10 Best Espresso Cups of 2021

For many espresso lovers, making and taking espressos is a ritual that starts with selecting perfectly roasted beans or even roasting them yourself and ends with taking your brew in a nice cup.

While most people seem to understand the importance of most of the other parts of the espresso ritual, many tend to overlook the need to also have the best espresso cup.

It is true you can take espresso in any small cup or glass, but for a more pleasant and satisfying experience, you need to have a proper espresso cup or demitasse as it is also referred to as.

Besides the obvious aesthetic appeal that comes with these small espresso cups, they can also be functional given that most have insulation to preserve the temperature of the espresso for long.

While choosing the right espresso cup will be a more subjective affair given that different people have varying tastes and preferences, in this piece we provide top 10 espresso cups review and a buying guide to make the choice easier.

10 Best Espresso Cups – Review

• Size: 5.4 ounces
• Material: Glass

For the espresso lovers that take double shots or even more espresso, the larger 5.4-ounce capacity of these JoyJolt mugs means they will be a perfect choice for you.

The larger capacity also makes them ideal for other beverages like tea and smoothies. But what many coffee drinkers will love most about the mugs is that they are double-wall insulated to keep the beverages hot for longer.

These top-rated espresso cups are also made from stronger and more durable borosilicate glass and with a sturdier and more stable handle that will make it easier to hold.

You can also use these cups to heat your coffee on the microwave as they are microwave-safe, and given that they are also dishwasher-safe, cleaning up should also take less effort.

Some users might find these cups a little too lightweight or at least lighter than anticipated, but they are not as fragile as they might look and the borosilicate glass should last long enough.

2. Bruntmor BR3773 – Best Ceramic Demitasse Cup

• Size: 4 oz
• Material: Ceramic

Ceramic is always one of the top materials to consider when shopping for the best demitasse cup, and if it is as thick as what is used to make these Bruntmor cups, then your espresso cups will be perfect.

The thick material not only makes these cups more durable but will also help to keep the espresso hot. Also, these cups come in a set of 4 and with saucers to give coffee lovers great value for cash.

To make the cups more convenient, they also include sturdy and spacious handles that make the cups easy to hold and they are also both dishwasher and microwave safe.

Although the rim on the saucer that is designed to hold the cup might not be as high as what you get with other top cup sets, it still high enough to keep the cup in place.

• Size: 6 ounces
• Material: Stainless steel

You can almost never go wrong with stainless steel cups like these ones by TeamFar as they are nearly indestructible which ensures you get the best value for your cash.

They come in a set of 4 6-ounce cups that are highly versatile to allow you to use them for various other things besides espressos.

These mugs are also double-walled to minimize the risk of burning your hands when taking coffee in them and they feature superior craftsmanship that includes a mirror finish for both the interior and exterior and a protruding lip at the top to prevent slipping.

The mirror polish makes these mugs super easy to use and because they are designed to be stackable, they will also be easier to store and carry.

While the insulation might not be adequate to keep coffee hot for long, it still does a good job in ensuring that you do not burn your hands on the cups.

• Size: 2 ounces
• Material: Glass

These small espresso cups by DeLonghi are designed to help coffee lovers enjoy this brew the traditional way, and the 2 oz capacity means they are specifically built for espressos.

With the double wall insulation, they will keep the coffee hot for longer and are also designed to hold both hot and cold beverages given that they are condensation-free.

Given their small capacity and the fact the set only has two mugs, this is also the cheapest item among our espresso cup reviews. But despite the affordable price tag, the glasses are still well built with BPA borosilicate glass and are also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

These glasses might be quite tiny given their 2-ounce capacity but for espressos, they are still perfect as they can comfortably accommodate a double shot.

• Size: 2 ounces
• Material: Ceramic

For a set of 6 porcelain cups, these Sweese cups will offer you better value for money than most others not only on our list but also out there.

The cups come in a simple but classy design and the set also includes a saucer for each of the cups. Also, they are designed with a pure white interior to bring out the true color of the espresso, and the interior is also quick and easy to clean up.

Another thing that makes them some of the best espresso cups is that they are designed to be dishwasher, microwave, oven, and freezer safe for increased user convenience.

And espresso lovers will also love that their size and design are meant to accommodate espresso machines as they will fit easily under almost any espresso maker.

There is almost no shortcoming with this set of espresso cups beside the fact that they are a little bit smaller than expected, but the good news is that the size is still perfect for espressos.

• Size: 2.6 ounces
• Material: Glass

• Size: 2.7 ounces
• Material: Glass

• Size: 2 ounces
• Material: Ceramic

If you are on the hunt for the best Italian espresso cups but without the hefty price tag that they come with, these classic-style Cuisinox cups will be a perfect choice for you.

