Cheap Espresso Cups: Cheap But Good Quality?

Espresso aficionados everywhere know that the taste of a good espresso depends on the quality of the coffee beans. Likewise, the type of espresso maker also plays a major part in how well the dark, syrupy brew turns out.

True espresso lovers, however are also well aware that the type of cup used adds greatly to the overall pleasure — and even flavor — of a good cup of espresso.

Espresso cups are specifically designed to bring out and enhance the flavor of the brew so that you can experience optimum enjoyment from every sip.

Three Reasons Why Cheap Espresso Cups are Worth Buying

#1 The materials are the same. Espresso cups are typically made of different types of ceramic or glass and can hold two or three ounces of fluid. The hallmark of a well-made espresso cup is a thick, double-layered body which acts as an insulator to keep the beverage inside hotter for longer periods.

Double-layered espresso cups are available in both glass and ceramic varieties, both in curved coffee cup and miniature mug designs. No matter how much or how little you pay for an espresso cup, the basic construction of a high quality cup will be the same.

#2 Inexpensive cups can be as stylish as the expensive cups. The classic espresso cup style that you most often see in Italian and European cafes is made of plain white china, or white china with a gold trim. Likewise, some cafes have plain white espresso cups printed with their café name or logo on the front.

While these are traditional designs, contemporary cafes and coffee bars often carry espresso cups in modern geometric or novelty prints and colors. All of these designs are being reproduced by leading ceramics companies for home use.

Many ceramic and glassware manufacturers also make a line of inexpensively-priced espresso sets, as well as expensive ones, so the attractive-yet-inexpensive espresso cups you might see online or in a discount store may actually have been made by the same manufacturer that produced those designer cups you saw on the shelves of an expensive boutique store.

#3 Inexpensive espresso cups can be matched with expensive dinner sets. Since you generally only need a limited number of espresso cups, you need only buy a small set; espresso cups are typically sold in sets of two, four, six or eight.

These can be attractively matched with whatever type of dinner service you have, whether it’s an expensive set of antique English bone china or a contemporary set of fine modern porcelain or stoneware.

Cheap espresso cup sets are available in a wide range of colors and designs, so you can use your imagination and create clever complementary color schemes for your table.

Three Great Cheap Espresso Cups

• Cuisinox White Espresso Cups come in a set of six cups and saucers for around $36.

These are the classic bistro-style, double-layered cups that you see in countless espresso bars and cafes throughout Europe. While they retain the look of the traditional espresso demitasse, they’re curved attractively in a pear shape that ends in a stylishly-flared rim.

These white china cups are made of durable, high-grade white porcelain and have a two-ounce capacity. These Cuisinox cups are also dishwasher safe and easy to clean. Customers rave about the simple elegance of these traditional cups, saying that they look exactly like those you’d find in popular bistros all over Europe.

• The Gibson 12-Piece Espresso Set is a true value and a customer favorite online. With 12 cups and 12 saucers, the Gibson set comes in a mix-and-match assortment of bright colors.

This Gibson set is made of quality durable porcelain that’s both conventional oven and microwave safe, and each cup has a four-ounce capacity. The Gibson 12-Piece Espresso Set is a customer favorite with online buyers, who say that these beautifully-colored and glazed little cups offer value and high quality for the price.

• Grosche Oslo DuoTherm Double Walled Espresso Cups come in a set of four cups.

What makes these cups a really good value is their heavy, double-walled glass construction which insulates liquids, keeping them hot inside. Because these cups are glass, it looks like the espresso shot is literally floating in the middle of the cup; this novel yet classy look makes these cups a real conversation piece.

These Grosche cups hold a bit more than four ounces, and are dishwasher safe. Online customers rave about them; reviewers cite their durability, as well as their fabulous look.

In addition, espresso aficionados are enthusiastic about the heat-retaining properties of these elegant little cups.

Two Cheap Espresso Cups to Avoid

• The Norpro 12-Piece Demitasse Set may seem like a good buy at only $11.59, but this may be a case of buyer beware, according to some online customers.

This elegant, white china miniature-mug-shaped set actually only contains four cups and four sauces; the other pieces are stirring spoons.

In addition, a number of customers complain that their cups and saucer arrived broken, and cited poor handling and packaging at the factory.

• The Bormioli Rocco H Drink Rondo Espresso Cup with Steel Saucer may seem like an elegant alternative to the traditional china and match-up.

At $17.86 for a set of four cups and sauces, this Italian-made espresso set is unusual because of its stainless steel saucer. As a reviewer points out, however, this presents a drawback; the stainless steel saucer gets way too hot to handle.

If you enjoy picking up your cup and saucer occasionally, you might want to stay away from this one.