Just another cup you say? Nope. Not even close.
We created this cup in collaboration with our friend Audrey, because we wanted a drinking vessel that was just as special as the coffee we're serving. A vessel that enhanced the drinking experience and left a long-lasting impression on the customer.
We first sourced a few cups that we thought ticked this box, but nothing we tested was quite right. The size was either too big, the walls were too thick, or just the shape wasn’t perfect. That’s when we embarked on the path of creating our own. We knew what we wanted, and what was missing from all the samples we tested, but we needed someone special to help bring our ideas to life. We specifically wanted to work with a local potter who loves ceramics as much as we love coffee. Audrey's passion for her craft, combined with her ability to elevate the coffee experience through thoughtful design, made her an obvious choice for this collaboration.
Audrey brings a wonderful combination of creativity and functionality, making her the perfect collaborator for designing the cups we use to serve our coffees. She uniquely blends her appreciation for Chinese porcelain traditions with modern techniques, creating pieces that are distinctly hers. When working together, we saw first-hand how meticulous she is in testing various ideas, always with a keen focus on meeting the specific needs of the café. Her dedication to balancing aesthetics and practicality ensures that the cups not only look beautiful but also function perfectly for our day-to-day operations in our cafes.
In designing the cup, we focused on creating something that not only fit with Veneziano's visual style but also prioritized the user experience. The main goal was to allow the drinker to feel the warmth of the coffee without being burned by holding a hot vessel (we quite strongly wanted a cup without a handle), so we experimented with different shapes and thicknesses to ensure the cup could be held comfortably. Initially, we tested thinner walls, but they didn’t retain heat as well, especially in Melbourne's winter. We settled on a design that offered better insulation, along with a lip design that enhances the mouthfeel of the coffee, elevating the drinking experience.
Audrey incorporated the use of Gosu, a traditional Japanese blue pigment, to add an element of playfulness and individuality to each cup. The brushstrokes introduce subtle variations, ensuring that no two cups are exactly alike. This not only gives each piece a sense of personality but also reflects the handcrafted nature of the work, offering the drinker a more personal and tactile connection to their coffee.
Audrey Liew was born in Singapore and has been based in Melbourne (Naarm) since 2019, expresses her personal experiences through a blend of wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramics. Her work reflects a continuous exploration of techniques, paralleling her journey of rebuilding her life after relocating to Australia. Ceramics hold deep familial significance for Audrey, as her family has been in the ceramics trade for over four decades. Her art revisits these memories, inviting reflection on the past, present, and future, creating a profound connection between her personal history and her creative expression.
View Audrey's website here.
