What it is
The cups and balls is arguably the oldest effect in magic. The archaeological evidence stretches back to Beni Hassan in Egypt, roughly two thousand years before Christ. Seneca described it in Roman times. It has been performed continuously for at least two millennia. Adam and Felix believed it could be made better.
The problem they set out to solve was not method — it was motivation. A magician holding three metal cups is holding props, and an audience knows it. Coffee cups are something a person might plausibly own. That single change turns a display of skill into a scene that can carry a story.
"Performing cups and balls for years… the amazing cups and beans is TRULY AMAZING."
— Errol, five stars
How it was made
The prototypes went to Blackpool for expert feedback rather than mass exposure. Dave Bonsall was among the first to handle them; as the day went on the names accumulated — Roddy McGee, João Miranda, Greg Rostami. The pre-orders that followed exceeded production capacity.
The instruction set grew to roughly twelve hours — about four from Adam and Felix, with additional contributions from respected performers in the community. That figure was deliberate. Vulpine did not believe in selling a prop with a one-page instruction sheet and hoping for the best.
The instruction was filmed across Blackpool and the United States, then edited down to the final set.
What performers said
Six reviews were recovered from the platforms Vulpine sold on. All six are five stars.
“The Definitive Work on the Cups and Balls… Adam’s mind and YEARS of work have gifted the entire magic community.”
“Training is beyond excellent… helped me come up with a scripting for it.”
“I have too many Cups and Ball sets… These are fabulous… well-thought out.”
“So many different effects you can do, for many different situations.”
The proposal
One day a video arrived from a performer, with a note: Watch till the end.
He performed a heartfelt cups and beans routine — his own script, his own words, personal and tender in a way that told you immediately this was not a standard performance. When he lifted the cups at the finale, there was a waterfall of diamonds. And in the middle of the cascade, nestled among the glittering stones, was an engagement ring.
He had used the Amazing Coffee Cups and Beans to propose, on stage. His partner was crying from joy, frantically nodding, saying yes I do.
Where it is now
The product rights and remaining inventory passed to several companies — including Alakazam Magic — with the infrastructure and distribution to continue manufacturing at scale.
