5 BEST CAPPUCCINO CUPS IN 2024: FOR ALL BARISTAS WITH STYLE
The best cappuccino cup is not just a matter of style; it’s a crucial element of a cappuccino.
We all know that a great cappuccino comes down to a skilled barista and good equipment. So we buy the best espresso machines, grinders, and coffee beans. We practice pulling the perfect shot and crafting airy-frothed milk. But often, the little details, like cups, get overlooked.
At A Glance:
- TOP PICK: NotNeutral LINO
- BEST HEAT RETENTION: Kruve Imagine Glass
- MOST DURABLE: Fellow Monty
That’s why I’ve put together this round-up of cappuccino cups we highly recommend. I’d hate for you to choose the wrong cup and have your hard work go to waste.
The Top 5 Cups for Cappuccino in 2024
Here are the five best cups for cappuccino and mugs I tested, ranging from innovative modern designs to old-school classics. Each is unique but meets the key requirements of a great cup for cappuccino drinkers.
1. NotNeutral LINO
Size: 6 oz
- Material: Porcelain
- Saucer: Yes
- Set of: 2
I couldn’t help but choose an utterly classic design as the best overall cappuccino cup this year. After all, why mess with a good thing?
The notNeutral LINO cappuccino set is designed with careful consideration for both appearance and function. I found it beautifully thought out and crafted. The handle is comfortable, and the smooth flow of the interior mixes the milk perfectly into the espresso.
I was impressed by the heat retention. In my tests, the LINO performed better than any other porcelain mug – almost on par with the double-wall insulated designs. Even slow sippers don’t have to worry about a cold capp.
The cup comes with a saucer and is available in matte black, light gray, and white porcelain. The traditional white gets my vote – and that of the Istituto Espresso Italiano.
PROS
- Classic white porcelain in the Italian tradition
- Comfortable to hold
- Retain heat well
- Dishwasher safe
CONS
- White interior can stain
- Porcelain can chip
2. Kruve Imagine Glass
Size: 6.5 oz
- Material: Double-wall borosilicate glass
- Saucer: No
- Set of: 2
Kruve glassware has become wildly popular among coffee geeks in recent years, myself included. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth a splurge for serious home baristas. And this set of two looks gorgeous on your coffee bar.
The brand’s innovation was to use a double-wall glass design that tapers toward the top. So you get exceptional heat retention at the base of the glass paired with a thinner lip for comfortable sipping.
These cappuccino glasses had the second-best heat retention in my tests, surpassed only by the ceramic Fellow Monty. And I preferred the mouthfeel of the Kruve. My only complaint was they were a little tricky to hold, with the smooth glass exterior and no handle.
I love the look of the glass, both on display and when I’m making a cappuccino, watching the milk and espresso swirl together.
PROS
- Beautiful design
- Excellent heat retention
- Comfortable to drink from
- Dishwasher safe
CONS
- Expensive
- Difficult to hold
3. Fellow Monty
Size: 6.5 oz
- Material: Double-wall ceramic
- Saucer: No
- Set of: 1
I would have put the Fellow Monty cups on this list for their stunning good looks alone. They’re available in a few color combos; I’m particularly partial to the matte white mugs with a copper base. But they’re not just a pretty face.
The Monty cappuccino cups had the best heat retention of any I tested, thanks to their double-wall ceramic design.
They’re carefully crafted so that the curvature of the interior funnels the milk below the crema as you pour because a mug this pretty deserves a perfectly aesthetic cappuccino inside.
A few practical considerations to finish things off. These cups are stackable and dishwasher-safe. They’re not microwave-safe, but I hope you’re not microwaving your cappuccinos anyway.
These mugs aren’t cheap, like all Fellow gear, but I like that they’re sold individually. You aren’t forced to buy more than you need.
PROS
- Best heat retention
- Lovely aesthetics
- Interior designed specifically for pouring milk
- Stackable and dishwasher-safe
CONS
- Expensive
- Thick mug lip to drink from
4. Le Creuset Stoneware
Size: 7 oz
- Material: Enamel-coated stoneware
- Saucer: Yes
- Set of: 2
If your home coffee bar is begging for a pop of color, check out these rock-solid stylish mugs from Le Creuset – a century-old brand whose legendary quality needs no introduction. I love the beautiful deep blue version, but you might be more partial to truffle or cerise.
No matter the color, you’re getting an exceptionally well-made cup. How well made? Le Creuset backs their stoneware with a lifetime warranty!
The glossy enamel on the exterior is impenetrable, so you don’t need to worry that your brightly colorful cup will fade or get stained or scratched. And the non-stick glaze on the interior makes it easy to rinse clean, though you can also use the dishwasher.
At 7 ounces, these are the largest mugs on this list, so I’d skip them if you’re a cappuccino purist. But they’re the perfect size if you like to power your capp up with a double shot of espresso.
PROS
- Fun, colorful design
- Comfortable handle and lip
- Saucers included
- Durable build with lifetime warranty
CONS
- Heat retention is just okay
- Larger than traditional
5. Sweese Porcelain
Size: 6 oz
- Material: Porcelain
- Saucer: Yes
- Set of: 6
The Sweese Porcelain Cappuccino Cups offer great bang for your buck, especially if slow savoring isn’t your thing. While these cups had the poorest heat retention of any I tested, they redeemed themselves with their classic design and comfortable drinking experience.
The handle was perfect for me, though I have rather dainty fingers. Someone with larger hands might disagree. However, I think we’d concur that the drinking experience was just right; the lip of the mug is the ideal thickness.
I haven’t owned these cups long enough to notice any staining, but some reviews have commented that the interior can brown over time. In my experience, this tends to happen to cheaper ceramic mugs only if you don’t rinse the coffee dregs out relatively soon after drinking. So bear that in mind if you want to keep them pearly white.
