Coffee cups

Coffee cups are one of the easiest ways to give your morning coffee a little extra character. At Dims Studio you'll find a large selection of coffee cups in stoneware and ceramic, from solid-colour stoneware mugs from Bloomingville to graphic text and animal motifs on ceramic cups from Anna + Nina. See also our range of coffee mugs. Here's a guide to the types, materials, sizes and brands, so you can find the coffee cups that suit your cupboard.

Types of coffee cups

The Dims Studio range spans widely, from calm, solid-coloured cups to cups with a clear statement or motif.

Solid-coloured stoneware cups

The largest group in the range is the solid-coloured stoneware cups from Bloomingville. Milani cup yellow, Milani cup green, Amalia cup blue, Imogen cup blue and Rosa cup are all examples of cups where a single, saturated colour is the whole design. The Ninka mug comes in several colours, including green and orange, and works well as an everyday mug. What this group has in common is that they're easy to mix across colours, because the shape stays the same.

Cups with text and statements

Anna + Nina is behind a series of ceramic cups with text and humorous statements. Shut up cup, Workaholic cup, Hangover cup, Fuck Valentine cup and Fuck It cup are examples of cups where a short statement is part of the design. This type of cup is ideal if the cup is meant to say something about the day, the situation or the recipient when given as a gift.

Cups with animal motifs

Animal motifs recur across several of the Anna + Nina cups. Dachshund cup, Labradoodle cup, Corgi cup, French Bulldog cup, Leopard cup and Black Swan cup are all shaped or decorated with a specific animal, while the Leopard espresso cup is a smaller version with the same motif. The cups are popular gifts for anyone with a favourite animal or a dog of that particular breed.

Cups with pattern and figures

Several of the Bloomingville cups have a hand-painted pattern or a small figure as part of the design. Lively cup in stoneware with cake and heart, Reeha woman cup, Savanna cup, Okayama cup and Paula cup in purple stoneware each have their own hand-drawn look, while the Bloomingville MINI series, including Rainbow cup, Agnes orange cup, Cherry cup and Ice cream cone cup, is designed for smaller cups with playful motifs like fruit, ice cream and rainbows.

Espresso cups

If the cup is meant for a single espresso, the Paula espresso cup in pink stoneware and the Leopard espresso cup in ceramic are good choices for a smaller cup suited to a shorter, stronger coffee rather than a large mug.

Materials in coffee cups: stoneware and ceramic

The two recurring materials in the range are stoneware and ceramic, and both hold heat well and withstand daily use.

Stoneware

Stoneware is the most common material type in the range and is used for the majority of the Bloomingville cups, including the Ninka mug, Amalia cup, Milani cup and Paula cup. Stoneware is a high-fired type of ceramic that gives a heavy, solid feel in the hand and a slightly tactile surface. The stoneware cups hold their heat for a long time and suit the cup of coffee meant to be enjoyed slowly.

Ceramic

Ceramic is used mainly for the Anna + Nina cups with text and animal motifs, as well as for the Rice cups. Ceramic cups are often a little lighter than stoneware and typically have a smooth, glossy glaze that makes colours and printed motifs stand out clearly. Flower cup, Merci cup and Oval four-leaf clover cup from Rice are examples of ceramic cups with a single, graphic motif.

Materials compared

Material	Look	Benefit	Examples
Stoneware	Heavy, tactile and sturdy	Holds heat well	Ninka mug, Amalia cup, Paula cup
Ceramic	Smooth, glossy and graphic	Highlights colours and prints	Shut up cup, Flower cup, Corgi cup

Sizes: from espresso to everyday mug

Which cup size you should choose depends on what the cup is mainly meant to be used for. An espresso cup like the Paula espresso cup or the Leopard espresso cup is small and suits a short, strong coffee, while a mug like the Ninka mug or the Safie mug in green stoneware is designed for a larger portion, if you prefer a long coffee or coffee with milk. Most of the regular cups in the range, like the Milani cup and the Rosa cup, are a medium size that works for both morning coffee and a cup of tea.

