What materials are coffee cups made of?

Aug 26,2025

There are many types of materials used for coffee cups, such as ceramic, stainless steel, and bone china, among others. Both ceramic and porcelain are glazed and fired, but ceramic has a rougher texture and is slightly absorbent. If the glaze chips off, that area can easily become stained and difficult to clean. Porcelain, on the other hand, has a finer texture and is non-absorbent, though it is significantly more expensive. Bone china cups have excellent heat retention properties, keeping coffee warm in the cup, but they are extremely expensive; double-walled stainless steel cups have exceptional heat retention, are durable and resistant to wear, and are slightly more affordable than bone china cups, but they lack aesthetic appeal;

The rustic simplicity of ceramic cups and the smooth elegance of porcelain cups each represent different attitudes toward coffee.

Ceramic cups: With their robust texture, they are ideal for deeply roasted coffee with a rich flavor.

Porcelain cups: The most common type, they perfectly capture the delicate aroma and richness of coffee. Among these, bone china coffee cups made from high-quality porcelain clay mixed with animal bone ash are lightweight, have a soft luster, high density, and excellent thermal insulation, allowing coffee to cool more slowly in the cup. They are the ideal choice for showcasing the full flavor of coffee.

Under the notion that coffee must be drunk hot, cup manufacturers have even developed insulated ceramic cups to accommodate this preference, and bone china cups, which are even better than porcelain cups. Using bone china cups, which contain animal bone ash in their composition, allows the coffee to cool more slowly in the cup. However, due to their significantly higher price compared to the previous two options, they are rarely used in general households and are only found in more upscale coffee shops.

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