PROS
- White porcelain keeps with the Italian tradition
- Affordable price
- Comfortable handle and lip
- Dishwasher safe
CONS
- Poorest heat retention on this list
- Interiors can stain
How I Tested These Cappuccino Cups
I tested dozens of cappuccino cups on the market, each meeting the basic criteria of the right shape and a 6 to 8-oz capacity.
To test heat retention, I poured 5 ounces of 150 ℉ water (the upper bound of ideal cappuccino temperature) into each mug and timed how long it took to drop below 120 ℉ (the lower bound of ideal coffee-drinking temperature) (1). The mugs were all at room temperature to ensure consistency, but I definitely recommend you preheat them when making your cappuccino.
Then I rated each on comfort, including if it was easy to hold the mug and how the lip felt on my mouth when drinking. I evaluated practical features like dishwasher compatibility and whether it was stackable for storage. Finally, I factored in price and value for money, including whether saucers were included.
What To Consider When Buying A Cappuccino Cup
It doesn’t matter how good your cups are if you can’t make a proper cappuccino. So first things first, get yourself a good cappuccino maker and learn to use it.
Now, let’s talk about how to choose the right cups for cappuccino.
The Official Definition
If you want to be authentic, the Certified Italian Espresso and Cappuccino (INEI) guide offers an official definition of the traditional cappuccino cup (2).
“It is a white feldspathic china cup, containing approximately 160 millilitres, the correct measure to contain 25 ml espresso and 100 ml steam-foamed milk (growing to a volume of about 125 ml).”
That’s what you’ll see in Italy and most specialty coffee shops. That said, I think we can afford a little flexibility. After all, we’re making cappuccinos with oat milk these days, so why not drink them from a red cup?
Let’s talk about what’s really important.
What Size Is A Cappuccino Cup?
The first functional elements you should consider for serving your cappuccino include the size of the cup and its shape.
The size for a “proper” cappuccino is set in the guide at 5.4 ounces, and a cappuccino cup is typically around 6 ounces.
It’s okay to buck tradition a little with the size of your cappuccino as long as you keep that espresso-to-milk ratio on point! However, I wouldn’t go larger than 8 oz for a cappuccino cup. Otherwise, you might as well be making a latte.
Here’s a video that breaks down the average size of several different espresso drinks:
Getting the right cup size also allows you to top off the drink in the most classic, aesthetically pleasing way – with the cup full to the brim and slightly domed.
The shape of the cup is also important. It should have an elliptical bottom with thicker walls and a wider top with thinner walls. The thick, narrower bottom allows the milk and espresso to properly mix, while the wider, thinner top allows the crema to be displayed. This differs from the classic teacup in which the walls are the same thickness from base to rim.
What Is The Best Material For A Cappuccino Cup?
Some typical materials used in good coffee cups include feldspathic china (the official material recommended in the INEI guide), bone china, porcelain, double-walled glass, ceramics, and stoneware (3).
“Chinese porcelain is composed of two materials: kaolin (a white china clay) and petuntse (pulverized feldspathic rock, also known as china stone).”
The biggest factor when considering materials is heat retention. A simple glass cup may look cute, but it won’t keep your cappuccino hot. A double-wall glass cup, on the other hand, is the perfect solution.
Also, consider if the cup is dishwasher-safe. It’s not hard to wash a single cup if you’re brewing for yourself, but if you entertain or live in a house full of caffeine fiends, it’s worth a thought.
Do You Really Need A Saucer?
A saucer holds things like a cookie, biscotti, sugar cubes, or a spoon. But its most important function for coffee drinkers is to catch those drops of coffee that spill over the side.
Spillage is normal with a proper cappuccino filled to the brim and with a domed top, making a well-placed saucer a game-changer. Cappuccino cups and saucers are a natural pairing.
The Verdict
Size, shape, heat retention, and style are the factors that define great cappuccino cups for coffee. This list offers five excellent examples, but in my humble opinion, the cappuccino mug I liked the best this year is the LINO from notNeutral. Born out of a passionate desire to respect the traditions of the cappuccino, this mug-and-saucer combination is found in many coffee shops and would make a proud addition to any home espresso bar.
FAQs
A cappuccino is a traditional Italian espresso and milk drink comprising one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third milk foam. In Europe, it is sometimes topped with cocoa powder. In North American cafes, it is often served in larger quantities and topped with cinnamon.
There is one shot of espresso (one ounce) in a classic cappuccino. However, it is not uncommon to find two or three shots in modern renditions of the drink. The important thing is to keep the coffee to milk ratio the same to maintain the drink’s integrity.
The difference between a cappuccino and a latte cup is the size. While a cappuccino cup is typically 6 to 8 oz, a latte cup is more often 10 to 16 oz. Latte cups can be taller and narrower, in which case they are often made of glass to show off the drink’s layers. Or they can be wider and more bowl-shaped, allowing a larger canvas for latte art.
The difference between cappuccino cups and espresso cups is, again, size. Espresso requires a smaller cup, usually 2.5 to 3 oz, enough to hold a double shot. Heat retention is a less important factor for an espresso cup, as a shot is meant to be consumed quickly, but you’ll still find some lovely double-walled options.
References
- Klimanova, Y. (2019, February 6). What Should Your Cappuccino Milk Temperature Be? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2019/02/what-temperature-should-your-cappuccino-milk-be/
- The Certified Italian Espresso and Cappuccino. Retrieved from http://www.espressoitaliano.org/files/File/istituzionale_inei_hq_en.pdf
- Chinese and Japanese Ceramics Archives. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/collection_type/chinese-and-japanese-ceramics/
