Decent Espresso/Cappuccino Cups?

[mateo]

Hello All,
I'm hoping you might be able to steer me in the right direction towards some espresso and cappuccino cups that look good and perform well but wont break the bank. I used up just about all of my budget with my recent Anita/MACAP order but now I need some cups.

Recommendations anyone?

Thanks,

Matt

[DigMe]

Hello All,
I'm hoping you might be able to steer me in the right direction towards some espresso and cappuccino cups that look good and perform well but wont break the bank. I used up just about all of my budget with my recent Anita/MACAP order but now I need some cups.

Recommendations anyone?

Thanks,

Matt

Thrift store or Ebay. Seriously...I got some nice brown demitasse cups with saucers from Ebay for a steal.

For new Sweet Maria's carries various Amalfi cups at a decent price. Look at their branded cups and the plain brown ones.

bc

[HB]

Agreed, searching eBay with buffalo china cups will give you lots of price performers. I like the old diner cups, they're nicely shaped, retro looking, and a practical volume for cappuccinos / small lattes. The thread Your favorite cups (demitasse), if you could choose only one set offers suggestions. My favorite practical choice is the thick-walled Nouvo Point:



Several online merchants stock them in brown (e.g., Sweet Marias). Espressoparts.com has a page of them in brown and white, though I'd call to check on availability. They also stock the La Marzocco cups:



(There was a nice cream colored one like the above with a gold rim that I almost "borrowed" from Counter Culture Coffee's espresso lab; I haven't seen them online.)

[JimG]

After using what I think are more traditional sized cups for espresso (i.e. 3-4 oz demitasse), I have recently started using larger cups. One of our favorite espresso bars serves shots in these (link is to Amazon.com Fiestaware page) :

http://tinyurl.com/y4mqql

So now I use these same cups for doubles and find that the extra "swirling" room really adds to the whole tasting experience. If you warm these up (with around 5 oz of water) in the microwave first, they store enough heat to keep your shot nice and warm. We bought a whole bunch of these cups as seconds at a local outlet for $2.49 each.

I also like the Bodum Assam and Pavina cups. But they are expensive and not as effective as the above, IMHO. But they look great and do a good job keeping the espresso warm. But they are too small to let me do my swirling thing.

Jim

[mateo]

Thanks for the thoughts guys!
Because of this thread I just snagged a set of 6 Buffalo China cups for $8.49 on Ebay.

That should get me started.

Thanks again.

[CoffeeBeau]

Such a challenge to get nice white cups. http://WWW.espressosupply.com has ACF's at decent 6 pack price (they are called FAC due to the lettering on the shipping box). But you have to tell them you own an espresso bar or such, and order over $50 (not hard to do) to get their business.

Bob

[Zendel]

A local restraunt supply called surfas sells: a dozen 3.5 oz espresso cups for <$11. They also have a dozen 7 oz cups for <$13 that I use for cappuccinos. Saucers can be found in among the rest of their china. If you are in the Los Angeles area they have more things (frothing pitchers, designer knockoff cops, etc) you might find useful.

[jonbauer]

I got four of the Campione Cap cups, and love em. I don't believe Great Infusions has a minimum purchase the way that espressosupply does...

http://www.greatinfusions.com/nrocup.html

- Jon

[CoffeeBeau]

The black ACF cups are nice looking.

Bob