The Coffee Gourd Cups are drink vessels developed by Studio CRÈME using living gourds shaped inside custom 3D printed molds as they grow on the vine. Young gourds are enclosed in rigid forms that define the final cup geometry over several months of natural growth. Once fully matured, the shells are harvested, cleaned and dried to create lightweight, watertight vessels without industrial firing, glazing or synthetic coatings. Each cup follows the internal mold dimensions while retaining slight surface variation from organic growth patterns.
The resulting cups are fully biodegradable and compostable at the end of life. The project avoids conventional ceramic, glass or plastic production by replacing heat-driven manufacturing with agricultural cultivation. Studio CRÈME positions the process as a material alternative that combines farming cycles with object design, producing usable drinkware through controlled biological development rather than mechanical fabrication.
Image Credit: CRÈME Architecture and Design
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Biodegradable Drinkware Revolution
- Adopting biodegradable materials like grown gourd shells for drinkware offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional ceramics and plastics.
- Agricultural Object Design
- Integrating farming cycles with design processes transforms agriculture into a tool for innovative product creation.
- 3d-printed Growth Molds
- The use of 3D-printed molds to guide plant growth introduces precision and customization in naturally derived manufacturing.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Eco-friendly Drinkware
- This eco-friendly drinkware industry leverages sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact and cater to environmentally conscious consumers.
- Hybrid Agriculture-manufacturing
- Combining agricultural practices with manufacturing to produce consumer goods creates a new niche at the intersection of these sectors.
- 3D Printing in Agriculture
- The integration of 3D printing technology with agriculture opens pathways for innovation in biofabrication and customized plant-based products.
