Espresso cup and saucer

A good espresso cup has thick walls and a round inside, so the crema stays together and the coffee stays warm. Koppie Works makes these in South Africa from stoneware, dipped in glaze and fired once more for a hard, smooth finish.

Details

• Sizes: 90 ml (an espresso, a double or a cortado) or 200 ml (a flat white or a cappuccino with a little room for latte art)
• Colours: cream or charcoal, glazed inside and out; the foot ring is left bare
• Materials: glazed stoneware
• Dimensions: the 90 ml cup is about 6 cm tall and 6.5 cm across, on a 12 cm saucer; the 200 ml cup is about 7 cm tall and 9 cm across, on a 14 cm saucer
• In the box: one cup and one saucer
• Care: dishwasher and microwave safe. Warm the cup with hot water before a shot; a cold cup takes the heat from a small drink fast.

Why we like it

• The cup fits under the spouts of most home espresso machines, including the Ridgeline Home Espresso Machine.
• The 200 ml size takes a double shot and about 150 ml of steamed milk.
• Each piece is glazed by hand, so the colour varies a little from cup to cup.

Stack the cups on their saucers on top of an espresso machine and the warm top keeps them ready.