The world of coffee gear is inseparable from product design, and product design, in turn, is inseparable from innovation and aesthetics. To some extent, there is always a tension between emotional appeal and rational utility. I can accept that an original design object may carry a premium beyond its material value as a way of honoring the effort and creativity behind it. What I find harder to ignore, however, is a more practical question: What tangible benefits does this product bring to my daily use? And more importantly, what problem does it actually solve?
If I can’t find convincing answers to those questions, I tend to classify the product as “nice but unnecessary,” and switch into a mode of evaluating whether it’s truly worth the price.
Today, I want to talk about an espresso cup made from an unusual material, and use it as a starting point to discuss a broader question: when it comes to original design, do you place more value on form or on function? The espresso cup in question comes from a French design studio called UNAVELA, founded by Javier and Anaïs, a Spanish–French couple. Before starting their studio, they spent six years working in the aerospace industry. Perhaps because of this background, their designs consistently carry a sense of minimalism and rigor. They place great importance on detail and aim to bring that same level of precision into the field of interior and product design.
One defining feature shared across many of their products is the choice of materials. UNAVELA frequently works with 6061 aluminum and high-temperature ceramics, using these materials to create objects with strong geometric presence and visual tension. Every product is modeled by the designers themselves and then handcrafted, piece by piece, in France.
Before going further, it’s worth briefly explaining what 6061 aluminum is, since it’s the core material of this espresso cup. 6061 is a heat-treatable aluminum–magnesium–silicon alloy. Its primary alloying elements are magnesium and silicon, with a small amount of copper added to increase strength, and additional silicon used to offset copper’s negative impact on corrosion resistance. After aging treatment, the material achieves relatively high strength. It offers excellent machinability, weldability, and surface treatment performance, along with good corrosion resistance and toughness. It resists deformation after processing, has a dense, defect-free structure, and is easy to polish and anodize, producing very consistent surface finishes. For these reasons, 6061 aluminum is widely used in precision components and structural parts where both strength and surface quality are critical.
Most espresso cups we encounter have a round rim. This one, however, is deliberately designed with a square opening to emphasize geometric tension. I’ve owned square-rim cups before, and to be honest, this shape isn’t particularly friendly for pouring or drinking. Unless you consciously use one of the corners as an entry point, there’s a real chance of spilling coffee—an awkward moment no one enjoys.
The handle is also worth mentioning: it’s designed as a spherical knob. This type of handle is fairly common, and on a standard-sized mug it can feel acceptable. But on an espresso cup, where the body is already quite small, this style of grip doesn’t feel especially comfortable or secure.
I took a closer look at how the designers themselves describe the thinking behind this cup. Clearly, their perspective is rooted primarily in object and form design. In their view, an espresso cup is not merely a functional vessel; it’s an opportunity to rethink everyday life and to create a quiet, contemplative dialogue through design. While that may sound poetic, it’s also highly abstract. It’s evident that the design did not originate from tasting experience or functional optimization. As someone who leans toward a more technical, design-minded approach, I find it difficult to fully buy into this concept.
As for manufacturing, UNAVELA handles the entire process in-house—from design and prototyping to production. This espresso cup is CNC-machined from a single block of aluminum, ensuring excellent precision and consistency. The surface is then sandblasted with fine abrasives to achieve a soft, satin texture with a natural matte finish that feels smooth to the touch. Finally, a clear anodized coating is applied to protect the metal and ensure food safety.
To be fair, this design does, in some ways, attempt to redefine the espresso cup. From material and tactile experience to manufacturing process and conceptual intent, every step reflects a desire to rethink an everyday object. But when I see that this cup sells for €65 on the official website, what you ultimately receive is a carefully modeled aluminum espresso cup—one whose design doesn’t really address tasting or functional needs. That leaves me with a lingering sense of dissatisfaction: interesting to look at, but not particularly rewarding to use.
Specifications:
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Material: 6061 aluminum
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Surface finish: sandblasted with food-grade anodized coating
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Cup dimensions: 70 × 44 × 44 mm
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Tray dimensions: 125 × 125 × 10 mm
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Capacity: 50 ml
In the end, it raises the same question again: when it comes to coffee gear, where do you draw the line between design as expression and design as utility?
