coffeeapostle Senior Member Joined: 5 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: UK Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bialetti Brikka 2 cup Grinder: Krupps GVX231
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 10:09am Subject: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
Hey folks,
I'm not sure if this is strictly a topic for this forum, as there isn't a dedicated section for cups/ accessories. But I didn't fancy signing up to yet another forum site just for the sake of one topic.
So, does anybody know what the thickest (and heaviest) porcelain espresso cups in the world are?
So far my research seems to indicate that the ACFs (not sure what the exact model was) and Nuova Point Sorrentos would surely be among the heavyweights. Fwiw, I'm currently using illy logo cups, which for me are perfect in every way.
But I rather like the novelty of drinking espresso from an obscenely thick cup, so whilst I'm at it I may aswell get the biggest baddest bombshells out there.
Ciao,
Reuben
One man's meat is another man's poison. ~Lucretius
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,685 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 10:24am Subject: Re: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
I suppose if you really want overkill, look up a local potter and have them set you up with something that weighs, OH, I don't know, about 5 pounds after firing, that should be the biggest, baddest bombshell you could find. It may be a bit thick to drink from though and you would need to put it in your oven to warm up for a while before brewing but what the heck, no one else will have a cup that big and you will not have an issue with your espresso getting cold, heck heat 5 pounds of pottery to, say 200F, that should hold temp for a long time. You will have a hard time sipping from the cup but there are drawbacks to everything! :P
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
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coffeeapostle Senior Member Joined: 5 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: UK Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bialetti Brikka 2 cup Grinder: Krupps GVX231
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 12:03pm Subject: Re: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
calblacksmith Said:
I suppose if you really want overkill, look up a local potter and have them set you up with something that weighs, OH, I don't know, about 5 pounds after firing, that should be the biggest, baddest bombshell you could find. It may be a bit thick to drink from though and you would need to put it in your oven to warm up for a while before brewing but what the heck, no one else will have a cup that big and you will not have an issue with your espresso getting cold, heck heat 5 pounds of pottery to, say 200F, that should hold temp for a long time. You will have a hard time sipping from the cup but there are drawbacks to everything! :P
I'm talking about the thickest espresso cup that's available for sale on the internet, not one someone makes in their workshop...
But yeah, that is actually a good point. If nowhere mass produces big enough espresso cups for my liking, I might look into it. Although ceramic and high quality porcelain are worlds apart... I think I'd be lucky to get anyone to do this for me round here, let alone at a remotely decent price!
I don't know about UK sources, but the Inker Cups are pretty thick... Click HERE for a link to Orphan Espresso and a decent picture.
And HERE is a Link from Amazon UK to some thick looking cups.
The Nuova Pointe demitasse is quick thick as well, in a tulip shape
The thickest (that I know of) were barware Sorrento, but the only source I found was Sweet Marias
Thanks for that, although it's strange how the OE ones are only 125g each. My illys weigh more than that. I've tracked down some sorrentos on Amazon too, although you have to buy a dozen of them...
One man's meat is another man's poison. ~Lucretius
yakster Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 1,006 Location: San Jose, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Factory / La Peppina... Grinder: Vario / Kyocera Vac Pot: Yama 8 + Pyrex Lox-in Rod Drip: Brazen / Kalita / Chemex /... Roaster: Behmor
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 3:17pm Subject: Re: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
I recently picked up a pair of the Inker Ischia demitasses in yellow from Orphan Espresso and they're nice and thick, but probably not the thickest in the world. I stopped by a thrift store yesterday and found a ceramic mug that was incredibly thick and heavy. I didn't fancy the style or the extreme weight otherwise I might have brought it home. It was just striking to me how thick and heavy it was.
coffeeapostle Senior Member Joined: 5 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: UK Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Bialetti Brikka 2 cup Grinder: Krupps GVX231
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 3:37pm Subject: Re: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
Would everyone agree that thick porcelain is a good insulator for coffee?
Though for some reason drinking from a thick hefty cup has a certain appeal, I'm not sure I believe there's that much logic behind it.
For instance - I can leave my cappuccino (which I serve in an illy logo cappuccino cup) for 5 minutes on the side and it will have gone tepid, to the point of being unpleasant to drink. But I can leave my fine bone china mug of tea on the side for 25mins, and it will still be perfectly hot enough. Incredible.
I know the topic was for an espresso cup, not a cappuccino cup, but I'm using this example to exaggerate my point, because obviously a certain amount of why espresso quickly cools down is 'cause it's so small!
I'm starting to suspect that thick porcelain actually sucks heat away from the coffee rather than keep it in. What does everyone else think? Am I better off going with thin cups if I want my espresso to keep warm, or even double walled glasses?
I'm not trying to divert from the fact I have a fetish for heavy porcelain, though...
One man's meat is another man's poison. ~Lucretius
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 4:19pm Subject: Re: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
Any large mass that is thermally conductive will either draw thermal energy from its environment or supply thermal energy to its environment depending on the relative temperatures. Since espresso should be consumed in a relatively short period of time, any preheated, quality espresso cup should suffice. The porcelain cups, preheated, do quite well and do not need to be excessively thick to work well for the task as intended in this thread.
Some people (such as 2007 World Barista Champion James Hoffmann) prefer to drink their espresso a little cooler. So sucking away a little heat would be fine by them.
If you want to talk about how thick an espresso cup is, I suggest you weigh it. That's just as important a measurement as the thickness of the rim, etc. The cup in the picture below is the heaviest demitasse I own and it's about 179 grams. I believe it's the OLD "Nuova Point Sorrento." The current Sorrento isn't quite the same.
Posted Thu Feb 7, 2013, 5:25pm Subject: Re: What are the thickest espresso cups in the world?
Andy makes a good point that we sort of overlooked. What is your goal? Good feel when you lift it? Stronger to lower chance of breakage? Cooling the espresso quicker? Keeping the espresso warmer longer? Etc.? And then we need to know, what cups are you using now? What aren't act of omission or commission needs to be addressed, if any?
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