You just ordered a cappuccino. The shop uses a top-of-the-line Mahlkönig EK43 grinder and a La Marzocco Linea Classic espresso machine. This could be the best coffee you’ve had all week—but then the barista slides your cappuccino across the counter in a cup that’s way too big. The result? A drink that cools down too fast and loses all its flavor.
Coffee shops often fall short at the last hurdle: the cup. Getting this wrong can leave a sour taste in your customers’ mouths, while choosing the right cup can make their day. With so many options, how do you find the right one for your business?
This article is your guide to picking the right cup for your cafe, plus:
- What to consider before you purchase a cappuccino cup
- What your cup says about your business
- The six best cappuccino cups on the market
Let’s jump right in.
Picking The Right Cappuccino Cup For Your Business
A traditional cappuccino cup is 5 to 6 ounces, allowing plenty of room for ⅓ espresso, ⅓ steamed milk, and ⅓ frothed milk. But the wrong cup can ruin your coffee. If it’s too small, you’re going to have a lot of spillage or an incorrect ratio of espresso to milk. If it’s too big, the drink will cool down too quickly, affecting the taste.
Here are four things to bear in mind when picking cappuccino cups:
- Aesthetics. White is the traditional look but you’ll want to think about your own business and its unique brand. Maybe the Bluebird Cafe serves every drink in their signature sky blue ceramics while a cafe with a more grungy feel opts for black. If you get this right, customers will be posting pics of your coffee on social media and doing your advertising for you.
- Heat Retention. A glass cappuccino cup might look great but if it’s not made properly, it could burn your customers’ hands or shatter when the espresso hits the glass. If you’re set on glass, make sure it’s double-walled and designed to take the heat.
- Material. Whether you go for porcelain, glass, stoneware, or something else entirely, make sure it’s dishwasher safe—or you’ll be shelling out for new cups before long (or wasting staff time handwashing in the back).
- To Saucer Or Not To Saucer? A saucer is great for storing sugar cubes, spoons, or just for visuals. It’s also helpful for catching spills and preventing rings on your furniture. But if you’re using a glass cappuccino cup, it’s not necessary.
Next up: The 6 best cappuccino cups out there
You Can’t Go Wrong With These 6 Cappuccino Cups
1. Best for High Volume: EP Porcelain Cappuccino Cup
Fast-paced cafes and baristas need cappuccino cups that can handle quick movements and frequent use. The EP Porcelain's dense build makes it a cup that's reliable for long-term use in a setting where accidents are common and durability is essential.
EP Porcelain cappuccino cups are beloved for:
- Seven cup color options fit for any cafe aesthetic
- Custom logo printing—get a quote here
- Highest quality porcelain structure and glaze
These cups are designed to match the modern visual standards for cappuccinos in specialty coffee.
"Espresso Parts exceeded my expectations in all categories and I love my cappuccino cups with my business logo on them. Erin was fantastic to work with, all work was done in a timely and on-time fashion, and the product is an excellent product. I would very highly recommend them." — Matthew Munich
2. Best For A Taller Tulip-Style Cup Design: Loveramics Tulip Style Cappuccino Cup
Interested in competing at the World Latte Art Championships? The Loveramics 6-ounce Tulip Style cup has become the go-to cup for that competition—a mark of the respect baristas worldwide have for this cup. It features:
- Commercial-grade high-fired porcelain with an absorption rate of less than 0.5%
- Meets all SCA standards, which means coffee stays at the right temperature for longer
- Provides space for baristas to concentrate on latte art (or cappuccino art)
The tulip-shaped design and ergonomic handle maximize the enjoyment of your drinks. Plus, the round base lets the coffee taste reach its full potential. That’s because a wider liquid surface (i.e. rounded) allows for increased air exposure, which improves the sweet notes in a cappuccino.
Not just for lattes, this makes an excellent all-around cappuccino cup.
“These are beautiful and extremely well-made cups. Look just like they came from a famous espresso cafe in Italy and hold the heat well. Perfect for cortados or cappuccinos. Highly recommended!” —Steven Freed
3. Best Wide-Mouth Cappuccino Cup Design: notNeutral Lino Cup
If you’re looking for a wide-mouthed cappuccino cup, you can’t go wrong with this offering from Lino. Designed in collaboration with a team of award-winning baristas to create the perfect cups for coffee aficionados, the LINO collection has quickly gained a cult following.
