This year, our test kitchen has explored the latest espresso machines and alternative coffee brewing methods; with consumption of craft coffee on the rise the way a person makes her morning joe is very personal. Now we're focusing our sights on the best vessels for serving that perfectly brewed java. The right coffee cup can enhance your drinking experience and even the perceived enjoyment from your coffee.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a cup is what style of coffee you're planning on serving in it. Any coffee buff will tell you with gusto, an espresso and a latte are most certainly not served in the same vessel!

If you're not a coffee drinker, don't turn away just yet, these mugs will work brilliantly for serving up all your favorite hot drinks. Eggnog, thaindai or boozy hot chocolate anyone?

Bodum

Bodum
Let’s begin our coffee journey with the smallest of pours: the espresso shot. These dainty and modern demitasse cups are crafted by artisan glassblowers; the double-walled borosilicate glass provides a layer of insulation for even the tiniest jolts of caffeine.Matt Taylor-Gross

Le Creuset

Le Creuset
Le Creuset, founded in France in 1925, is most well known for their vibrant enameled cast iron pots; the brand has also produced an expansive range of kitchenware. While smaller in stature than the company's hefty cookware, these petite stoneware demitasse cups feature Le Creuset's signature three-ridge design and come in a full lineup of bold colors.Matt Taylor-Gross

VERO Espresso Glass

VERO
The company notNeutral was born from the idea that "architecture is more than just a building", and that there should be beautiful, thought-provoking design incorporated into everything in our environment. notNeutral's VERO cup is a modern twist on the classic cortado glass. A cortado is a 4-ounce hot drink made up of equal parts espresso and steamed milk. It is usually served in a straight-sided rocks glass; notNeutral tackled the problem of ensuring that baristas could pour beautiful latte art by adding an elegant inner curve to the interior of their glass. With a pleasant and surprising heft, this gem-like chalice also makes a fantastic vessel for your favorite whiskey neat.Matt Taylor-Gross

FINA

FINA
Another stunning option from coffee drinkware powerhouse notNeutral is the FINA cappuccino and latte cup. Although it may look delicate, FINA is made from so-called “new bone china”, “a material that replicates the delicate look and feel of bone china, while maintaining the strength and sturdiness of porcelain”. You are likely to notice these cups at top coffee shops around your city, and they would fit perfectly into any elegant or modern household.Matt Taylor-Gross

Acme & Co

Acme & Co
New Zealand-based Acme & Co. manufactures robust and beautiful cups for the third wave coffee market. The cups are designed to facilitate the perfect coffee pour and latte art, and to optimize your coffee-drinking experience. Acme is adored by global baristas and coffee lovers and has established itself as the leader in its field; the cups come in an array of bold colors such as "penguin" black and "rata" red; choose your color wisely as some enthusiasts claim that the color of your mug might even improve the taste of your coffee!Matt Taylor-Gross

Menu

Menu
I searched long and hard for the perfect handleless mug in the just the right size for cappuccino: a hefty mug that evokes that Scandinavian sense of hygge. Perhaps then, it's no surprise that it was a Scandinavian company that created just such a cup. This elegant mug comes in a pleasing watercolor palette that includes "storm" and "haze". Menu's philosophy is simple: "make the world better, less complicated, and a little bit nicer to wake up to".Matt Taylor-Gross

Fellow

Fellow
While we're on the handleless mug trend here, meet Big'Jo. It is heavy, bold, and perfect for the latte lovers out there. With its sleek copper bottom, this mug can bring you from morning coffee to evening cocktails. While Fellow is developing some seriously revolutionary coffee apparatus, they still have time for some light humor; the mugs arrive in packaging showcasing superheroes and ultimate fighters cupping their mugs. You'll just have to order one to see!Matt Taylor-Gross

Villery and Boch

Villery and Boch
Villeroy and Boch has been around since 1748, showcasing European design. Like the Bodum versions, these tumblers boast a double-walled layer of insulation to hold hot and cold beverages at their ideal temperature for longer. How gorgeous would these be for serving up a hot Irish or Thai iced coffee?Matt Taylor-Gross

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