If you’ve stumbled upon the Roasty Coffee website, chances are you love coffee. You’re serious about the King of Beverages, crafting each batch of at-home brew carefully because you know there’s nothing that can make well-brewed joe any better…nothing except sipping it from the right cup, that is!
Yep, that’s right. Drinking your coffee from a cup that’s the correct size and style matters. Think about it: a latte served in an espresso cup just won’t cut it. And a single or double shot of espresso served in a standard-size coffee cup seems a little strange, doesn’t it?
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Cappuccino Cups
Cup size matters and this article is specifically focused on the dish you’ll need to drink everyone’s favorite Italian drink: the cappuccino. Your dedicated crew here at Roasty has scoured the internet for the very best cappuccino cups the current market offers, and we’ve compiled a comprehensive buyer’s guide just for you!
But before we get to that, let’s take a look at other cup styles and why choosing the right vessel for your drink is important.
Quick Summary: The Best Cappuccino Cups
 | Our Top Pick DE’LONGHI CAPPUCCINO GLASSES |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | SWEESE PORCELAIN LATTE & CAPPUCCINO CUPS |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | STONE & MILL DOUBLE WALLED GLASS COFFEE CUPS |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | KITCHABLES GLASS CAPPUCCINO CUPS DOUBLE WALLED COFFEE GLASSES |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | KONITZ COFFEE BAR CAPPUCCINO CUPS AND SAUCERS |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | HIC HAROLD IMPORT CO. 9-PIECE STACKABLE CAPPUCCINO COFFEE TEA SET |
| Check on Amazon → |
 | LE CREUSET STONEWARE SET OF 2 CAPPUCCINO CUPS AND SAUCERS |
| Check on Amazon → |
Demitasse cup, glass cup, mug…does it even matter?
Most of us have a favorite cup or mug that we habitually reach for when we make a brew, but let’s take a moment to determine whether Old Reliable is actually the best choice for the variety of drinks you often enjoy.
Each drink has a particular profile that can be enhanced or damaged by the cup in which it is served. Read on to find out how, and since the cappuccino is the star of this show, we’ll start with it first.
A Cappuccino and Its Cup
Cappuccino is prepared with a single espresso shot and steamed frothed milk in equal parts. WBC standards state that a five to six-ounce handled cup should be used to present a cappuccino drink properly. And for the sake of aesthetics, your cappuccino cup should be accompanied by a matching saucer.
As with espresso cups, most cappuccino vessels are narrower at the base and wider at the rim. Using this size cup will also give the delicious milk foam atop the beverage its charming and traditional dome shape.
How to Serve Other Coffee Drinks
Classic espresso is the base for pretty much every specialty coffee-based beverage, and when it comes to serving espresso, the size of cups you use matters.
According to the renowned World Barista Competition (WBC), a shot of espresso must be served in a two to three-ounce demitasse (a.k.a., an espresso cup) with a handle. The small-sized cup helps preserve the espresso shot’s temperature and minimizes the brew’s exposure to air.
You’ll notice that most demitasse cups are narrow at the base and wider at the rim, which is a perfect design for keeping the shot’s flavor concentrated and enhancing the presentation of the crema.
A café latte should be served in a wide, bowl-shaped cup with a capacity of 11 to 15 ounces. The cup’s volume and content should be equal…so, in other words, the cup should be filled right to the brim. The idea behind the wide cup shape is to make it easier for the barista to pour steamed milk over the espresso shot and create latte art.
If you’re drinking drip coffee, a good old-fashioned coffee mug with a capacity between 10 and 16 ounces will do just fine. But don’t limit the contents of your mug to just drip; aside from espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos, you can pretty much drink anything from your mug.
Does having the right cup improve the coffee drinking experience?
We think having the right cup definitely improves the coffee drinking experience! And not just because it makes your drink more aesthetically pleasing, either.
