To Find the Best Espresso Cups, I Pulled Out All the Shots

Right out of college, I was a bookstore barista. That meant I mostly worked at the bookstore but would occasionally cover a shift at the attached coffee shop. It also meant I got to play around with fancy equipment like the Italian espresso machine that cost more than my monthly paycheck.

Fast-forward 30 years and the world of coffee and espresso has changed drastically. Home espresso machines that pull quality shots are more affordable, and enjoying a great espresso at home is easier than ever. After getting my own Breville Barista Express Impress, I decided it was time to buy a proper set of espresso cups. So, I tried out 15 cups to figure out which ones were the best.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Espresso Cups

Le Creuset London Mugs

$80 at Amazon $14 at Sur La Table

The Le Creuset espresso cups look like tiny coffee mugs and are the right size for a single or double shot. The looped handle is easy to pick up, and Le Creuset’s dishware is known for its durability. “I got my parents a set of these espresso mugs over a decade ago and they still have them and use them daily,” says associate editorial director Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm. 

The Best Classic Espresso Cup

Acme Evo Demitasse Cup

View on Seattlecoffeegear.com

If you prefer a more classically shaped espresso cup, with a wider rim and a narrower base, the Acme Evo Demitasse Cup looks like one you’d find in your favorite coffee shop. The thicker ceramic wall means it’s durable and built to last. It also retains heat longer, keeping your espresso warm as you sip.

The Best Budget-Friendly Espresso Cups

Sweese Porcelain Stackable Espresso Cups with Saucers and Stand

$37 $30 at Amazon View on Sweese.com

This reasonably priced set has saucers, cups, and a stand that all of the components snugly fit into without taking up much real estate on your countertop. The cups themselves are easy to drink from, with a handle that's easy to grip.

The Best Splurge Espresso Cup Set

Casafina Modern Classic Ceramic Espresso Cup & Saucer, Set of 4

$102 at Food52

The Casafina cups are petite and ideal for single shots of espresso. The creamy, semi-matte, subtly speckled glaze makes the set feel modern and fun. 

The Best Espresso Cup for Pulling Shots

notNeutral Vero Cortado Glass

$36 at Amazon View on Clivecoffee.com View on Seattlecoffeegear.com

If you rarely drink espresso by itself and instead pull shots for drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, the notNeutral Vero Cortado Glass is a great option. Its wide rim reduces splashing while espresso drips into it. And the thick glass insulates the espresso, keeping it warm while you steam milk.

The Tests

• Design Test: I picked up each espresso cup to see how well they were made, how sturdy they felt, and whether they were aesthetically pleasing. I then stacked two of the cups to see how stable they were for storage.
• Shot Pulling Test: I pulled a single shot into each cup to see how well it fit under the portafilter and if there were any issues when pulling a shot and catching both streams of espresso. I then placed two cups under the portafilter (if the cups came in a set) and repeated the test, to see how well both fit.
• Comfort Test: I picked up the cup to test how comfortable it was to hold and how functional the handle was (if it had one).
• Drinking Test: I sipped espresso from each cup to see how comfortable it was to drink from and evaluated any design factors that impacted the drinking experience. 
• Pouring Test: I pulled a new espresso shot with each of the cups. I then poured that shot into a different coffee mug to simulate pulling a shot for a latte or cappuccino. I observed how easy it was to pick up and pour from and if it dribbled or made a mess.
• Cleaning Test: After each test, I hand-washed the cups to see how easy they were to clean.

What We Learned

There Was an Ideal Size for Espresso Cups

Though espresso cups come in a range of sizes, a cup can be too small or too big. The cup should be wide enough to catch two streams of espresso being pulled at once. Narrower espresso cups—like the Kinto double-walled espresso cup with a two-inch diameter—were challenging as they had to be placed right under the espresso streams to catch them, or adjusted mid-way. But larger espresso cups, like the JoyJolt Savor double-walled glasses, were too big, holding up to 5.5 ounces. Even double shots felt stingy and small in these large vessels.

My favorite espresso cup from Le Creuset comfortably held three ounces, suitable for a single or double shot, and had a rim diameter of about 2.25 inches. This was big enough to catch a double stream, but narrow enough for the aroma of the espresso to be funneled right into my nose as I sipped. My other favorite drinking cups had smaller capacities of two to 2.5 ounces and were over two inches in diameter, making them good for single shots of espresso.

Handles Should Be Functional

My favorite cups had handles. But more importantly, these cups sported handles that were big enough to fit my index finger through them. The Le Creuset, Acme, Sweese, and Casafina cups all fit this criteria.

Other handled cups like the notNeutral Lino porcelain cup and Open Kitchen by William Sonoma had small handles that required me to pinch my fingers around them to use. The longer I pinched, the more it fatigued my hand. The Villeroy & Boch New Wave cup, which looked super fun, was surprisingly comfortable in my right hand. But, unfortunately, it wasn’t for left-handed folks, as the handle was angled.

