Collection: Espresso Cups

What is an espresso cup?

An espresso cup is the name commonly used for the small coffee cup that holds highly concentrated coffee drinks like the espresso, doppio, Greek coffee, Turkish coffee or the macchiato to name a few. These are the tiny cups that can be seen in cafes and restaurants all over the world. However, the real name of this tiny cup is demitasse.

According to theteacupattic.com, demitasse, pronounced “dem-E-tas”, originated in France and translates to “half cup” . Why? Because they’re about half the size of a regular coffee cup which is 8 liquid ounces.

What’s the common size for an espresso cup?

As a rule of thumb, being able to fill your coffee cup to the brim will help retain your coffee’s heat. And since an espresso is a quite concentrated coffee drink, it’s meant to be enjoyed in small quantities. That’s why most espresso cups generally hold about 2 to 3 fluid ounces. It’s actually a common misconception that an espresso cup should hold exactly half a cup, which is 4 liquid ounces. 

They are between 2 to 2.5 inches tall and the saucers they usually come with measures approximately 4 to 4.5 inches in diameter. 

Is buying a matching saucer with your espresso cup a must?

Not necessarily.  However, the saucer allows you to carry the espresso cup more easily. They’re also useful when it comes to catching overflows, splashes, and drips from the cup, thus protecting your table linen. Check out our selection of espresso cups that comes with saucers.

 
What is the perfect shape for an espresso cup?

For an espresso cup you would want a semi cone-shaped cup with a round bottom that lets the coffee flow-in on its slopped edge. In other words, you would want an espresso cup that tapers at the bottom like our Betony espresso cups. This is perfect for concentrating the flavor of the shot and also allows the aroma of the espresso to rise to the top.

On top of that it will also help to enhance the crema presentation. Additionally, a rounded bottom allows the liquid to swirl easily and makes the espresso cup also easier to clean.

 
Does the thickness of an espresso cup matter?

The thickness of an espresso cup, or any coffee cup for that matter, regulates the temperature of the espresso. Ideally, you would want the lower part of the cup to be thick to better preserve the heat and the upper part to be slightly thinner so it can sit nicer against your lips, providing a more comfortable espresso-drinking experience. However, some espresso aficionados may tell you that the thicker the rim of your espresso cup the better the drinking experience because it allows the liquid to roll easily into their mouth.

 

What is the best color for an espresso cup?

The reality is that the cups you use will set a certain mood and vibe. Just imagine serving your guests espresso in these nice red Colson espresso cups or black Isai espresso cups. So while the color may be chosen based on preference or décor, still, you would want the inside of your espresso cup to be white. The reason behind this is that the white interior makes you appreciate the caramel tones of the crema and the rich color of your espresso much more. Check out our great selection of white espresso cups.

 

Why are double wall glass espresso cups becoming so popular?

According to homegrounds.co, the optimal temperature for serving coffee in general is between 120°C and 185°C (49/85°F). And when you leave your coffee to sit for too long, the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen will raise the pH level of the coffee, making it taste bitter or “stale”.

So ideally, you would want your coffee to remain at the optimal for as long as possible, especially if you’re drinking your espresso slowly to enjoy its full, rich flavor. And it is here that the material an espresso cup is made of comes into play. Ceramic and porcelain espresso cups are both great at retaining heat. However, none of them can beat a double wall glass espresso cup.

The double wall glass construction is basically a glass within a glass. The air between the two glasses is sucked out when it is made, creating a vacuum. Instead of having a heating or cooling element to keep your espresso hot or cold, it is designed to keep your espresso at the optimal temperature by not allowing heat to escape or enter.

Another great reason for the increasing popularity of the double wall glass espresso cups is that they create an illusion of the espresso floating in the middle which can be very attractive.

Make sure to browse our selection of double wall glass espresso cups.

To conclude

If you appreciate a nice espresso, having a good set of espresso cups is a must.

You might think you can grab any standard coffee cup to drink your espresso out of, but when it comes to espresso, the cup does matter. You wouldn’t want to put all your effort into selecting the perfect roast, brew it to perfection, and then serve it in a cup that’s not suitable for it. To put it another way, you wouldn't want to serve an espresso in a cup that's not an espresso cup.

Serving an espresso in the right cup helps improve its taste and it looks a little bit fancier. So make sure you’re making the most out of your espresso drinking experience with our espresso cups.