What to look for in a cup?

[COFFEECHASER]

Hi,
Just though I would pose the question of what qualities people look for when buying cups. I know this is quite broad depending on what you are drinking. But do people feel as though they get better latte art out of a particular cup style and if so what style?

Brett

[marcstolk]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Yeh, LatteArt is easier if the cup rim/\/walls as angled... .. this gives you freedom to create the art.

[Lovey]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Nice thick walls to retain the heat once youve pre-heated it. I also got some Bodum double walled glasses for the ooh factor when doing a good pour.

[marcstolk]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Yeh, I want to get some of those... they are darn pricey though.. and hard to get...

Just on that, do you who where I can get the Espresso measuring glass? I know coffeeparts sell one but it does have the actual measurements written on the glass...

[DavidR]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Something not made in China! IIRC you can buy some very nice espresso and long black/flat white cups made by a company in Perth. Or there are the typical Italian-made ones that most good cafes use.

[rice]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Round & brown? Or round & bling!?
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1150012597
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1152678197


I love the colours and composition of the pic below by MatthewG
[img]http://coffeesnobs.com.au/attachments/coffee_cup.jpg
[/img]


cup shape:- http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=170
heat retention:- http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=147
fav cups:- http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1644

==================
A US HBs trip to the Illy Galleria in New York, his caption for one of the pictures says it all...


"As you may guess, I was not there for the coffee" - Abe Carmeli
http://www.home-barista.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=604


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b178/dagard43/Illy/IllyGallery019.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b178/dagard43/Illy/IllyGallery003.jpg

[Javaphile]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Just on that, do you who where I can get the Espresso measuring glass? I know coffeeparts sell one but it does have the actual measurements written on the glass...

Cooking speciality stores will have a suitable measuring glass as well as most department stores. Bar shot glasses will also work and are usually marked appropriately.

Java "Filler up!" phile

[luca]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Hi,
Just though I would pose the question of what qualities people look for when buying cups. I know this is quite broad depending on what you are drinking. But do people feel as though they get better latte art out of a particular cup style and if so what style?

Brett

Yep. Its a lot easier to pour latte art into the Australian Fine China 210mL flat white cups and cups of the same curvature. Basically, if you have the milk textured correctly and just pour, the latte art practically draws itself. Makes it easier for uncos like me! If you check out Grendels epic espresso blog entry, Matts entry on abstractgourmet.com and ratemyrosetta.com, youll see that Epic espresso and other places are using that shape cup.

That said, I like the smaller, traditional italian cappuccino cups for milk drinks. Nice and heavy, and a more pleasant volume.

The attached photo is one of the AFC flat white cups that I purloined from work. (Well, my boss gave them to me)

Cheers,

Luca

[marcstolk]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Nice work Luca :-)

[pie_in_ear]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

I think you have to look for 3 things in a good cup:

Volume
Feel
Shape

Volume is all important because it effects how your coffee will taste, a cup that feels good just adds to the overall experience of the coffee drinkers and the shape will both effect the free pouring ability, as well as how easy it is to carry/drink.

We use 180ml Tulip shaped cups, great feel, volume and shape

[tanghy]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

anyone know where to get AFC cups in perth?

[luca]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Nice work Luca

Thanks!

anyone know where to get AFC cups in perth?

AFCs are cheap, generic restaurant/cafe stuff. If theres some sort of hospitality supply place around, they will probably have them. Corey at Epic Espresso is using ACFs now, so it might be worthwhile checking his place out to see if he has an ACF analogue of an AFC that he could point you to.

Cheers,

Luca

[bigal]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Ive not been able to find ACF cups in Perth, except at establishments with Segafredo branded cups!
i bought some last time i was in NZ, 8 of them. In fact speaking to Corey he also purchased his from NZ.
I smashed one of my ACF espresso cups last week, so im needing a replacement, might have to call on the in-laws for a parcel )

[luca]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

Ive not been able to find ACF cups in Perth, except at establishments with Segafredo branded cups!
i bought some last time i was in NZ, 8 of them. In fact speaking to Corey he also purchased his from NZ.
I smashed one of my ACF espresso cups last week, so im needing a replacement, might have to call on the in-laws for a parcel )

Man is Corey going to be pissed! I think that an ACF importer recently started up in Byron Bay. Dont have their contact details, though.

Cheers,

Luca

[scoota_gal]

Re: What to look for in a cup?

I think you have to look for 3 things in a good cup:

Volume
Feel
Shape

Volume is all important because it effects how your coffee will taste, a cup that feels good just adds to the overall experience of the coffee drinkers and the shape will both effect the free pouring ability, as well as how easy it is to carry/drink.

We use 180ml Tulip shaped cups, great feel, volume and shape

I agree with the feel thing about your cups. One thing I find myself doing when purchasing either coffee mugs or even wine glasses, is feel the lip of the glass. I like my glasses to have a nice fine rim because I have the perception of the liquid moving over the lip into my mouth is better than with a thick rim.

As the wine industry now encourages people to drink from decent glasses that help to accentuate the aromas coming off the wine, I shouldnt be at all surprised to see the coffee industry coming up with some similar idea.

Recently, at a wine masterclass we had the priviledge of drinking from Reidel glasses. Anyone here who knows anything about wine will know that Reidels are probably up there as some of the best crystal you can purchase to drink from. I have to say that after drinking various reds and whites from them, Id have to agree! (However dont expect to see many of them in my home- not at the price!).

Still, I dont think a great mug needs to cost you the earth either but I do think that you need to just go out and see what you like and dont like. Anytime I see espresso cups on sale and I like either their style, shape or colour, I tend to buy them! Hence my rather largish collection of demitase size cups!


Those Illy ones do look kinda special though!