Dervish Coffee Cup for Zula

“A cup of coffee commits one to forty years of friendship ”, states a Turkish proverb; indicating very clearly that, especially in the Mediterranean countries, the hot, dark beverage is not only an elixir to keep us awake during long days or after rough night,s but also plays essential role in our social life.

Understanding this phenomenon perfectly, the Istanbul based designer Kunter Şekercioğlu, gives this highly appreciated drink an adequate mug, the Dervish Coffee Cup. He manages to perfectly implement parts of the traditional Turkish coffee-cup without bail, with modern innovative ideas that make it easy to hold, unnecessary to touch the hot parts and prevent spilling.

Inspired by the Sufi Saints and their attire, the coffee cup set-of-two truly looks a little bit like it was spinning around in white, flowing robes once the parts are combined. To understand this elaborate design fully, a little bit of explanation might be needed: Sufism is generally understood to be the mystic or psycho-spiritual dimension of the Islam whereas Sufi-whirling is a customary dance, or worshipping ceremony through which dervishes aim to reach the source of perfection. Isn’t it impressive how much culture can be contained in a single cup of coffee?

Kunter Şekercioğlu indeed keeps his word when saying that in addition to the inseparability of aesthetics and functionality, he values cultural habits, craftsmanship, history and the details of daily life as the triggering factors for his design. So no surprise that he was already honored with a Superior Design award.