If the cup will be used daily, it's worth considering how much coffee you usually drink at once. A small set like Birthday cups in stoneware or Fish cups in stoneware, sold two at a time, is practical if you want matching cups for two people or a fixed morning routine.

Brands behind the coffee cups

The Dims Studio range brings together coffee cups from several brands, each with its own look. See the full range of Bloomingville cups.

Bloomingville

Bloomingville is the largest brand in the range and supplies the majority of the stoneware cups, from the solid-coloured ones like Milani and Amalia to the hand-painted ones like Lively and Reeha woman. Bloomingville MINI is a sub-brand with smaller, more playful cups, often with motifs like fruit, animals or patterns, designed for both children and adults who like a smaller format.

Anna + Nina

The Dutch brand Anna + Nina is behind the cups with text and animal motifs, including Shut up, Workaholic, Hangover, Dachshund and Corgi cup. What Anna + Nina cups have in common is a playful and often humorous look, where the cup is allowed to say something about its owner or bring a smile in the morning.

Creative Collection

Creative Collection supplies, among others, the Lemon cup in stoneware and the Berrie cup in ceramic, both with a fruit-inspired motif that fits well into a kitchen with colourful ceramics.

Rice

Danish brand Rice is behind the Oval four-leaf clover cup, Flower cup and Merci cup, all in ceramic with a single, graphic motif that matches Rice's other colourful kitchen range.

Coffee cups for the kitchen, office and guests

Where the cup is meant to be used can influence which type suits best.

Coffee cups for the home office

If you spend a lot of time at your desk, a cup with a statement like the Workaholic cup from Anna + Nina is a fun touch, while a calm stoneware mug like the Ninka mug suits well if the cup is meant to stay out all day without drawing too much attention away from work.

Coffee cups for guests

If you're expecting guests, it's an advantage to have a few extra cups in different but complementary colours, so everyone can have their own. A set like Fish cups in stoneware or Birthday cups in stoneware is practical because it gives you two matching cups at once, which you can supplement with individually purchased cups in similar colours as you get more guests over time.

Coffee cups for everyday versus celebration

For everyday use, the solid-coloured stoneware cups from Bloomingville are sturdy and simple to keep track of in the cupboard. For a more festive occasion, like a birthday or a brunch with guests, the more colourful and motif-rich cups from Anna + Nina or Bloomingville MINI can help set the mood right at the coffee table, long before the first cup of coffee is poured.

How to use and style the coffee cups

Coffee cups aren't just a tool, they're also part of the kitchen's look when they're on display.

Coffee cups on an open shelf

Place the cups on an open shelf by the coffee machine, so they become part of the kitchen's everyday decor while also being easy to reach when it's time to pour the coffee.

Coffee cups on a hook

Hang the cups on a hook under a shelf or cabinet. This is both practical and decorative, and the handles on stoneware cups like the Ninka mug and Milani cup are made exactly for this use, while also keeping the kitchen counter free of cups that would otherwise sit around taking up space.

Mix motifs for guests

Serve different cups to different guests, so each person gets their own, for example one with an animal motif, one with text and one solid-coloured. It makes morning or afternoon coffee feel a little more personal.

Coffee cups as a mini vase

A colourful cup, for example the Flower cup from Rice or one of the Bloomingville MINI cups, can also be used as a small vase for a single flower or a short stem on the desk or windowsill.

Coffee cups as a gift

A cup with text or an animal motif, like the Hangover cup or the Corgi cup, is an obvious small gift, because it's personal without being expensive, and because it gets used again and again. If the gift needs to be a little bigger, you can pack the cup together with a bag of coffee beans or a few biscuits, so the gift is ready to use the very morning it's unwrapped.

Build your own coffee cup collection

Many people don't just choose one coffee cup, but collect several over time, so the cupboard slowly fills with cups in different colours and motifs. A good way to start is to choose two or three colours from Bloomingville's solid-coloured stoneware cups as a base, then add one or two cups with text or an animal motif from Anna + Nina as an eye-catcher. That way you get a collection that feels intentionally put together, rather than random. If the collection is meant to be used daily by several people in the household, it can also help to let each person choose their own favourite cup, so there's no doubt whose cup is on the table in the morning.

