How to Make a Coffee Mug

Learn to throw a coffee mug on the wheel — from cylinder to handle attachment. The quintessential pottery project.

At Boulder Pottery Studio in Boulder, making a coffee mug is one of the projects you'll tackle in our pottery classes. Here's what goes into this satisfying ceramic project.

The Process

Every piece of pottery goes through several stages: forming (on the wheel or by hand), drying to leather-hard, trimming, drying completely, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing. A coffee mug typically takes 2-4 weeks from wet clay to finished, usable piece.

Skills You'll Develop

Making a coffee mug teaches fundamental pottery skills that apply to everything you'll create. You'll practice clay preparation, forming technique, surface finishing, and glazing — all guided by an experienced instructor in our well-equipped Boulder studio.

Make a Coffee Mug at Boulder Pottery Studio

Our pottery classes include projects like this and many more. All materials are included — clay, glazes, kiln firing, and tools. Join our email list to be notified when classes open for registration.