Take the cappuccino, for example. When you use a proper cup, your drink has the doming of milk foam it’s known for while keeping the flavor concentrated. Sure, you could experiment by drinking your cappuccinos from cups of a variety of sizes, but if you’re really passionate about enjoying the best (and best-looking) cup of joe possible, you’ll consider your cup style and size choice carefully.
Roasty Rankings: Our Picks for Best Cappuccino Cups
Now that you’ve learned a bit more about why different drinks need different cups, and there’s no chance you’ll embarrass yourself by serving a shot of espresso in a mug, let’s check out the cream of the cappuccino cup crop.
De’Longhi Cappuccino Glasses
If you’re someone who’s looking to bring the aesthetic of your favorite hipster coffee shop to the comfort of your own home, De’Longhi’s tulip-shaped cappuccino glasses are definitely the way to go.
Use the simple glass cups to enjoy your beloved cappuccino, and whether you choose to serve it hot or cold, the glasses’ double-wall construction will ensure it remains the perfect temperature.
You’ll find De’Longhi’s vessels at an affordable price point and in a set of two, so you can pull out the brewer and make something delicious for you and a friend. When both of you have finished enjoying your creamy coffee goodness, just put the glasses in the dishwasher; the durable borosilicate glass is safe for use in the appliance, making clean-up a breeze.
Sweese Porcelain Latte & Cappuccino Cups with Saucers
On the days you find yourself making one specialty coffee drink after another, Sweese’s porcelain cappuccino cups come in handy. Of course, you can use them to hold a six-ounce (standard size) cappuccino, but you can also pull them out when you want to enjoy a latte. No, they aren’t the exact size of a latte cup, but they come in handy when you want a smaller serving and want to brush up on your latte art.
The set of six cappuccino cups from Sweese are made of durable, high-quality porcelain, so you’ll be sipping from them for years to come. Plus, they’re safe for use in the dishwasher, microwave, oven, and freezer.
As far as color options are concerned, you can choose what you’ll purchase based on what matches your kitchen decor best. If you prefer a clean, minimalist style, you’ll probably love the white porcelain cups. If you often find yourself gravitating away from neutrals, however, choose the multicolor option. The variety of colors in the set are sure to bring a smile to your face every time you enjoy your morning cup.
Stone & Mill Double Walled Glass Coffee Cups
Stone & Mill’s coffee cups give a cappuccino lover the best of both worlds by keeping your drink warm and your hands cool, thanks to double-wall insulation and a convenient little handle, respectively.
Each cup in the set of four is made of 100 percent lead-free borosilicate glass that’s scratch and shatter-resistant and holds eight and a half ounces of coffee — the average size for a morning cup. The cups are a little more than three inches tall, which means they’ll easily fit under any standard-sized single serve coffee or espresso machine.
Kitchables Double Walled Cappuccino Cups
This set of four elegant glass cappuccino cups from Kitchables is perfect for showing off your layering technique. If you’re a committed coffee traditionalist, you might miss the handles and saucers these cappuccino cups lack, but we love their simple, elegant style.
The cups keep your beverage piping hot via thermal insulation while ensuring that you won’t burn your fingers when you pick the cup up. The double-wall also prevents the formation of condensation on the outside of the vessel when you’re drinking something cold.
The borosilicate glass from which these cappuccino cups are made is break-resistant, and as a bonus, they’re dishwasher-safe, too!
Konitz Coffee Bar Cappuccino Cups and Saucers
Germany-based porcelain manufacturer, Könitz has been around since 1909, producing a wide range of crockery, including the cappuccino cups we’re about to introduce you to.
The brand’s best-selling set of traditionally styled, six-ounce white cups has thick walls for insulation, guaranteed to keep your drink hot, and the highly durable porcelain is both microwave and dishwasher-safe.
In keeping with the traditional cappuccino serving style, each of the four handled cups (which are perfect for giving your drink’s layer of milk foam a nice dome shape, by the way) comes with a matching saucer.
