Either as a companion to her new tea kettle or as a stand alone gift, we love these hand-crafted earthenware cups by Chicago-based Susan Dwyer. They've been individually dipped in yellow rubber, giving them a bit of grip and a burst of bright color.

Johanna Lowe of Martyn George loves to use enamelware mugs for making individual pies and panna cotta when entertaining. Hers are vintage, but we love this set from Best Made Company. $32 for a set of two

Ceramic cups are a tactile and sophisticated riff on the French style latte bowl. In a pinch, these curved minimalistic, yet tactile cups by Morijana could do double-duty for cereal as well.

COPPER MEASURING CUPS $19 Portion control. Made in India, these shiny Copper Measuring Cups are as functional in a kitchen as they are beautiful, when hung on a hook.

Cup Set by Yield, $42 at yielddesign.co Fastened together with a handmade leather strap, this set of two stainless steel cups is a smart, reusable choice for picnics and dining alfresco.

Atomium egg cup by Christian Ghion for Alessi.

First designed over 60 years ago, the Russel Wright Residential Collection is crafted from durable, shatterproof melamine. This cup and saucer transitions well to outdoor dining in warmer months.

With an organic aesthetic, the ceramic Morijana cups are minimalistic yet tactile. Offered in pleasing neutral hues, these curved cups are the perfect vessel for tea, coffee, or freshly squeezed juice and double as serving bowls for your favorite condiments or a dessert course.

From Yield Design Co., the Solid Copper Cup is an elegant drinking vessel that features a simple cylindrical shape that makes it stackable and versatile. The choice of material for the cup is not only an aesthetic one, but also practical. Copper is a naturally insulating and antimicrobial material that makes it functional for a variety of liquids and occasions.

A super minimal World Cup calendar helps us keep up with the schedule.

These thermo cups are designed with function and practicality in mind. With an insulating interior, the thermo cup keeps hot beverages warm, while the outer layer stays cool to the touch. The lid, which keeps contents warmer longer, can also double as a saucer.

Available in the Dwell store, these Nest 9 Plus polypropylene and plastic nesting measuring cups by Morph for Joseph Joseph are durable and suited for precise and colorful cooks.

Ears Cup, Éstudio Manus

Kiddush cup: Holds the ceremonial wine over which the kiddush blessing is recited.

This inset photograph of a circle of sandstone and porcelain cups contains the sober blacks and whites of Besengez's Flemish home.

In Besengez's porcelain 'Cup Town,' small figures draw attention to the architectural structuring of everyday objects.

Crinkle Espresso Cups by Bialetti, $25 from bialettishop.comFor an espresso aficionado, Bialetti's porcelain cups are a wallet-friendly option. Pair with Blue Bottle's Espresso Medley Subscription, from $17.25 per pound, to ensure the vessels are put to good use.

Melamine cups and saucers from bergenhouse, $10.

Tin Cup's in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"Sure, enamel tin cups do well in the woods on camping trips, but they’re also great for preparing individual pot pies or panna cotta at home. The versatile Enamelware is conducive to baking and freezing."

Solid Copper Cup, $21 From water to a Moscow Mule, this copper cup from Yield Design Co. is a cup that everyone will want to sip from. It is made from solid copper, and is naturally insulating—the perfect device for keeping cocktails cool.

The porcelain set is meant to be mixed and matched at will. From top to bottom: “Black Almond,” “Tissage Cup,” Triangle Walks” and “Howls in the Night Cup” coffee mugs, stacked on “Hats off for Mr. Squirrel Saucer.”

For Dad’s office, the Cup Table Lamp is an unexpected multitasker. In addition to its primary function as a dimmable LED lamp, the aptly named light includes a storage cup at the base of the lamp for pens, pencils, or other knickknacks.

"Despite its initial success, Pyrex sales began slowing down in the 1920s. Pyrex was a borosilicate glass, expensive to manufacture due to its higher melting temperatures, and, as a result, priced more as a luxury purchase, not easily affordable by the masses. It wasn’t until Corning developed an automated production process in the 1930s that prices on Pyrex dropped and sales were able to rebound." Pyrex Flameware Six-Cup Percolator, made by Corning Glass Works, 1939-1951.

Kaiser's red cups are a study in contrasts between fluid bodies and textured bases, glossy and matte surfaces. The porcelain vessels were dipped in red slip and fired, changing in color to mottled pink. The interiors are glazed with glossy blue. His Kangen oribe cups employ the same oribe copper glaze, but each one reacts differently with colored engobes to produce very different shades, "especially when fired in strong reduction."

A stack of porcelain Krum cups.

A close-up of the dip in the coffee cup.

This ceramic coffee cup celebrates New York City in more ways than one. A more environmentally conscious version of the paper variety, the coffee cup also features the classic I LOVE NY logo, designed by Milton Glaser in 1975 for the New York Commerce Commission.

Large Crinkle CupDesigned in 1975 by Dutch designer Rob Brandt, these white glazed ceramic cups are perfect for casual get-togethers or daily use. $13

World Cups. Wood. Designer: IDee Liu.

Although they originally only intended to design textiles, Backlund and Dunker found themselves in a porcelain factory, and couldn’t contain themselves and also designed coffee and tea sets, “Black Almond” coffee cup, shown.

This Thermo cup is designed with function and practicality in mind. From Norm Architects and Menu, the cup features an insulating interior that keeps hot beverages warm, while the outer layer stays cool to the touch. The lid, which keeps contents warmer longer, can also double as a saucer.

Ottchil is the name given to the slow and painstaking process of creating Korean lacquer, which is made using the sap of the Korean Ot tree. Lee Eun-hee, CEO of Gallery-on, made these elegant stackable tea cups using the technique. She explains: “I dry, sand, coat, and wait in silence, again and again, until my mind is at peace.”

Porcelain is, of course, a material pillar in the history of Japanese design. Today’s modern maker is not only exploring new forms, but new user behaviors that exist outside its home market. Take for example the porcelain Vidro Cup pieces produced by Hasami. Its faceted shape and soft pastel palette clearly place the line for today’s modern buyer, but the process for sourcing and production is the same one that has been used for hundreds of years. Hasami is known for high-profile collaborations, including a recent line with U.S.-based House Industries. By expanding upon traditional uses for porcelain pieces, such as their Soba Choco line, small cups intended to hold dipping sauce for Soba noodles but now offered as receptacles for anything, Hasami is maintaining its cultural relevancy and respect for tradition while expanding its global audience and reach.

WEATHER DIARY COLLECTION: OIVA COFFEE CUP $24.00 Part of the Weather Diary tableware collection, the Sääpäiväkirja coffee cup is inspired by the natural environments of Finland. Designed by Sami Ruotsalainen for Marimekko, the mug’s varying shades of blue evoke the dramatic rainclouds that hover above the archipelago.

With its simple profile, the Cup Lamp is an unexpected multitasker. In addition to its primary function as a dimmable LED lamp, the light includes a storage cup at the base designed to hold pens and pencils or other small knickknacks.