This cup features:
- 5-ounce capacity making it ideal for cappuccinos
- Fine porcelain with white, lead-free glazing
- Interior curvature designed to optimize latte art and insulation
And it’s not going to break in the dishwasher anytime soon—or the microwave for that matter, thanks to sturdy construction and design.
“Excellent quality and a perfect size for my daily coffee. Shipping was fast and efficient.” —Richard Cari
4. Best For Home Brewers And Retail Sales: Hearth Double Wall Glass Mug
These kiln-fired, double-walled glasses keep your cappuccino at the right temperature and your customers' hands scald-free. They’re made from shatter-resistant borosilicate glass—the best type of glass for any glassware.
These cups are insulated and come in a variety of colors and styles, including 6 ounces which is ideal for cappuccinos. They are also a good choice for coffee shops that want to present a certain visual style—they look rustic and homely, without seeming pretentious like some glassware.
“These are the best espresso cups I've ever owned. They keep my shot at the exact right temperature for quite a long time. They're easy to clean, and they're incredibly stylish! I just bought a second set as a gift!” —Nate Hutchins
5. Best For Classic Glass Aesthetic: notNeutral Vero Cappuccino Glass
Visuals matter. And if you’re looking for something to elevate your coffee shop's aesthetics, then look no further than the notNeutral Vero Glass Cup.
“It's hard to gather from the picture, but these cups are thick with a good weight to them. Thermally, they act like any thick mug or glass. They also photograph nicely, if you are so inclined.” —Uriel Lopez
Crafted from 6-ounce glassware, these cups’ faceted angles give them a unique and modern look. They have a real weight and heft to them, and they’re also microwave and dishwasher safe.
These cups are handmade so natural color variations and bubbles do occur. But we think that gives the pieces a bit of personality.
6. Best For Diner Aesthetic And Stackability: Vertex Stackable Cup
Vertex Stackables are 8-ounce white ceramic cappuccino cups and saucers. The name gives the game away—they are indeed stackable, making them useful for cafe shops and businesses that need to save on storage space.
“I bought these for my home. I think these guys are the perfect size. They are easy to hold, durable, and hold the heat of your coffee. I liked them so much I bought more. For the price, they are amazing.” —Paul
Stackables are made from high-quality porcelain that has been fired at 1,300 degrees Celsius for optimal durability and density, making them stronger than ceramic or stoneware. To top it off, they’re both dishwasher and microwave safe.
The Breakdown: Top Cappuccino Cups For Cafes
|
Best For… |
Cappuccino Cup |
Price |
|
Best For A Taller Tulip-Style Cup Design |
$29.04 (2) |
|
|
Best For High Volume |
$24.20 (2) |
|
|
Best Wide-Mouth Cappuccino Cup Design |
$16 |
|
|
Best For Home Brewers And Retail Sales |
$18.50 (2) |
|
|
Best For Classic Glass Aesthetic |
$20 |
|
|
Best For Diner Aesthetic And Stackability |
$5.75 |
What’s The Right Cup For You?
We get it—picking the right cappuccino cup isn’t easy, especially when there are so many options. But as long as you know the aesthetics your business is aiming for, you can’t go wrong with any of the options on this list.
At Espresso Parts, we’ve been helping coffee shops of all sizes choose the right equipment since 1993. If you’re looking for advice tailored to your situation, we’re here to help.
Help Me Pick The Right Cappuccino Cups!
Cappuccino Cup FAQs
1. What size are cappuccino cups?
A cappuccino cup usually comes in a 5- to 6-ounce cup.
2. What’s the difference between a cappuccino and a latte cup?
Latte cups are often larger than cappuccino cups—holding around 8 ounces.
3. What is the coffee-to-milk ratio for a cappuccino?
The coffee-to-milk ratio for a cup of cappuccino is as follows: ⅓ espresso, ⅓ steamed milk, ⅓ frothed milk.
4. How many shots of coffee are in a cappuccino?
Traditionally a single shot of coffee, but some places will do two.