HIC Harold Import Co. Stackable Cappuccino Set
This white porcelain cappuccino cup and saucer set from HIC Harold Import Co. is perfect if you’re short on storage space, as it comes with a metal stand in which you can stack everything! This is not only convenient for storage, but it also makes a neat display on your kitchen countertop and helps you easily transport your crockery when you need to.
While in the perfect shape for the well-known Italian beverage, these cups aren’t exactly the classic cappuccino size. Rather than holding five or six fluid ounces, these hold seven, which comes in handy if you want to add a splash of extra milk to your morning drink. In addition to being roomy, the cups and saucers are microwave, dishwasher, and oven-safe, able to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Le Creuset Stoneware Cappuccino Cups and Saucers
There’s nothing wrong with the typical bright white finish of porcelain cups, but a splash of color never hurt anyone! If you’re looking to veer away from the traditional color of cappuccino vessels, check out these beautiful and durable high-fired stoneware cups and saucers from premium cookware maker Le Creuset.
The two-cup set, which is available in cherry red, blue, or truffle brown, is strong enough to withstand regular use, thanks to the non-porous enamel glaze used to finish the cups. This prevents cracking, staining, and chipping, so you can count on sipping years’ worth of delicious cappuccinos from these fun cups. And for your peace of mind, Le Creuset also includes a lifetime warranty with your purchase.
Aesthetics vs. Functionality
Now that we’ve shown you a variety of cappuccino cups made from both solid borosilicate glass and traditional porcelain, you’re probably ready to make your final selection and place an order.
Before you do that, however, we think it’s important for you to take another moment to consider aesthetics versus functionality and how those things come into play when purchasing cappuccino cups.
Functionality
From a functional perspective, you need to consider three main areas:
- Size and volume
- Shape
- Thermal insulation
Size and Volume
We’ve already touched on this one a bit. But for those with short memories or who skipped straight to the buyer’s guide, remember: the cup’s volume should be between five and six ounces, and the drink, topped with a beautiful domed layer of foam, should fill the cup.
Shape
According to both the WBC and the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano (Yes, such a place exists!), the shape does have its place when choosing a cappuccino cup.
Both these venerable barista bodies assert that the ideal cappuccino cup should:
- Be made of china
- Be thick-walled
- Have a narrow, elliptical base
- Have a large top with a thin rim
The bottom of the cup should also be thicker than the rest of the vessel to improve heat retention.
Thermal Insulation
Choosing a cappuccino cup with good thermal insulation is crucial. After all, no one wants a beverage that becomes tepid before they’ve even gotten to enjoy it!
The best material for well-insulated cappuccino cups is bone china porcelain. Stoneware is also good, as long as it’s from a reputable retailer like Le Creuset.
Glass looks très sexy and works well if you’re going for a more modern design, especially if you’re good at layering your drinks. If you go this route, be sure to choose a double-walled design that’s made from borosilicate glass for the best heat retention and strength.
Aesthetics
When it comes to something’s appearance, they say it should “suit the wearer, not the starer.” And in the case of cappuccino cups, that’s pretty much true; though the traditional cappuccino cup is always bright white, it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Glass, colored porcelain, or color-glazed stoneware — it’s all good. Just pick your favorite!
Most cappuccino cups also have traditional and practical handles. But again, they’re a matter of personal preference.
Traditional cappuccino cups come with saucers, and while they aren’t essential, saucers are useful for holding a spoon, a biscotti, or a sugar cube or two. We at Roasty love a saucer with our cappuccino cup, simply because it just looks right, but the choice is ultimately yours here.
Wrapping Up
Most coffee houses use traditional white porcelain cups to serve the classic cappuccino, bearing in mind that size, shape, and material of the cup are important for flavor enhancement, heat retention, and presentation.
On the other hand, home baristas can play fast and loose with tradition if they want. But note that using a cup from our carefully curated list above ensures your brew tastes great and stays hot. Plus, any of our favorites will look great on your coffee table, too!
Happy Caffeinating!
