I bought 4 setsI was going to get the Pavlina kind, but what drew me to these is the 3oz size (vs 2oz on the others) - so a 2oz espresso with a huge head of crema fits nicely, or you have space for a dash of cream, foam or whatever you temper your coffee with.
The design is very conventional and pleasant to hold. It kind of reminds me of a shape-holding balloon, no sharp edges and fits perfectly in the hand, like you were pressing on it (even if you aren't)
There's a kind of satisfaction that's hard to quantify. I love to hold these, I love the layers of espresso, crema and occasional cream visible from the side. They even feel nice when being washed, maybe the lack of sharp edges and corners. I always prefer function over form, though in this case it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins, and they don't trade off against each other.
The only problem I have is that my son wants to drink milk from these, and it takes him four fill-ups to get through his...
Nearly perfectThe only real issues with these cups are that they are a little fragile.
I used a pair of the 3 oz. Assam version of Bodum's espresso cups as my main shot cups for months. Fantastic heat retention, no need to preheat like with some demitasse cups.
They are safe to use in dishwashers but with the light weight tend to bounce around so I'd recommend just hand washing.
The only real questions you have with these Bodum espresso cups is whether 2 or 3 oz. is a better size for you (I lean toward 3 oz. for general use. Holds a double easily and a little foamed milk if you like) and what shape you prefer.
Be careful with them and you'll love 'em. they break very, very easily.
Other than that, they're wonderful.
Excellent, if a bit more fragile than other glassesI choose these over the otherwise nice Pavina style because I usually prefer to pull 1 1/2 ounce shots and I usually want a 3 oz double. They are visually fantastic - it's great to pull a shot for guests and show them the crema levels I get with my fresh roasted beans. They keep the espresso warmer than most glasses, though for the best heat retention you'll want to preheat with water or steam. Since espresso is best right away this is less important in this size though! I have the cappuccino size version of these as well as the Pavinas -- the Assam versions are easier to hold and thus drink from and clean. The wide opening helps catch both streams of espresso from my machine, too. It didn't keep me from breaking one on the edge of the sink in a moment of carelessness, alas. But they are a great value for the aesthetics and performance and I'll definitely replace with the same.
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