm in your hands as no fine porcelain mug can be. Handcrafted stoneware, with its reactive glazes with varying shades, produces pieces that each have their own character — not two mugs of the same series are exactly the same.
The Japanese cup without handle — yunomi — is a particular format that deserves to be mentioned. Cylindrical, without handle, it stands in the palm of the hand and invites to feel the heat of tea through the wall. It's a different sensory experience from the handle cup — more direct, more intimate. Our Japanese-inspired ceramic models are available in sandstone and porcelain.
Assorted or unmatched cups: a question of style
For a long time, the standard was matching service — six cups identical with their six saucers. This logic is no longer the only valid one. Many lovers of fine dishes now make up sets of deliberately unpainted cups — the same family of colours, the same material, but different shapes and glazes. The result is a more lively, personal table that invites each guest to choose their cup. This is a different way of receiving — less formal, but no less thoughtful.
If you opt for unpaved cups, a few simple rules to make it work: stay in the same color palette (all neutral tones, all warm tones), choose the same material (all in sandstone, or all porcelain), and keep a format consistency (all mugs, or all coffee cups). A single thread is enough to unify a mismatched collection.
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