The best espresso cups complete your coffee ritual. They're often overlooked, but serving up a shot of rich delicious coffee in one of these cups is the most authentic way to drink them.
Whilst they look adorable and certainly score top-points for aesthetics, there's also technical reasons why you should drink espresso from one of these miniature mugs. The smaller cups allow the crema to sit higher up in your cup. You'll get layers of flavors rather than one slurp from the bottom of a cappuccino cup (which has its place in your coffee too).
So, if you're looking for the perfect coffee mug to go with your espresso machine, the best espresso cups are an essential. As a barista, I've handled a range of different espresso cups, filled with thousands of espressos, so I wanted to bring you the ones that we, as baristas, know are the best for your coffee, both technically and aesthetically.
Best Espresso Cups
Size: 2 oz
Dimensions: 2.5" x 2.5" x 2.5"
Material: glass
Dishwasher safe: yes
Cups per set: 2
De'Longhi makes incredible espresso machines, so it's no surprise that they also make the best espresso cups. In fact, these are the ones that I use at home, because I can check that the color of my espresso is perfect whilst the double-walled insulation keeps them warm.
Size: 4 oz
Dimensions: 7.3" x 4.2"
Material: porcelain
Dishwasher safe: yes
Glasses per set: 4
This simple set, affordable, but effective set is made from professional-grade porcelain. That means it's not only useful for espressos, but it can go in the oven as a container for small deserts like tiramisù. The saucers make a pretty display set, too.
Size: 3 oz
Dimensions: 3.5" x 2.5"
Material: stoneware
Dishwasher safe: yes
Cups per set: 1
If you're looking for durable espresso cups, stop here. They're chip-resistant, microwavable, and even oven-proof. The glaze makes them incredibly easy to clean, and they're difficult to scratch. However, a couple of words of warning – they're fairly expensive, and while the glazed cups always look incredible, the matte options pick up fingerprints.
Size: 2.5 oz
Dimensions: 2.5" x 2.4" x 2.5"
Material: porcelain
Dishwasher safe: yes
Cups per set: 4
This set is perfect for your coffee station. Complete with a storage stand and miniature saucers, you can stack all of your cups neatly away. I love the rainbow set which you can buy on Amazon too. It's not from Sweese, but it's almost identical.
Size: 2.5 oz
Dimensions: 3.1" x 2.8" x 2.5"
Material: borosilicate glass
Dishwasher safe: yes
Cups per set: 1
Double-walled glasses are the best for keeping your espressos hot or your iced espressos cool. The soft, smooth silhouette of these modern cups looks simple, but don't be deceived, this can even handle being microwaved.
Size: 3oz
Dimensions: 2.5" x 2.2" x 2.5"
Material: 18/8 stainless steel
Dishwasher safe: yes
Cups per set: 4
Stainless steel is durable, stylish, and easy to keep in excellent condition. Although this design is reminiscent of Italian 90s-style silver demitasse cups, it's crafted to modern specs: double-walled and made with non-toxic materials.
Size: 2.5 oz
Dimensions: 2.8" x 3.5" x 2.5"
Material: borosilicate glass
Dishwasher safe: yes
Cups per set: 2
These hand blown, lightweight borosilicate glass espresso cups are some of the most durable and insulating on the market. I love how tall and slim these are. They look elegant and delicate, but you can put them in the freezer and microwave.
Size: 2.5 oz
Dimensions: 3.5" x 2.5" x 2.5"
Material: porcelain
Dishwasher safe: yes
Glasses per set: 2
Illy has launched a collection of cups inspired by women who have shaped our culture and I can't get enough of them. These are colorful, chunky, and a real treat. If you need a gift for a coffee enthusiast, these are it.
Size: 2.2 oz
Dimensions: 7" x 2" x 2"
Material: bamboo and ceramic
Dishwasher safe: yes
Glasses per set: 4
Bamboo is renowned for its natural strength and durability. These cups are microwave safe, crack resistant and lined with ceramic. The green set adds an organic tone to any coffee station and all the cups stack neatly on top of each other like a bamboo trunk.
FAQs
What is the best material for an espresso cup?
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I would recommend looking for cups that will insulate your espresso, so that it doesn't cool too quickly. For that reason, ceramic and glass are two of the best materials, especially if the glass is double-walled. However, porcelain, bamboo, and stainless steel all have their own merits.
What size cup is best for espresso?
An espresso is typically 1 oz, whilst a double shot is 2 oz. If you'll want to add sugar or a splash of milk to your espresso shot, you will want a cup which is at least 2 oz, ideally 3 oz.
What is the best color for espresso cups?
It doesn't matter about the exterior, but white or clear cups tend to be best suited to coffee connoisseurs. This is because the bright, glossy white or clear walls allow you to check the color of your coffee in contrast to the crema. This tends to be the best indicator of how flavorful your coffee will be.
Are glass espresso cups good?
If they are double-walled, glass cups are an excellent option. They'll allow you to check the color of your espresso as well as keeping your coffee warm too. However, you'll have to work hard to keep them clean, and if they aren't double-walled they'll quickly lose temperature.
Final Thoughts
You can't underestimate how pleasing espresso cups are to drink from. Making espressos in one of the best coffee makers and serving up your morning shot of coffee in one of these luxury cups is the final flourish you need if you're designing your own home coffee station.
I use the De'Longhi cups, because they're excellent insulators and easy to clean. However, seeing the style statements offered by some of these bamboo and porcelain cups, I might need to start creating a new collection. Whether you're sipping alone or sharing with a crowd, these cups will add the final flourish to your coffee mornings.
How We Test
Normally, at Homes & Gardens we test everything before we recommend them to you. However, in this instance, I wasn't able to test every single cup. In an absence of hands-on experience, I researched a range of customer and expert reviews to find out how easy these cups are to hold, how well they keep your coffee warm, and how nice they are to look at. I also use the De'Longhi cups already, so I can personally vouch for them. If you would like to know more about how we test you can visit our dedicated page.
