Arabic Coffee Cups
The Gahwa Journal
Culture & Craft1 min read

How Arabic Coffee Cups Are Made — From Clay to Cup

The journey of a porcelain Arabic coffee cup from raw clay to finished product. Firing temperatures, glazing, and what makes premium porcelain special.

Arabic Coffee Cups

December 15, 2025

Every Arabic coffee cup starts as raw materials — clay, feldspar, and quartz — and undergoes a remarkable transformation through fire and craftsmanship. Here's the journey.

The Raw Materials

Premium porcelain is made from kaolin clay mixed with feldspar and quartz. The specific ratio determines the cup's translucency, strength, and whiteness. Higher kaolin content produces whiter, more translucent porcelain.

Shaping

The mixture is formed into cup shapes through slip casting — pouring liquid clay into plaster molds. Each cup is carefully inspected for uniformity before moving to the next stage.

First Firing (Bisque)

The shaped cups are fired at around 900°C to harden the clay body. This produces a porous "bisque" that's ready for glazing.

Glazing and Decoration

The bisque cups are dipped in liquid glaze, then decorated. Our metallic accents are applied at this stage — gold and silver patterns that will become permanent fixtures of the cup.

Final Firing

The crucial step: firing at 1300°C. This extreme temperature vitrifies the porcelain, making it non-porous, incredibly hard, and giving it that characteristic translucency. The glaze fuses permanently, sealing in the metallic accents.

Quality Control

Each cup is inspected for chips, glaze imperfections, and color consistency. Only cups that meet our standards make it into the final packaging.

Appreciate the craft in every sip.

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