In Arita, Saga Prefecture—where Arita ware has been produced for over 400 years since the Edo period—traditional porcelain techniques have been reimagined to bring innovation to the world of coffee. The result is the Serafilter 39arita, a handcrafted Arita porcelain coffee filter developed by THREE RIVERS Inc.

The workshop stands in Arita, known as the birthplace of porcelain in Japan. Along the streets, you can still find the iconic Tonbai walls made from fireproof bricks (used for building climbing kilns), red clay, and pottery shards—an evocative townscape that remains a popular tourist destination.

“Ceramics are broadly divided into earthenware and porcelain. Arita ware is porcelain, fired at 1300°C, making it lighter and stronger than earthenware,” explains Haraguchi, one of the artisans behind the Serafilter 39arita.

Developed in this historic town, the Serafilter 39arita is the only ceramic filter in Japan to hold a patent. Conventional ceramic filters were prone to clogging, but CEO Suguru Mikawa was determined to create one with pore sizes fine enough to let flavorful oils through while preventing clogging. After a year of experimentation with clay blends, water ratios, and firing techniques, the team perfected the ideal level of fineness.

Unlike disposable paper filters, the Arita porcelain Serafilter 39arita can be reused, making it an eco-friendly and sustainable choice. Its microscopic pores, invisible to the eye, block unwanted bitterness while allowing the natural oils of coffee beans—essential to their rich flavor—to pass through. The result is a rounder, more premium taste that brings out the beans’ true character.

The filter is versatile too: it can enhance the smoothness of not only coffee, but also tea, black tea, and even alcoholic beverages. When used with water, it functions as a natural purifier.

CEO Mikawa says that new ideas come to him constantly, and he continues to develop innovative products using the time-honored artistry of Arita ware.

Interview: Takuya Arata Photography: Daiki Morishita Text: Kento Onishi