You pulled an excellent shot, with rich and golden crema finishing it off nicely But now you have to ask, what will I pour it into? This is an important decision and as tempting as it is to grab any small cup from the kitchen, it will ruin the experience. From my experience, I have tried many different sizes and I can assure you it makes a far greater difference than you'd think.
You want to find a mug that has a good balance with the coffee. A mug that will feel good to hold and keep the heat inside and will allow you to drink the coffee the way the roaster intended, while also keeping the volume close to that of the coffee's volume. In this article, I will describe the different sizes and proportions of mugs, the important pieces and the different reasons why you need to find a mug that will complete the ritual.
Cafes keep this secret. If a cup is too large, a great espresso shot will just be a thin, warm puddle. The smell will go away, the body will go away, and the espresso experience will be gone before you even take a sip. If the cup is too small, you will receive a mess on the saucer. If you cup is too small, you will get a mess on the saucer, and you won't be able to fit the entire shot and crema.
It's not just about the volume of the cup. It's also about the relationship of the coffee and the ceramic. Quality ceramic holds the heat of the espresso and does not cool it down. That's why I prefer to have ceramic that is made with care. It feels good to hold and is not too heavy. The ideal coffee mug is like an extension of the coffee maker itself.
For a genuine espresso experience, you will want a cup in the 2 to 4 oz range. This range has a reputation. A traditional single shot espresso is about 1 oz. But with a shot, you have to account for the thick, foamy crema on top. 3 oz mugs tend to be the heroes in this scenario. They cradle the shot, push the crema to the rim, and are a great mouth to cup ratio.
If you get double shot espressos, which seems to be the trend nowadays, then you will want to upsize to a 4 or 5 oz cup. But here's the dilemma: if you go too far from the range, you enter Americano or latte territory. Now, there's nothing wrong with those drinks; they are just different. To experience a pure, unadulterated espresso, it is best to keep your mug or cup in the small range to allow those volatile oils and rich flavors to be released at the surface, driving you to sip it more slowly.
Espresso served in glass demitasse cups or thick porcelain seem a little strange to me. I think that high fired ceramic is where the magic happens. Materials such as stoneware or vitrified ceramic possess a density that glass lacks. They absorb the thermal shock of the hot liquid and are able to keep the outside safe from burns. Even your last sip is likely to be as warm as the first one because they release heat slowly.
This is one of the aspects that Qianyue Ceramics has mastered. They have been in the craft of creating ceramic materials for several decades now. In their design, beauty and artistry are complemented with the functionality of scientific design for daily use. The pieces are heat resistant and that is a most definite requirement for espresso. It is not good to have a mug that is subject to thermal shock. These mugs can develop tiny cracks that are not visible to the naked eye. These cracks can harbor aged coffee oils and bacteria, which ruins the taste of your fresh shots. A good ceramic mug stays inert, and that means that it delivers nothing but the pure essence of your beans.
Should espresso cups have handles? When placed side by side, a handle-less cup and a handled cup, there is no denying that the cup with the handle will be able to be stored as smaller and use less space in a cupboard thanks to the handle. In addition, the handle will keep your fingers away from the coffee and keep it at the optimal drinking temperature for a longer time. Therefore, it is easy to see why European cafe style cups with handles are becoming more favored in today's espresso cups.
I still find myself drawn to the cup style and handle-less mugs especially the ones with walls that are thick and round as opposed to square. Overall, I enjoy wrapping both of my hands around the cup and warming my hands on it in the morning. Thin mugs tend to give me burnt fingers and it is surprisingly difficult to find well crafted mugs. But, well crafted ceramic mugs do really well at staying cool to the touch on the outside and trapping heat inside, and cheap mugs do the opposite. In fact, I believe that Qianyue ceramic has initiatively designed their mugs in a way that makes them good at heat retention. It becomes a usable feature for someone who enjoys their espresso and prefers to sip on it without needing to finish quickly in order to avoid the bitter taste that comes from it cool down.
The mountains of available customization options are one of the highlights of my research into individual producers. No more plain white mugs from the restaurant suppliers! You can now get mugs that are tailored for the specific shape of your hand and have a lip that curves at the perfect angle. Mugs with thick, rounded lips are more luxurious, while those with thin, tapered edges deliver the coffee to your tongue unchallenged, without any obstruction.
Aside from the functional attributes, the artistic dimensions of the mugs should not be ignored. Mugs are a blank canvas and their small size means a splash of color in the interior surface, a special glaze, or a custom logo can transform your coffee drinking moment into a joyful experience. Many ceramic experts will alter the shape and color of the mugs to allow cafes and individual collectors to create a set of mugs that are visually harmonious. These little details really stand out, and drinking a perfect ristretto from a mug designed specifically for that purpose is a phenomenal experience. Mugs transitions a simple habit of drinking coffee into a multi-sensory experience.
Let's face it, safety is a little bit more serious than this, as no matter how cute a mug is, it is leaching junk into your drink, and that's a hard pass. When shopping for that perfect espresso coffee mug, it is a must to look for lead and cadmium. These heavy metals are used in some glazes to obtain a more appealing look in terms of color and shine, but something that glazes contain is highly dangerous as it can be pulled into your drink.
I always appreciate manufacturers' claims that their product do not contain lead or cadmium. It is among the first things I look for in products. Also, confirm the mug's safety in the microwave and dishwasher. It is true that not all purists prefer to microwave their espresso. But thing is, distractions happen and your shot can get cold. It is very helpful to have a mug that can withstand a reheat and keep the espresso at the right temperature. For example, the ceramic experts at Qianyue openly display(most) of the applicable certifications. That is, they claim to meet the stringent international food safety standards. With this kind of transparency, you can trust your investment in everyday drinkware.
In addition to the ounce capacity, the shape of the mug is also very important. A good mug will have a slightly narrower base and then may either flare open a bit at the top or stay straight. And just to make sure it is clear, an ideal mug is not 'too' wide and shallow. This is because espresso prefers 'body' (the viscosity of the liquid), and it ideally likes a narrower rim. A wide surface area mug will have a less viscous crema and cool the liquid down very quickly.
When a mug is deeper and is more cylindrical, it will allow the crema to stay thicker and also allow it to cling to the sides more, which will improve the 'mouthfeel' of the espresso. You will first taste the bittersweet crema and then the deeper, richer, more delicious espresso body underneath. It will taste a lot better than a flat and wide mug. When you have a properly shaped mug in your hands, you will get to experience all of the good design. High quality mugs will allow the aroma to collect right at the rim. This is good because right before you sip the liquid, it will hit your nose, and the mug will have good overall design that understands the 'coffee physics'.
With all that said, how do you choose one? I suggest that you stop considering it "just a cup" and start thinking of it as the end of the line of your brewing process. If you have a really good grinder, a good machine, and good, fresh beans, don't let the last step be a cheap, flimsy filtering cup. Think of mugs that feel solid, weigh 4 to 6 ounces (empty), and have smooth, unmarked, and unsanded glazes.
When looking for the perfect cup, make sure the base is wide enough to not wobble when placed on your machine's drip tray. Finally, you might want to consider buying a set of four. Having a matching set of high quality mugs is a good idea, as it shows you really do love the details. It can easily start a conversation and turn a quick drink into a social drink.
Overall, coffee mugs should aim to be lightweight, allowing drinkers to focus on what really matters - the coffee. Mugs should be designed to be comfortable to hold, provide a sense of safety while drinking, and be the ideal size to deliver a quick shot of espresso.
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