Sharing Cup M and L Large-Capacity Versions Are Here: The Thinking Behind Our Design
The long-awaited larger versions have arrived. Sharing Cup M and L are now available, and today we would like to share the thinking behind both cups in a relaxed way.
Can a Coffee Cup Really Affect Flavour?
Before talking about Sharing Cup, we want to begin with something many people may not have noticed: the cup you use can affect how your coffee tastes.
This is supported by research rather than mere speculation. Studies by Oxford University professor Charles Spence and neuroscientist Fabiana Carvalho indicate that cup shape, rim thickness, and even colour can affect how we perceive sweetness, acidity, and bitterness in coffee.
Just as wine has purpose-designed glasses, coffee deserves the same careful attention.
Rim Width: More Than a Question of Capacity
When discussing rim design, many people think of the narrowed opening of a wine glass and assume it concentrates aroma. Based on some studies and our own testing, that assumption may need another look.
Characteristics of a narrow rim:
- Aromas are more concentrated and may smell more intense
- When drinking, however, the coffee contacts a smaller area of the tongue
- The nose can easily touch the rim, reducing drinking comfort
Characteristics of a wide rim:
- A larger liquid surface allows aromas to release more naturally
- Coffee flows more evenly across the tongue, creating a fuller flavour experience
- Some studies suggest that a wide rim may increase perceived sweetness
We chose a wide-rim design because increasing the contact area between liquid and air helped aromas open up more naturally in our tests. When you bring the cup to your lips, the aroma is already present without having to make a deliberate effort to smell it.
Rim Thickness: An Easily Overlooked Detail
Rim thickness is not something everyone considers when choosing a cup, but its effect on the drinking experience may be greater than expected.
The feel of a thick rim:
- A larger contact area with the lips gives a rounder, more substantial feel
- Heat retention is usually better
- It may make the coffee feel richer and weightier
- It may, however, slightly reduce the perception of delicate flavours
The feel of a thin rim:
- Coffee flows more directly into the mouth, reducing awareness of the cup itself
- Subtle flavour changes in the coffee are easier to notice
- The sip feels lighter and more elegant
- Well suited to specialty coffee with complex flavour layers
We chose a thin rim for Sharing Cup to reduce the sense of a foreign object and keep the cup from standing between you and the coffee. The thinner the rim, the easier it is to focus on the coffee itself.
How Material Matters: Why We Chose Black-Clay Ceramic
Cups made from different materials also affect coffee temperature and flavour differently.
Advantages of ceramic:
- It retains heat better than glass; research indicates that ceramic loses heat about 11% more slowly than glass
- The material itself does not affect the taste of the coffee
- Microscopic pores in ceramic can form a natural insulating layer
- Its warm texture feels comfortable in the hand
We chose black-clay ceramic for its distinctive texture and colour, as well as its suitability for coffee drinking through its heat retention and tactile feel.
What Experience Is Sharing Cup Designed to Offer?
Bringing these considerations together, the Sharing Cup series follows three design directions:
- Wide-rim design: Increases the liquid surface area so aromas are easier to perceive
- Thin-rim design: Reduces the sense of a foreign object at the lips, allowing flavour to feel more direct
- Black-clay ceramic: Offers good heat retention and a distinctive feel in the hand
When you drink coffee from Sharing Cup, we hope you can experience its aromas and flavours more naturally, without the cup itself drawing your attention away.
The Overall Design Direction of the Sharing Cup Series
Whether S, M, or L, their appearance should make it clear that they belong to the same series. Across Sharing Cup, we focus on two directions: the aroma experience and reducing the sense of a foreign object at the lips.
About the Thin Rim and Rim Thickness
Every Sharing Cup uses a thin-rim design, but you may notice that the larger the cup, the thicker its rim becomes:
- S: rim approximately 2mm
- M: rim approximately 2-3mm
- L: rim approximately 3-4mm
This is a physical limitation of firing ceramic. Larger ceramic pieces are more likely to slump or deform at high temperatures. Insisting on an overly thin wall for a larger cup could cause it to fail during kiln firing.
We spent considerable time testing to find a balance between thinness and structural stability. The current thickness is a comparatively safe limit for the black clay we use.
Some people have asked whether we will offer a thick-rim version. We have no plans for one at present, but have not ruled it out in the future.
M: A Balance Between Sharing and Tasting
The rim diameter of M is approximately 1 to 1.5cm larger than S, and the interior is also deeper.
A good fit if you:
- Usually brew with 15-20g of coffee
- Prefer to drink in 2-3 servings, following the flavour changes as the coffee cools
- Want to share the different stages of the same brew with friends
- Run a café and want to offer guests a better drinking experience
This design helps your nose sit closer to the centre of the opening as you drink, making it easier to experience the aroma naturally.
L: The Satisfaction of One Full Cup
L is the version that required the most design work.
Its rim diameter is approximately 2.5cm larger than S, with a capacity of about 300 to 330ml. We wanted to preserve the characteristic lines of the Sharing Cup series, but combining a wide top, narrow base, and large capacity was challenging.
The first prototype was even larger than the current version and looked slightly exaggerated at home. We kept refining the lines until we arrived at the present, more balanced proportions.
A good fit if you:
- Usually brew more than 20g and enjoy the satisfaction of a large cup
- Brew pour-over coffee at the office and want fewer pieces of equipment on the desk
- Prefer not to refill frequently and want to drink the whole brew from one cup
- Can use L directly as the receiving vessel, then drink from it after brewing
When approximately 150 to 200ml remains, a normal drinking posture places your nose near the centre of the opening, making the aroma especially noticeable.
Specifications
| Size | Capacity | Rim Thickness | Rim Diameter | Suitable Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Approximately 60-65ml | Approximately 2mm | Standard | Espresso and tasting |
| M | Approximately 170ml | Approximately 2-3mm | Approximately 1-1.5cm larger than S | Drinking in servings and sharing in cafés |
| L | Approximately 300-330ml | Approximately 3-4mm | Approximately 2.5cm larger than S | Office pour-over and a full brew in one cup |
Which One I Use Every Day
To be honest, S used to be the one I reached for most often. Recently, however, I have switched to another version: the limited-edition Sharing Cup Alpha, which will be introduced soon.
What makes Alpha different, and why does it have an indentation in the centre? We will save that for the next article.
A Final Note
Everyone looks for something different in a coffee cup. Some enjoy a substantial feel, while others prefer a lighter touch; some prioritise heat retention, while others care more about flavour presentation.
This article simply shares our design thinking and a few observations about coffee cups. We hope it offers a useful reference as you choose your own cup.
If you have any questions about Sharing Cup, you are welcome to leave a comment and talk with us.
Sharing Cup S, M, and L are now available on our official website.
Link: https://mycoffeestage.com/products/coffee-stage-sharing-cup
