Best espresso cups 2024 – chic sets selected by a barista

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

FAQs

What is the best material for an espresso cup?

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.