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Bodum’s sophisticated Pavina glass cups allow you to subtly showcase your espresso and coffee drinks. As functional as they are beautiful, these double-walled glass cups are also excellent at retaining heat, so each sip tastes as good as the first. The Pavina line is available in sets of two 2.5oz., 8.5oz., 12oz., or 21oz. glasses.
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There are some pretty impressive gourmet restaurants out there. At times, the food may be debatable, but the presentation is always impeccable. Great chefs know that a part of the culinary experience lies in the table service. You just don't serve a gourmet meal on disposable plates. And, so it is with fine espresso. But, it's not solely aesthetics; the cup you're extracting into could have a tangible impact on your espresso.
Everything from the shape, size and material of a cup should be taken into account. Though there is no "standard" shape for an espresso cup, most of them tend have to a softly rounded form that is narrow at the bottom and gets progressively wider at the rim. The wider opening at the top is said to enhance crema presentation, while narrow bottom encourages espresso flavor concentration. The shape also allows to the cup to retain heat evenly so that you don't get hot and cold spots within your beverage.
The size of the cup is also critical. A widely respected espresso authority, the World Barista Championship (WBC), states in its Rules and Regulations that espresso must be served in two- to three-ounce (60-90ml) cups with handles. The Gaggia Logo, Rancilio Logo, Pasquini Logo, Illy Almodovar and Julian Schnabel espresso cups are all solid choices that fall within WBC guidelines. Espresso cups are made tiny for a reason. The compact size of the espresso cup is designed to promote heat retention by reducing the surface area exposed to the air. Also, a single shot of espresso is only 1-1.5 fl.oz, while a double shot barely tips the scale at 2-2.5 fl.oz, so the espresso would be lost in a large cup. A 2-ounce cup is perfect for a single shot; if you're brewing a double go for a 3-ounce demitasse.
Espresso-machine manufacturers go through great lengths to ensure heat stability during the brewing process, but once the espresso is extracted, it's up to the cup to prevent heat loss. We always advocate preheating your cups, but you can also guard against premature cooling by paying close attention to the material of your espresso cup. Most demitasses are made of porcelain, as it is an excellent insulator. Though, you should keep in mind that there are different grades of porcelain. Porcelain created using high firing temps is tougher and more durable; most connoisseurs prefer thick porcelain espresso cups like the Bodum Pavina Grip Porcelain, Francis Reptilia or Gaggia Platinum cups. Also particularly adept at heat preservation are double-walled cups. The contents stay hot while the exterior of the cups remain cool to the touch; if this is appealing to you, check out the Bodum Pavina, Assam or Canteen Glass cups. Of course, glass cups also have the added advantage of allowing you to see and appreciate your espresso.
3.3 out of 5
(6 Customer Reviews)
I use the 2oz. for pulling my shots. They do a great job of insulating and not transferring heat to your hand. Careful while handling them as the double walls are thin. Ive not broken them but I can see how rough treatment will not be good.
1 - 6 months
Style and insulation
I would agree with the reviewer regarding the fragility of these otherwise great cups. Wonderful at insulating, beautiful to look at, but it doesn't take much to break them.
I originally bought 2 of the 2.5 oz cups for my son when he went to college with an espresso machine. We bought them because they were so cool looking. He liked them enough that he bought some extras, as well as some 8.5 oz cups. He brought them home over the summer, so I tried the 2.5 oz, because with a short espresso, unless a cup is effectively heated, the brew is just not hot enough. I loved them and bought several, both in the 2.5 and 8.5 sizes, and have bought more, not because we broke them, but because they are so popular they are always in the dishwasher. I have read complaints that they break easily and my son really had problems. We do not seem to have had much of an issue with that, but you clearly have to be careful. Of course my wife may be breaking them and not telling me. They do a beautiful job of keeping a small cup or larger cup at an appropriate temperature. We love them, and will probably buy more so we have a stock in case the style is dropped.
I purchased the whole range of sizes of the glasses, plus a pitcher and teapot. After one and a half years, most are broken despite careful handling. The smaller sizes, 2oz and 9 oz have stood up better, but almost all of the larger sizes, the pitcher and the teapot are gone. Some broke in the dishwasher without any impact whatsoever, a couple broke from dropping an ice cube in, some from an accidental tap against a plate or another glass. It's a beautiful product and works well at insulating, but they need to switch to a tougher glass formulation. I'm am never buying more, it's a waste of money.
Rated 3 out of 5
Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover
Great cup, really keeps the latte warm. Big warning though, my cups broke very easily. I would not recommend putting in the diswasher because of their fragile nature.
More than 1 year
Coffee Lover
Rated 5 out of 5
Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Connoisseur
If your looking for something different in an espresso cup, try these beautifully hand blown cups. The effect that you get once espreso is in the double walled cups is truly amazing! A great conversation piece.
Less than 1 month
Connoisseur