Not All Espresso Cups Were Good for Pulling Shots for Espresso Drinks

Pulling a shot directly into an espresso cup to drink by itself has a different set of criteria from one used for shots bound for drinks. For sipping espresso, a cup should have a nice handle and a capacity for one shot of espresso, somewhere between one to 1.5 ounces. It should also be comfortable to drink from, with a smooth lip.

Glasses for pulling shots for drinks should be slightly larger, able to hold a double shot of espresso, and pour smoothly and cleanly. Wider-rimmed glasses like the notNeutral Vero Cortado and YETI Rambler made it easier to pull a shot with a larger margin of error (since they caught more). Narrower cups, like the Kinto, required more precision. The thicker glass of the notNeutral Vero Cortado and vacuum insulation of the YETI also maintained the temperature of the espresso, allowing me time to steam the milk and not worry about my espresso going cold. Thicker, rounded rim cups—like the De’Longhi double, Bodum Pavina, JoyJolt, and Fellow Monty—spilled and dribbled when poured from. 

Material Mattered

Both ceramic and thicker weight glass kept espresso hotter for longer. Denser materials like stoneware (Le Creuset and Casafina) and porcelain (Sweese and Acme Evo) kept the espresso from dropping in temperature. The notNeutral Vero Cortado was made of thick glass and was bottom-heavy. It also did a great job maintaining temperature. Double-walled glass cups did maintain temperature but felt much more fragile.

The Criteria: What to Look for in an Espresso Cup

I preferred stoneware or porcelain cups for their heat retention. Handles on espresso cups are nice, but find one where your finger can fit through the handle loop. Finally, pick an espresso cup that has a 2.25-inch (or wider) diameter, so it can easily catch the dual drips from a portafilter and that’s two to four ounces in capacity. 

Our Favorite Espresso Cups

The Best Espresso Cups

Le Creuset London Mugs

$80 at Amazon $14 at Sur La Table

What we liked: The Le Creuset espresso cups look like mini coffee mugs. I like that they were larger, which made them suitable for single or double shots. The handle was large enough for a single finger to fit through it, making it easy to pick up and use. With a diameter of 2.25 inches, double streams of espresso easily fell into it. The rim was still narrow enough for the espresso aroma to funnel into your nose, amplifying the drinking experience. The thinner rim is pleasant to sip from and also makes it easy to pour the espresso into a second glass if you’re making a drink. The ceramic material maintained heat well, too.

What we didn’t like: Espresso purists might not care for the shape of this cup, as it’s not traditional. I wouldn’t recommend stacking them either. This set was more expensive than the others I tested, though they are available individually if you don’t want or need a set of six.

Key Specs

• Material: Stoneware
• Capacity: 3 ounces
• Weight: 5.5 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.5 inches height, 2.4 inches top rim, 3.5 inches with handle 
• Care instructions: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe

The Best Classic Espresso Cup

Acme Evo Demitasse Cup

View on Seattlecoffeegear.com

What we liked: If you prefer a more classically shaped espresso cup, the Acme Evo Demitasse cup is a great option. With a narrow base and a wide rim, the cup features thick porcelain walls that keep coffee hot. The thicker porcelain walls also give the cup a nice heft and added durability. The cup comes in a wide range of colors, from the basic white to the more vibrant baby blue, red, and green. 

The Evo has a handle that’s wide enough for a finger to fit through, making it easier to pick up. The handle is placed slightly higher up on the body of the cup, which allows two cups to be stacked for storage. The wider, 2.5-inch diameter caught every drip of espresso. 

What we didn’t like: Saucers are sold separately. The slightly smaller size means double shots are a bit tight.

Key Specs

• Material: Porcelain
• Capacity: 2 ounces
• Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.125 inches height, 2.5 inches top rim, 3.5 inches with handle
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe

The Best Budget-Friendly Espresso Cups

Sweese Porcelain Stackable Espresso Cups with Saucers and Stand

$37 $30 at Amazon View on Sweese.com

What we liked: These espresso cups (which come in a number of colors) have a few darker freckles that come through the soft, semi-matte glaze. The result is a cup that feels warm, friendly, and inviting to drink from. The design of the cup is both a nod to the traditional espresso cup shape with a narrow bottom, as well as a modern take on it thanks to the semi-matte glaze and vertical walls.

The generous looped handle is big enough for your finger to fit through and makes picking up and drinking from the cup pleasant. The rounded bottom and placement of the handle means two cups can stack fairly easily, though anything higher than that becomes a bit unstable. The saucer is large enough for a small spoon or a cookie to accompany the espresso.

What we didn’t like: Like the Acme Evo, the slightly smaller size means double shots are a bit tight. The set is expensive.

Key Specs

• Material: Stoneware 
• Capacity: 2 ounces
• Weight: 3.9 ounces
• Dimensions: 2.125 inches height, 2.25 inches top rim, 3.25 inches with handle
• Care instructions: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe

The Best Splurge Espresso Cup Set

Casafina Modern Classic Ceramic Espresso Cup & Saucer, Set of 4

$102 at Food52

What we liked: This entire set, with four cups and four saucers, costs roughly the price of a 12-ounce bag of espresso beans. The set comes with a wire rack that allows you to neatly stack and store it next to your espresso machine. The handles of the cups are large enough to fit your fingers, and their rounded bottoms nest inside each other when stacked. These cups are slightly wider at 2.375 inches, catching every bit of espresso.

