How an Espresso Cup Triggered a Mini Craze

I didn’t see this coming.

A little espresso cup I designed, priced at €16.50, quietly joined the shelves. Then something unexpected happened. People started buying it—not just for coffee.

They were styling it, gifting it, collecting it.

So, what made this tiny ceramic piece the sleeper hit of the season?

It started with a pattern I loved

When I try a new product, it almost always starts with my first love: the Bird of Paradise pattern. The sample immediately captured what I had in mind, especially for an espresso lover like myself. I imagined it cradling a morning espresso, sitting proudly on a sunny kitchen shelf, or accompanying a friend for a catch-up.

It wasn’t supposed to be loud. Just lovely.

But that’s the thing about design—sometimes, it takes on a life of its own.

Then the messages started coming in.

One customer ordered four:

“One for every guest,” she told me.

Another messaged me a week later:

“I’m using it to hold toothpicks. It looks amazing on the table.”

And this Easter?

I tied a mini figolla to each handle—just a bite-sized gesture, a little nod to Maltese tradition. The response? Immediate.

People smiled. They took photos. They picked up more than one.

This espresso cup has become a gift. A table statement. A conversation starter.

Why did Malta fall in love?

Maybe it’s because here, we appreciate thoughtful details. Maybe it’s the way we celebrate beauty in everyday things. Or maybe… it’s just that this little cup felt personal.

Because sometimes, it’s the smallest pieces that leave the biggest impression.

Maybe it’s because here, we appreciate thoughtful details. Maybe it’s the way we celebrate beauty in everyday things. Or maybe… it’s just that this little cup felt personal.

Because sometimes, it’s the smallest pieces that leave the biggest impression.

Curious to see what the fuss is about?

The cups are still available—for now.