There are cups that are truly amazingly expensive, however. Wedgewood Black Astbury demitasse cup and saucer, I believe cost somewhere around US$500, maybe more. That is for ONE cup and saucer!

If one want to see even more expensive cups one can turn to Flora Danica. If one look around one might be able to find a cup and a saucer for as little as US$2000.

I think I will stick with the cups I get in local consignment antique shops!!! One can occasionally find amazingly high quality things in these for amazingly low prices. It is unlikely though that I will ever find a Black Astbury or Flora Danica demitasse there!!!

Some of the Illy cups were IPA I know, and I really like the finish the best of any cups I've had. I get IPA, ACF, and Nouva Point cups at the second hand stores or from Ebay, and I like them all. I never bought any Illys, but most of the IPA cups I have are very nice. I heat all of them with the steam wand before brewing, and I can say the IPA cups take a really long time to heat (and therefore, to cool once filled). Not sure I'd pay a lot for the art cups unless I was collecting, but IPA cups in general are worth a try.

I really like the Alien cups, but not enough to spring for the Artist's Proof for $800.

rpavlis wrote:
I think I will stick with the cups I get in local consignment antique shops!!! One can occasionally find amazingly high quality things in these for amazingly low prices. It is unlikely though that I will ever find a Black Astbury or Flora Danica demitasse there!!!

Yes, yes, I need to start hunting more!

I have one Illy artist cup now. I can't do the $150 for a set, but I can spring $15 for a single cup with saucer.

yakster wrote:I really like the Alien cups, but not enough to spring for the Artist's Proof for $800.

Diggin those! But yeah, not at that price.

I have two sets, Pen Test and le jour la nuit le jour.