{"product_id":"ocean-espresso-cup","title":"Ocean espresso cup","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e \u003cdiv\u003e \u003cdiv\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHandcrafted stoneware, made in Oxfordshire\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvery espresso cup in this collection is thrown, glazed and fired by hand in our Oxfordshire studio, where traditional pottery meets a considered, contemporary approach to design. We work in small batches rather than mass production, shaping each cup on the wheel before it is trimmed, dried, bisque fired, glazed and fired again at a high stoneware temperature. A small cup is deceptively difficult to make well. The walls need to be fine enough to feel refined in the hand yet strong enough to take daily use, and the balance has to be right so the cup sits steady when it is full. Doing every stage by hand, in-house, is how we hold that standard rather than relying on shortcuts that speed up production but flatten the character out of the finished piece.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSmall-batch glazing, so every piece is unique\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause we make and glaze in small batches, no two cups are ever perfectly identical. Glaze is a living material. It moves, pools and settles differently depending on how thickly it is applied and exactly where the cup sits in the kiln during firing. On a small surface those variations show clearly, which is part of what makes a handmade cup feel different to hold and use than anything mass-produced. Rather than engineer that character out, we lean into it, so each piece is unique. When you choose a cup from this collection, you are choosing the one version of it that exists, made by hand in a batch of others like it but never quite the same as any of them.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBuilt for the daily coffee ritual\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis is not a cup made to sit untouched on display. It is made to be picked up, filled and used, morning after morning. Stoneware is prized by potters because it is fired at a high temperature until the clay body becomes dense, hard-wearing and non-porous, which gives each cup real durability for everyday use. The high firing also fuses the glaze properly to the clay, creating a chip-resistant surface that stands up to regular handling far better than lower-fired earthenware. The result is a small piece that earns its place in daily rotation rather than being kept back for best.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSized for espresso and short drinks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eA good espresso cup is all about proportion. The compact form is shaped to concentrate the aroma and hold the crema of a short, strong coffee, whether you take a single or a double. It suits an espresso, a cortado, a macchiato or a ristretto equally well, and works just as nicely for a small, concentrated serving of tea. The weight is judged so the cup feels substantial without being bulky, and the rim is finished to sit comfortably against the lip. These are small details, but on a piece this size they are the difference between a cup you reach for every day and one you leave in the cupboard.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePractical care, everyday performance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eHandmade does not mean high-maintenance. Every cup in this collection is dishwasher safe, microwave safe and food safe, so it can be used exactly the way you would use any other piece of everyday tableware. Our glazes are tested thoroughly before they go into production, so you can reach for a cup without worrying about how it will hold up to regular washing or reheating. Over time, that combination of durability and easy care means these cups stay in daily use rather than being saved for a special occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA considered gift for coffee lovers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause every cup is made individually rather than mass-produced, giving one as a gift feels different too. It carries the mark of the person who made it, from the slight variations in the glaze to the weight in the hand and the small evidence of a process that cannot be rushed. Whether it is for an espresso enthusiast, a coffee lover, or someone who simply appreciates things made with care, a cup from this collection makes a genuinely thoughtful gift, or an equally good treat for your own daily coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlease note: as these are handmade objects, they may vary in colour, shape and size from one piece to the next. These variations are not defects. They are celebrated as part of the handmade quality of every piece.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Brooker Ceramics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57653771698549,"sku":null,"price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/9402\/6735\/files\/Espress-cup-ocean-front.webp?v=1793097012","url":"https:\/\/countrylivingshop.co.uk\/products\/ocean-espresso-cup","provider":"Country Living Marketplace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}