The porcelain cups have a pure white construction including on the interior which helps to enhance your espresso drinking experience and some extra thick walls that will help keep the coffee hot for long.

Given that these cups are also microwave and dishwasher safe, they will give you an easier time when heating your coffee and cleaning up after use.

Also, the pear shape is both aesthetically appealing and functional as it makes swirling the coffee easy so that you can take every drop of it.

These cups are heavier than expected but this does not seem to affect their ease of use as they are still easy to hold even when full of coffee.

• Size: 2 ounces
• Material: Stainless steel

Another great option for coffee lovers looking for the best stainless steel espresso cups. It is a set of 4 cups that are double-walled for insulation to keep coffee hot and protect your hand and they still have a lot more to offer.

The espresso cups are also designed to be ideal for a variety of other beverages besides espresso, and they are also condensation-free for more comfortable use.

With the relatively larger and more comfortable handle, you can easily hold your cup of espresso and drink comfortably, and the cups are also designed to be super easy to clean up.

Exterior paint seems to chip easily which can create an unsightly look as the cups continue to age, but given that you will hardly find any similar cup that is perfect, this should not be a deal breaker as it only affects the aesthetic and not the performance.

• Size: 3 ounces
• Material: Ceramic

There are many espresso cups out there, but few are as sturdy as these ones by Solecasa which makes them ideal for daily use. Their sturdiness also makes them great for both home and restaurants.

They come in a set of 4 cups with a saucer for each and they are made from high-quality porcelain material and with some attention-grabbing dotted patterns.

These lightweight and durable espresso cups are also designed to be dishwasher, microwave, freezer, and oven safe for convenient ownership.

Because the interior is pure white, espresso lovers will also get to enjoy the true espresso colors and appreciate the caramel tones on the crema.

The handle seems thin or at least not as thick as some coffee lovers would have preferred, but the best thing about it is that it is still well designed with enough space to fit even larger fingers comfortably.

How to Buy the Best Espresso Cups

There is more to choosing an espresso cup than just going for something that looks pretty or is made by your favorite utensil manufacturer. To make sure that you get a cup that will enhance your espresso taking experience and serve you well for long, you also need to look out for the following things.

1. Size

Espresso cups are typically smaller than regular coffee mugs, but this is not just by chance. The size matters a lot as it helps to preserve the quality of the beverage.

A typical espresso cup should be between 2 and 3 ounces because anything larger than this can allow the crema to spread out and become too thin or disappear completely within a short time.

Also, brewing espresso into a large cup will allow it to cool down a little too quickly and you might not enjoy it as much as you would like to.

2. Shape

When looking at an espresso cup, you will notice that its shape and this is more so around the base is quite different from a regular coffee mug.

A good espresso cup should have a shape that hugs the beverage and tapered at the bottom to allow the crema to float at the top to allow you to enjoy the aroma even before taking the first sip.

Other shapes like the square bottom might look more aesthetically appealing but are not very ideal for drinking espresso. Unlike, the rounded bottom, square ones will not allow the beverage to swirl easily so that you can drink every drop on your espresso.

3. Material

There are different materials used to make espresso cups, and so you have to take extra precaution when shopping to ensure you end up with the best one.

The most common options here are ceramic, glass and stainless steel. Each of these materials has some pros and cons which you should know when making up your mind.

Ceramic espresso cups are by far the best option given their superior insulation properties and the fact they distribute heat more evenly, and the material is also both microwave and dishwasher safe.

Glass also makes some nice cups as it also provides great insulation if it has double walls, and it is also usually microwave and dishwasher safe.

Stainless steel, on the other hand, is not very good at retaining heat, and you cannot put it in the microwave. But of the three materials, it is the sturdiest as your cups will hardly ever break in case of accidental drops.

4. Handle

While the cup handle might not seem like a big deal, it is another important and practical consideration you should make when choosing an espresso cup.

With the handle, both the shape and size matter a lot. For the shape, a flat handle is often a much better option as it makes it easy to balance the cup on your hand comfortably.

When it comes to the size, you can either go for a larger handle that allows you to pass the finger through or a small one that does not. Also, make sure that the handle is not too thin as it might feel too fragile when holding.

5. Color

The color of your espresso cups will be up to your preferences. However, this is only so for the exterior because the interior should always be white.

A pure white espresso cup interior will allow you to appreciate the rich color of espresso and the caramel tones that characterize the crema.

Conclusion

Using a good espresso cup to serve your beverages is as important as getting other things like the roast and grind right as it will affect the entire experience.

But, finding the best espresso cup should not take a lot of effort as you only need to decide the size that you want, choose the appropriate shape and make sure that the cup is made from high-quality material.

And with our top 10 espresso cup reviews above, you should also now have an idea of where to start your search for that perfect cup for your espresso shots.