3D-Printed Coffee Cups: One Unique Design Per Day

If you’ve ever wished your morning coffee came with a dash of surprise—something more than just a new roast—imagine starting your day with a totally different coffee cup. Not just a different color or pattern, but a wholly unique shape, designed just for that day. That’s exactly the idea behind a project by Spanish designer Bernat Cuni, who set out to make a completely new coffee cup every single day using cutting-edge 3D ceramic printing technology.

In 365 days, Cuni produced 365 distinct ceramic coffee cups—each one different, many impractical, but all imaginative. These weren’t just digital mock-ups: thanks to rapid 3D ceramic printing, they became real, tactile objects almost immediately after being designed.

What Is the 'Daily Cup' Project?

The “Daily Cup” project was an artistic experiment led by Bernat Cuni, a designer based in Spain. Over the course of one year, Cuni committed to designing and producing one unique ceramic coffee cup per day. The goal wasn’t mass production or utility—it was creative exploration through form, enabled by emerging 3D ceramic printing techniques.

How 3D Ceramic Printing Makes This Possible

Cuni leveraged a relatively new method: 3D ceramic printing. Unlike traditional ceramics that require molding and firing in multiple stages over days, 3D ceramic printing builds each cup layer by layer using a printable ceramic material. Once printed, the object is fired in a kiln, resulting in a fully functional—or at least sculpture-like—ceramic piece. This approach dramatically shortens production time and allows for rapid prototyping of complex, often impractical forms that traditional pottery methods can’t easily achieve.

Why Most of These Cups Aren’t Practical (And Why That’s Okay)

Many of the 365 cups Cuni created were never intended for daily use. Some have extreme shapes, overly delicate handles, or awkward pours. They might not hold your espresso steady or keep your pour-over hot for long. But that’s not the point. These cups are conceptual objects—art pieces that bring novelty and surprise into your kitchen or café counter. Even if they don’t pour well, they still make your coffee ritual feel a little more special.

Can You Actually Use These Cups Every Day?

You could—but you probably shouldn’t. While some cups in the series are structurally sound enough to hold coffee without spilling or collapsing, many are more sculptural than functional. Their charm lies in their creativity, not their ergonomics. Think of them as conversation starters or design-centric decor more than your go-to morning mug. Still, switching them out daily could definitely add variety to your kitchen shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bernat Cuni and why did he start the Daily Cup project?

Bernat Cuni is a Spanish designer who initiated the Daily Cup project to explore creativity through ceramic form. His goal was to design and produce one unique coffee cup per day for a full year using 3D ceramic printing, showcasing the potential of digital fabrication in everyday objects.

What is 3D ceramic printing and how does it work?

3D ceramic printing is an additive manufacturing process where a ceramic material is deposited layer by layer to form a cup or object. After printing, the object is fired in a kiln to harden the ceramic, resulting in a durable or decorative piece. This method allows for complex designs that are difficult or impossible to achieve by hand.

Are the 365 coffee cups from the project actually usable?

Some of the cups are functional enough to hold coffee, but many prioritize artistic design over practicality. They may have unusual shapes, fragile handles, or poor balance, making them better suited as decor or conversation pieces than daily coffee vessels.

How long did it take to create all 365 cups?

The entire collection of 365 unique coffee cups was created over the course of one year, with one new design produced and printed each day. This consistent output highlights the speed and flexibility of 3D ceramic printing technology.

Where can I get one of these 3D-printed coffee cups?

The cups were created as part of an art and design project and were not produced for widespread retail sale. However, similar 3D-printed ceramic items may be available through specialized designers, art platforms, or experimental kitchenware makers.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Creative Coffee Rituals

Elevate your unique coffee cup experience with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera, known for its vibrant jasmine and bergamot notes, or the Yirgacheffe, offering bright lemon and stone fruit brightness. For something richer, try the Brazil Queen Manor with its sweet caramel and almond profile. Each of these single origins highlights distinct flavours that pair beautifully with a creatively shaped cup. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.