What we didn’t like: The thin wire rack felt cheap. The saucers were a bit small and because of the lower profile of the espresso cups, the espresso splashed more when pulling the shots.

Key Specs

• Material: Porcelain
• Capacity: 2 ounces
• Weight: 3.4 ounces
• Dimensions: 1.875 inches height, 2.5 inches top rim, 3.25 inches with handle
• Care instructions: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe

The Best Espresso Cups for Pulling Shots

notNeutral Vero Cortado Glass

$36 at Amazon View on Clivecoffee.com View on Seattlecoffeegear.com

What we liked: This thick glass cup has a heavy bottom for added stability and heat retention. The wide rim made it easy to pull double shots of espresso without fear of it missing the cup. The smoky gray glass felt luxe without breaking the bank. The multifaceted cuts in the glass also made it easier to pick up.

What we didn’t like: The thicker rim meant I had to pour relatively fast to prevent dribbling. 

Key Specs

• Material: Glass
• Capacity: 3.25 ounces
• Weight: 12 ounces
• Dimensions: 3.125 inches height, 3 inches top rim
• Care instructions: Dishwasher- and microwave-safe

The Competition

Also Recommended:

• Costa Nova Mediterranean Reactive Glaze Espresso Cups: If you don’t care about handles, these stoneware cups have a lovely artisan-crafted look to them. The thicker, glossy glaze helps insulate the espresso, keeping it warm, but also makes the cup easier to clean. 
• DeLonghi Double-Walled Thermo Espresso Glasses: Though all the double-walled espresso cups I tested felt more fragile, they do offer nice insulation. The DeLonghi had a flared “tulip” shape that captured espresso well and stacked neatly.
• Yeti Rambler Stackable Espresso Cups: These stainless steel cups have a ceramic lining for easy cleaning and to prevent staining. They’re durable and will seemingly last a lifetime. That said, because of the material and form, they do feel a bit more like utilitarian camping cups.
• Villeroy & Boch New Wave Espresso Cup: This set of espresso cups, saucers, and mini spoons is super modern and funky in a Dali-esque sort of way. The wavy saucers are fun and have plenty of space for you to put a small treat like a cookie or biscotti to accompany your espresso. The flat, curved handle is also surprisingly comfortable to use and hold, but only if you’re right-handed. 

Not Recommended:

• Kinto Double Wall Espresso Cup: This double-walled, vacuum-insulated cup was fragile and had a narrow opening.
• notNeutral Lino Porcelain Cup & Saucer: These were a modern take on the classic espresso cup, but the handles were small and didn’t fit my finger. To pick them up, you had to pinch the handle between your thumb and index finger, which was uncomfortable.
• Bodum Assam Double Wall Shot: Another double-walled, vacuum-insulated option that was fragile. The thicker, rounded rim led to dripping.
• Fellow Monty Espresso Cups: The wide shape made them cumbersome to pick up and the thicker rims were messy to pour from.
• JoyJolt Savor Double Wall Insulated Espresso Mugs: These espresso cups were too big. Even double shots felt scant when served in them.
• Open Kitchen by William Sonoma Espresso Cup: These classic espresso cups are exactly what you think of when you say espresso or demitasse cups. Unfortunately, the handles were too small to fit my finger.

FAQs

What is the right size for an espresso cup?

Demitasse or espresso cups typically range in size from two to four ounces. The ideal size for a single-shot espresso cup would be two ounces, with a double-shot espresso cup being three to 3.5 ounces. Smaller than that and the espresso might overflow. Espresso starts to look stingy in cups larger than four ounces.

Should you brew espresso directly into an espresso cup?

You can brew espresso directly into an espresso cup if you plan on drinking the espresso straight from it. Home espresso machines can be unreliable in how much espresso they make, so you can also brew espresso into a measured shot glass or a cup set on a scale for precision.

Is it important to use stackable cups?

Traditionally, espresso cups were stored stacked on top of the espresso machine, where the warmth of the boiler heated the cups for serving. At home, if you have the storage space, you can store them on your espresso machine, on your countertop, or in your pantry, picking cups that stack or don’t.

Why We’re the Experts

• Irvin Lin is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food writer, photographer, and ceramicist. He wrote the cookbook, Marbled, Swirled, and Layered, which was picked by The New York Times as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2016. Irvin also runs a blog called Eat the Love, where he’s developed, photographed, and written recipes since 2010. 
• He’s tested hundreds of kitchen items including, stand mixers and digital thermometers.
• For this review, Irvin tested 15 espresso cups. He pulled and drank numerous shots of espresso and created multiple espresso-based drinks to find the best cups. He’s still working on perfecting his latte art skills.