They’re just plain interesting!

February 23, 2019 Leave a comment

JoyJolt Insulated Coffee Cups, Cadus Style

Double-walled, glass, insulated coffee cups with style.

Okay, this isn’t a lungo cup, but… so many site visitors have ended up purchasing JoyJolt products that I had to check into this brand of double-insulated glass coffee cup.

And, well, check out this Cadus cup! Pretty interesting, isn’t it? When you click through to Amazon’s site, scroll to the “Learn more about the Cadus set” area. You’ll see when this cup is used for a latte, the espresso stays in the center and the milk both drops and rises. I’ve always liked looking at Nespresso coffee just after it’s brewed, but this is an entirely new visual!

This cup comes in 10 ounce and 16 ounce. My link goes to the 10-ounce version since that’s closer to Nespresso’s recommended latte size: 110 ml of espresso and 110 ml of milk.

If you like this glass cup, you’ll probably appreciate JoyJolt’s entire collection of glass cups for a variety of drinks, like martinis, whiskey, tea and wine.

See 10-ounce Cadus version on Amazon.

Filed under 10 oz., Double-Walled, Fun Lovin', Specialty

But there’s nothing like a handmade coffee cup

January 1, 2019 Leave a comment

A Veronica Watkins original — beautiful, earthy colors decorate this coffee mug, perfectly sized for a Nespresso machine.

Despite the many, many beautiful, even artistic, lungo cups I’ve posted on this site over the years, nothing beats a thoughtful, handmade ceramic piece of art, insulating a warm cup of coffee. This is my favorite way to drink coffee, and my favorite lungo mug is shown here, at left.

And I’m sorry, but it’s not for sale.

A collection of Veronica Watkins handmade ceramic coffee mugs.

This is one of many handmade cups I’ve purchased from Northwest Missouri State University’s semi-annual art and pottery sale. It’s a wonderful event, a chance to peruse dozens of potential lungo cups, picking each up, inspecting the grip, studying the design, and measuring the height to ensure it will fit under my Essenza spout. (I can usually eyeball this now, but to be sure, I take out a bill of any denomination and fold it in half. Each bill is six inches, and to fit under the spout, it has to clear 3 1/4″.)

I usually don’t post my handmade mugs here because, well, these are one-of-a-kind mugs and not directly for sale on Amazon. But last month, when I purchased this new addition to my collection, I couldn’t keep Veronica Watkin’s work to myself any more. I realized that I’ve collected a number of her pieces, and they just keep getting better and better.

If you look through her work, you’ll see a beautiful collection of bowls and trays that seem to have sprouted from a sunset over the Badlands. The colors and shapes are soothing and pleasing, almost putting me in a trance.

Veronica teaches ceramics — among many other art courses — at Northwest. She has been inspiring students to develop their curiosity and style since 2002. Imagine how many artists are making coffee cups like this today, thanks to Veronica’s gentle guidance!

Thank you, Veronica, for making my morning coffee even better!

[Follow Veronica on Instagram.]

Filed under 4 oz., Fits Under Spout, Patterns, Specialty, Uncategorized

Noritake Evening Glow 7.5 ounce coffee cup

February 23, 2014 Leave a comment

Noritake Evening Glow 7.5-ounce coffee cup

Maybe you’re a Noritake fan, in which case you’re probably familiar with this elegant Evening Glow pattern, part of the Noritake Everyday Elegance China collection.  The raised enamel finish features a speckled, evening-like design on a satiny black finish.

The cup sits 2.25″ tall, so there’s no problem fitting under low spout machines, like Nespresso’s Essenza model.

  • Set of 4
  • Material: Bone China
  • Dishwasher and microwave safe
  • Capacity: 7.5 oz.
  • Color: Black on White
  • Evening Glow collection

Sorry, this item is currently only available in a set.

Filed under 7 oz., Fits Under Spout, Specialty

Eva Solo Lungo Tumbler

April 27, 2013 Leave a comment

Eva Solo Lungo TumblerIt’s just hard to argue that the Danish know how to design. And they also tend to appreciate a good cup of coffee, which is why I suppose the designers created this elegant Porcelain cup that’s just the perfect size for a lungo: 230 ml, or 7.78 ounces.

There’s a silicone sheath to protect your fingers from the heat of the coffee. The cup is dishwasher safe, but Eva Solo recommends the sheath be removed before both can be placed in the dishwasher.

This cup is designed by Tools Design, a design studio in Copenhagen that’s received more than 60 design awards, and apparently has quite a following in Denmark. The founders, shown here, are Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbæk.

Available with brown, black or grey silicon sheath.

Tools Design Founders

Tools Design Founders

Set of 2   Order from Amazon.

Filed under 7 oz., 8 oz., Plain, Porcelain, Specialty

Norm Thermo Cup by Menu

April 14, 2013 Leave a comment

Norm Thermo Cup by Menu

There’s a lot to like about this Scandinavian-design lungo cup.

• First, it’s a thermo cup, so it’ll keep your coffee hotter longer. Based on reviews at various sites,  most users say the outside stays cool enough to hold while the inside stays hot. That’s the idea, and it seems to work.

• It’s slightly over 3.5″ tall. That means it’ll sit under the spout of your Nespresso Essenza while your coffee dispenses, without you having to hold the cup and wait. But, it is just high enough that you’ll have to tilt the cup a little to get it under the spout, so it’s not a true clearance of the spout. [See this page for more details on the perfect lungo cup height.]

