Akihiro Woodworks

Hand-Carved Mugs from the Forests of Japan

When it comes to coffee, you could say we’re obsessed with the details that add up to the experience—from the farmers we collaborate with to our shipped-out-within-48-hours-of-roasting promise.

And if you’re asking Jin Akihiro? Your drinkware can add to the experience, too.

In Kagoshima, a seaside city in Japan, woodworker Akihiro, at the helm of his small family company, hand-carves mugs that claim an international fanbase — and perpetual waitlists. This is in part because each Jincup, as they’re called, is exquisite and one-of-a-kind.

But they’re beloved, too, because of what must happen before Akihiro can even begin carving.

Akihiro sources wood for his Jincups from nearby forests of Japanese evergreens. He purchases, dries, and saws each tabunoki tree himself. Even more noteworthy? The drying process alone takes up to five years.

That’s a long and winding process from tree to cup, which makes it a radical choice in today’s on-demand culture — and one that we couldn’t be more on board with.

And while each mug is an art piece that would look at home in a museum, Akihiro wants you to take your coffee outdoors.

Jincups remind us to make everyday moments into experiences, a sentiment we’ve been chasing since day one.

We’re thrilled to offer a small number of his mugs as part of our 2021 Holiday Collection. So here’s to building a campfire, curling up with a wool blanket, and savoring each sip.