I actually considered a cork counter and tried to find information on it. I could only come across one person who did it and wrote any kind of review. They put the inexpensive cork used for carpet underlayment in their yacht and then put several coats of polyurethane on it. They said they love it and the underlayment would make it a very inexpensive counter. However, that's all I could find and I haven't done it so that's all I know. Maybe that's a teensy help?

ETA: If you do it, please report back and share photos, install issues, and your review of how it works. I'm very curious.

Have you seen the material in person? Have you taken a sample and poured things on it like vinegar, lemon, mustard and catsup and then let it sit overnight and tried to clean it in the morning? I would certainly do that before spending money on the countertop.

With several coats of poly, it should stand up fine to the spill tests. But, of course, poly and then test. I don't think I'd use cork without some kind of waterproof sealant.

Cork carpet underlayment is so cheap that I think it makes sense. At Home Depot, it's 55-cents a square foot. So 100 square feet of counter would cost $55 plus some glue and a can of polyurethane. It's about $100 total, give or take a few. In 5 years, if the counters look like he#l, just peel it of and lay new, seal it, and you're off and running.

But isn't cork relatively soft?

Unfortunately, this tuff isn't as cheap as underlayment -- it's about $40 a square foot, but it's about an inch and a half thick. The person I talked to said it cuts about the same as maple hardwood, which is pretty hard stuff, but it's also easier to cut and install than stone and my contractor can do it instead of hiring a fabricator/installer, too. Check out their website for some examples -- you have to scroll down to see the pictures -- https://www.ecosupplycenter.com/brands/suberra.html. The sample is supposed to arrive on Tuesday, so I'll let you know how it does on the abuse tests.

Keep in mind that cork exposed to sunlight will fade and become lighter. I have cork floors and really like them.