How we pick our products
Welcome to our big espresso cup test 2023. Here we present all the espresso cups we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best espresso cup for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should be aware of if you want to buy an espresso cup.
Summary
- Stoneware and porcelain espresso cups are best for an enjoyable espresso.
- There are different sizes of espresso cups, which refine the crema and aroma depending on the shape.
- In addition to espresso cups, quality beans are of course crucial for an enjoyable coffee.
The Best Espresso Cup: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying an espresso cup
How big are espresso cups and how many millilitres do they hold?
For example, an espresso cup should be able to hold at least 60 millilitres of single espresso. A double espresso, on the other hand, contains 80 millilitres and thus requires a larger cup.
However, larger cups can also be used for coffee enjoyment. However, cups with an inner curvature on the underside of the cup, the so-called ‘crema bumps’, are recommended, as this curvature keeps the crema stable in the cup and prevents it from flowing out.
What material should espresso cups be made of?
Real coffee connoisseurs from Italy recommend espresso cups made of stoneware or porcelain, which have relatively thick walls. These cups are warmed before the coffee is prepared.
This way, the heat of the coffee is retained longer by the thick wall, as it stores the heat within itself. This also allows the coffee to develop its full aroma and the crema to develop better.
| Material | Properties |
|---|---|
| Earthenware | In Italy, espresso cups are traditionally made of earthenware and heated before use. Earthenware has a good heat storage capacity due to its thick wall and does not distort the taste. |
| Porcelain | porcelain is quite similar to earthenware. Previously heated, it also has a good heat storage capacity. A porcelain wall is slightly thinner than earthenware. |
| Double-walled glass cups | The double wall of these cups keeps the espresso hot inside for an extremely long time, while you can still hold the cup comfortably in your hand from the outside. However, glass can distort the taste. |
| Metal cups | Usually only bought for design reasons. However, metal is said to give the coffee a sour note and it cools down faster. |
Double-walled glass espresso cups are another way to enjoy espresso. These cups cause the coffee to stay warm much longer than the porcelain cups. In addition, these cups are visually more beautiful.
Another advantage of these cups is that there is air between the glasses, which means that the internal heat does not spread to the outside. This makes them pleasant to hold in the hand.
However, these cups are accused of impairing the taste of the coffee and even giving it a sour taste, which is why they are not so widespread among frahling lovers.
Recently, there are also metal cups that offer different designs to the fragrant coffee lover. However, these are also not too common, as they do not keep the coffee warm for a longer period of time due to their thin structure.
How much do espresso cups cost?
So you might think that there are espresso cups available for every household and taste.
Decision: What types of espresso cups are there and which one is right for you?
There are espresso cups for every taste and household. They vary in size, shape and material. All of these features are crucial for fine coffee enjoyment.
Broadly speaking, however, espresso cups can be divided into two categories:
- Thick-walled espresso cups
- Thin-walled espresso cups
What distinguishes a thick-walled espresso cup and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Thick-walled espresso cups are usually found in three materials. These are stoneware, porcelain and glass cups. They are preferred by many frahling lovers because they keep the coffee warm for longer.
They also have a heavy feel in the hand, which multiplies the pleasure.
Porcelain cup
Stoneware and porcelain espresso cups are neutral materials and do not affect the taste of the coffee. As the heat is stored in the thick walls of the cup, the aroma is multiplied and helps to create a fine-pored crema.
These cups are criticised for their simple design, as they do not allow the fragrant coffee lover a certain freedom of choice.
Glass cup
The glass espresso cup also fulfils these characteristics, although it gives the coffee a sour taste and is often criticised for this. In contrast to the porcelain and earthenware espresso cups, it has a more beautiful design.
What distinguishes a thin-walled espresso cup and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
A final variation of espresso cups are thin-walled espresso cups, which are usually made of metal. These cups are not too practical, as they do not keep the coffee warm and are very light in feel.
The material also affects the aromatic taste of the coffee, which means that these cups are not very common.
Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate espresso cups
In the following, we would like to show you which criteria you can use to distinguish between espresso cups and help you decide which one is right for you.
In summary, these are:
- Size
- Material
- Design
Size
The size of the espresso cup is crucial when enjoying an espresso. This is because an aromatic coffee served in small portions requires a smaller space so that the aroma and crema do not break. Smaller cups are therefore more suitable.
For people who prefer large cups, however, there is also a solution, and that is crema cusp cups. These cups have a curvature on the underside of the cup that prevents the crema of the coffee from breaking up and are suitable for perfect enjoyment.
Material
As mentioned in the previous sections, stoneware or porcelain cups are ideal for the perfect espresso because they retain heat, multiply the aromas, refine the crema and do not affect the taste.
Did you know that the best place to put your espresso cups is on top of the coffee machine?
This way, the cups are automatically kept warm by the coffee machine. Many coffee machines also have a heated cup tray.
However, these cups are very plainly designed, which is not suitable for some people. Therefore, we recommend glass espresso cups to people who appreciate a beautiful and authentic design. It should be added, however, that these people must expect a slightly acidic taste.
Design
Espresso cups made of glass and metal are available in various stylish and colourful designs. So you can complement your perfect kitchen with a stylish espresso cup.
When choosing a design, the layout of your kitchen can be decisive.
Facts about espresso and espresso cups
Which coffee beans are suitable for very good espresso?
To be able to prepare a uniquely enjoyable espresso, high-quality coffee beans are necessary. A good espresso cup alone does not guarantee that the coffee will be perfect. That’s why it’s worth finding out about the different coffee beans.
Espresso is famous for its strong and slightly bitter taste, and in addition to this characteristic, espresso contains a high caffeine content. The bean that most fits this definition is therefore the Robusta coffee bean.
| Coffee variety | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Arabica | The Arabica bean is very popular because of its mild taste due to the low levels of bitterness. |
| Liberica and Excelsa | These are mainly found in West Africa and only come onto the market in small quantities. The taste is very intense. Moreover, Excelsa is grown almost exclusively in Chad and is mainly used for local consumption, which is why it is traded here as a rarity. |
| Stenophylla | This coffee is equally rare and, like the Arabica bean, is characterised by a particularly mild taste. In addition, this variety has a low caffeine content. This variety offers a change in coffee enjoyment, if you can find it in speciality shops. |
| Kopi Luwak | This variety is also known as cat coffee and is considered a speciality by connoisseurs. It is made from beans that have been eaten by the Luwak cat. These then ferment in the cat’s stomach, where the excretions are then collected and the whole coffee beans are utilised. |
It is valued by coffee farmers for its hardiness and comes mainly from West Africa and Southeast Asia.
However, we also recommend other coffee beans that are also among the best-known varieties:
- Arabica
- Liberica
- Excelsa
- Stenophylla
- Kopi Luwak
All these coffee bean varieties differ in taste and provide a very enjoyable coffee experience. For more detailed information, you can read our guide to coffee beans.
Image source: pexels.com / Burst
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