Yunomi, tea cup, coffee mug… these drinking vessels have many names.
Most of my cups are handless. While I appreciate the functionality of handles — I love what Jack Troy said when he described making a cup with a handle as a way of imposing a particular side on the user, be they left-handed or right-handed. By making a cup handless, it gives you a choice of where to hold the cup and where to sip from. Find your favorite side! Allowing the tea or coffee to cool until it is at the perfect temperature to drink makes the drink so enjoyable.
I also much preferred the aesthetic of a cup without handles — uncluttered, pure, simple. The dimples I put in many of my cups provide for the perfect hand hold.
The Japanese call these little sippers Guinomi – distinct from Yunomi because they are smaller. Often made for sipping sake. I think of them as a way to take small sips of a special drink. Sake is delicious, but maybe you have a special whiskey or scotch you want to taste. Take a sip, savor the aroma and taste. You won’t be gulping your drink with these!
Never miss an update — get new blog posts, tips, and insights delivered straight to your inbox.
