What should you serve coffee in?

A quick milky coffee in a mug, or an espresso savoured from a delicate porcelain cup? We all have our little rituals. But what are the general conventions for serving coffee? Here is a short guide to choosing vessels for latte, espresso and cappuccino, along with a few points to remember for hot and iced drinks.

Flavour comes first: aroma, distinctive notes, balance, acidity and a little bitterness. Presentation still matters, though. A suitable vessel can influence temperature and the way you experience the drink, as well as making it look inviting.

A cup, glass or mug?

Our preferences depend on daily habits, the time of day and where we are drinking. These are useful starting points for familiar coffee styles:

• Espresso: a small cup of around 50–70 ml capacity, commonly with substantial walls, or a suitable porcelain demitasse. The cup capacity is not the same as the amount of espresso served. Offer a small glass of still water alongside it.
• Cappuccino: a cup of around 150–170 ml. A light colour provides an attractive contrast with the drink. Optional toppings include cocoa, cinnamon, chocolate shavings or coconut, according to preference.
• Latte macchiato: a tall glass of around 220–250 ml, with optional sprinkles, syrup or coffee sauce.
• Café frappé: a tall glass holding at least 220 ml, with a suitable drinking straw if desired. Toppings can include cinnamon, sprinkles or a scoop of ice cream.
• Irish coffee: a heat-safe stemmed glass or appropriate mug of around 240 ml. Cinnamon, ginger or cocoa are possible personal variations.

A few details worth remembering

For hot milk coffee, warm the milk before serving if you want to avoid quickly lowering the temperature.

A saucer, optionally with a napkin, helps protect the table and catch drips. This is particularly useful with iced drinks or when serving milk separately.

Preheat cups for hot coffee, especially in winter. Cafés may keep cups warm on the machine. At home, rinse a suitable cup with hot water, discard it carefully, then add the coffee.

If you want to focus on the coffee's finer flavours, very sweet cream cakes can overwhelm the palate. Dark chocolate or a lightly spiced biscuit makes a more restrained accompaniment. Ultimately, choose what suits the occasion and your taste.