Coffee cups for your home's style

The solid-coloured stoneware cups from Bloomingville suit a calm, Nordic kitchen, where the colour alone is enough to bring the cupboard to life. The Anna + Nina cups with text and animal motifs suit best in a home where there's room for humour and a personal touch at the breakfast table. If you want to mix it all, it helps to stick to two to three consistent colours across brands, so the cupboard still looks put together, even though the cups each have their own motif.

How to take care of your coffee cups

Both stoneware and ceramic are durable materials, but a few simple habits extend the life of the cups. Avoid placing a cold cup directly into scalding hot water or vice versa, as a sudden temperature change can cause fine cracks in the glaze over time. Rinse the cups off shortly after use, rather than letting coffee or tea dry into the bottom, so the printed motifs and glazes on the cups from Anna + Nina and Bloomingville stay looking good for longer. Most of the cups can go in the dishwasher, but if the cup is hand-painted, like several of the Bloomingville MINI cups, it may be worth washing it by hand so the hand-painted pattern stays sharp through many years of use.

Which coffee cup should you choose? Our recommendations

Situation	Our recommendation
Everyday cup in a single colour	Milani cup or Amalia cup in stoneware from Bloomingville
Gift with a personal statement	Hangover cup, Workaholic cup or Shut up cup from Anna + Nina
Gift for the dog owner	Dachshund cup, Corgi cup or French Bulldog cup
Short, strong coffee	Paula espresso cup or Leopard espresso cup
Set for two people	Fish cups in stoneware or Birthday cups in stoneware
Playful cup for children	A cup from Bloomingville MINI, e.g. Ice cream cone cup or Cherry cup

Frequently asked questions about coffee cups

What's the difference between stoneware and ceramic?

Stoneware is a high-fired type of ceramic with a heavy, tactile surface, while ceramic in this context often has a smoother, glossier glaze that makes colours and printed motifs stand out more clearly.

Which coffee cup size should I choose?

For a short, strong coffee, an espresso cup like the Paula espresso cup suits best, while a mug like the Ninka mug is better for a larger portion of coffee or coffee with milk.

Are the coffee cups dishwasher- and microwave-safe?

The stoneware and ceramic cups from Bloomingville, Anna + Nina, Rice and Creative Collection are generally made for daily use, but always check the specific cup's details before putting it in the dishwasher or microwave.

What are stoneware coffee cups?

Stoneware coffee cups are cups moulded from a high-fired, heavy type of ceramic that holds heat well. Most of the stoneware cups in the range come from Bloomingville.

Which coffee cups have animal motifs?

Dachshund cup, Labradoodle cup, Corgi cup, French Bulldog cup, Leopard cup and Black Swan cup from Anna + Nina are all shaped or decorated with a specific animal motif.

What's the difference between a coffee cup and a mug?

A mug typically holds more than a cup and often has a simpler, cylindrical shape, while a cup can vary more in shape and size. In the range, both terms, e.g. Ninka mug and Milani cup, are used for products in the same category.

Can coffee cups be used for tea?

Yes, most of the coffee cups work perfectly well for tea too. If you want a cup specifically designed for tea, take a look at our range of teacups.

How many cups are in a set?

A few models, like Fish cups in stoneware and Birthday cups in stoneware, are sold in sets of 2, while most other cups are sold individually, so you can put together your own collection.

Which coffee cups make a good gift?

Cups with text or a specific animal motif, like the Hangover cup or the Corgi cup, are popular gifts because they're personal and also get used in everyday life.

Are there coffee cups with a handle for hanging on a hook?

Yes, most of the stoneware and ceramic cups in the range, including the Ninka mug and Milani cup, have a handle that makes them well suited for hanging on a hook under a shelf.

Can I mix different brands of coffee cups?

Yes, cups from Bloomingville, Anna + Nina, Rice and Creative Collection can easily be mixed. Stick to a few consistent colours if you want the cupboard to look put together despite different motifs.