Handmade Espresso Cups for Cafés and Coffee Shops: What to Look For

For a coffee shop, the cup is part of the drink. Customers notice the weight, the lip and the surface of a cup the moment they pick it up, and it shapes how they remember the coffee. Doppiocotto makes handmade espresso cups, coffee cups and plates for cafés, coffee shops and restaurants, slab-built by hand in its Waterloo studio, London SE1, by ceramic artist Bora Cetin.

1. Size the cup to the drink

A cup that's too big makes a drink look small. The Doppiocotto collection started with espresso cups, and every size is a deliberate decision:

• Espresso cups: 56ml, the precise volume for a single shot
• Flat white cups: 150–180ml
• Cappuccino cups: 150–200ml

For more on this, read Espresso vs Flat White vs Cappuccino: Choosing the Right Cup Size.

2. Make sure it survives daily service

• Dense stoneware, fired to 1220–1280°C
• Food-safe glazes, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe
• Consistent form and finish across a full order, with the natural variation of handmade work

3. Match your interior and brand

Bespoke glaze colours can be made to suit your interior and brand. Plates, mezze plates, milk jugs and serving pieces can be made in the same stoneware and glazes, so your counter and tables share one consistent look.

4. Plan for replacements

Cups get dropped. Repeat orders are available, so you can replace or add pieces as you grow without your set falling out of step.

Already in daily use

Doppiocotto ceramics are served daily at Sanayi 313 in Istanbul and at Lief, a coffee shop and bakery in Urla.

How an order works

1. Enquiry: tell us about your venue, the pieces you need and quantities
2. Sample and consultation: we discuss sizes, finishes and glazes
3. Production: pieces are hand-built and twice-fired in our London studio
4. Delivery: orders are carefully packed and shipped to your venue

Lead times depend on quantities, and we'll give you a clear timeline at the enquiry stage.

Request a quote

See our Café & Restaurant Tableware page, or email hello@doppiocotto.com with your venue, quantities and timeline. For the full process, read Wholesale Handmade Ceramics for Hospitality: How It Works.