What To Do With Used Coffee Cups

You finish your coffee, toss the cup in the bin, and move on. But what if that paper cup — the one you barely noticed — could become a canvas for street art, mythology, or daily life? That’s exactly what one artist is doing, turning the most ordinary disposable cup into something worth hundreds of dollars.

The short answer: you can turn a used coffee cup into original artwork. Malaysian-born artist Cheeming Boey has created over 300 hand-drawn illustrations on disposable coffee cups, with prices ranging from $180 to as much as $900.

From Takeaway Cup to Collectible Art

Cheeming Boey, a 35-year-old Malaysian visual artist and street illustrator, began using disposable coffee cups as his canvas to explore both everyday life and fantasy. His subjects range broadly — from mundane scenes to mythical creatures — and are predominantly rendered in black and white, though some pieces include additional colors. He has completed more than 300 such illustrations on coffee cups to date.

Why Coffee Cups?

While Boey doesn’t specify why he chose the coffee cup as his primary medium, the format offers a ready-made portable surface: small, familiar, and often overlooked. The disposable nature of the cup adds contrast to the permanence and detail of his artwork. This juxtaposition — a temporary object carrying lasting art — is part of the appeal.

How Much Are These Coffee Cup Drawings Worth?

Boey’s coffee cup illustrations have gained significant attention online and in art circles. Depending on the piece, prices currently range from approximately $180 to as high as $900 per cup. The variation reflects differences in subject matter, detail, and possibly rarity or demand.

What Cheeming Boey Says About Dreams and Doing

In discussing his work, Boey emphasizes the importance of action over mere dreaming. "The difference between dreams and reality," he says, "is whether you’re practicing. If you want to do something well, or if you have a dream, you should go for it." His work on coffee cups is both a personal creative journey and a testament to transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Cheeming Boey?

Cheeming Boey is a 35-year-old Malaysian visual artist known for his street art and illustrations. He gained attention for creating detailed drawings on disposable coffee cups, blending scenes from daily life with mythological themes.

What kind of art does he put on coffee cups?

Boey’s cup illustrations cover a wide range of subjects, including everyday life moments and mythical creatures. Most are in black and white, though some include other colors. He has created over 300 such pieces to date.

How many coffee cup artworks has he made?

Cheeming Boey has produced more than 300 illustrations on disposable coffee cups, each one unique and hand-drawn.

Are the coffee cup drawings expensive?

Yes. Prices for his coffee cup artworks range from around $180 to as high as $900, depending on the specific piece and its characteristics.

Why did he choose coffee cups as his canvas?

While the article doesn’t state his exact reason, the coffee cup’s familiarity, disposability, and compact size likely contribute to its role as a striking contrast to the detailed, permanent art he creates on it.

What does Boey say about chasing your dreams?

Boey believes the difference between a dream and reality is action. "If you want to do something well, or if you have a dream, you should go for it," he says, emphasizing the importance of practice and effort.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Artistic Coffee Moments

Pair your next creative coffee break with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera — a bright, juicy Ethiopian offering with notes of blueberry and jasmine, perfect for stimulating the imagination. For something richer, try their Yirgacheffe, which delivers floral tones and citrus brightness. Both single origins highlight the craft behind every cup and complement the artistic spirit of upcycled coffee cups. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.