• It holds slightly over 7 ounces, which is about the preferred Nespresso lungo capacity. [Nespresso’s factory lungo setting is 3.75 ounces, which means this cup would be a little over half full — a comfortable capacity!]

Norm Designers

Norm Designers

• It’s Porcelain, so it feels nice to hold.

• It’s made by Menu, a Danish design company that’s come to be known for it’s useful and beautiful designs. The designers, Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Kasper Rønn, strive to combine function and beauty. You can see a collection of the Norm line of designs at this page of items from Menu.

Set of two.  Available from Amazon.com.

Filed under 7 oz., Double-Walled, Plain, Porcelain, Specialty, Thermo

Elegant Danish Design Coffee Cup

March 3, 2013 Leave a comment

Royal Copenhagen Ole Coffee CupRoyal Copenhagen is one of Europe’s oldest porcelain factories, and this coffee cup comes straight from that legacy. The name of this cup is Ole, named after the designer, Ole Jensen, and like all of Royal Copenhagen products, it’s handmade of fine porcelain, but also dishwasher safe.

This cup holds 7 ounces, perfect for a Nespresso lungo.

Price varies — Available from Amazon.com.

 

Filed under 7 oz., Fits Under Spout, Porcelain, Specialty

Thai Palm Wood Coffee Cups

March 2, 2013 Leave a comment

Thai Wooden Coffee Cups

I just stumbled upon these beautiful Thai wooden coffee cups and they seem custom-made for a robust lungo. They are only 2.25″ tall, so there’s no problem fitting under the spout of a Nespresso Essenza, and at 3.25″ diameter, I’m guessing these hold about 7 ounces. I’m hoping to hear from the supplier on the exact capacity. If any of you purchase these and can determine this, please let me know!

They are made from Thai palm wood that’s unvarnished with a smooth, food-safe finish. I think the creme from a lungo would look just great in these!

A set includes two cups, two saucers and two spoons.

Available from Amazon.com

Filed under 7 oz., Fits Under Spout, Specialty

8 oz. Belleek Shamrock Mug

January 6, 2013 Leave a comment

Hand painted and hand crafted in Ireland, these fine Porcelain mugs will happily fit under the spout of your Essenza, with a height of 3.2 inches. If you know anything about this brand, then you already know it’s known for high-quality products. Sixteen people work to manufacture, paint and process each piece before it’s approved to be sold. The translucent Porcelain is light, but durable. If your Irish and love Nespresso, this is a no-brainer!

Set of two —  at Amazon.

Filed under 8 oz., Fits Under Spout, Porcelain, Specialty

Michael Lin Cappuccino Cups by Illy

May 17, 2012 Leave a comment

If you know coffee, you know Illy, and if you know Illy, you may know about the “Illy Art Collection,” which regularly introduces a limited line of espresso and cappuccino cups, like this set designed by Michael Lin. This floral collection is signed and numbered by the artist himself.

In this cup collection, you’ll get six handleless cups, each with a different floral saucer, so as a set, you’ll have a bouquet of coffee! These cups are featured here because they are 2.25″ tall and hold 6 ounces — a perfect size for a Nespresso lungo! Of course, they also are perfect for small, European-sized cappuccinos, as that’s Illy’s intent.

Lin’s art typically features floral motifs inspired by Taiwanese textiles, and often is architecturally focused. The YouTube video below shows a nice interview with Lin and features some of his large pieces of work, as well as his inspirations.

Available from Amazon.com.

 

Filed under 6 oz., Fits Under Spout, Floral, Specialty

Astrology Mugs

May 9, 2012 Leave a comment

Pices Astrology Mug

Pices

Art and astrology are beautifully, and somewhat whimsically, combined in these astrology mugs. The bright and retro design is reminiscent of my the set of “Laugh In” — I can almost see Goldie Hawn dancing in her go-go boots!

This featured mug is Pisces. If you just like the design, you don’t have to tell anyone it’s supposed to represent Pisces!

This mug is on the large side at 10 ounces. But, it’s included here for those of you who either like your lungos big, or you just like extra room in your cups. It’s also a good size for cappuccinos. It’s only 3″ high, so it will fit nicely on an Essenza machine. The diameter is 3.75″.

The design house here is interesting… these mugs are designed by French Bull, a specialty design shop that creates its pieces with melamine, an organic compound used in many items, including retro-themed housewares.

So, whether you like the funy ’70s design, or if you’re just into astrology, maybe this is the lungo cup for you! Get one for each member of your family, or have a lungo party — just be sure to invite one friend from each Zodiac sign!

[Sorry, but these mugs are no longer available.]

Capricorn Astrology Lungo Mugs

Capricorn

Aquarius Astrology Lungo Mug

Aquarius

Aires Astrology Lungo Mug

Aires

Taurus Astrology Lungo Mug

Taurus

Gemini Astrology Lungo Mug

Gemini

Cancer Astrology Lungo Mug

Cancer

Libra Astrology Lungo Mug

Libra

Virgo Astrology Lungo Mug

Virgo

Leo Astrology Lungo Mug

Leo

Scorpio Astrology Mug

Scropio

Sagittarius Astrology Mug

Sagittarius

Filed under 10 oz., Fits Under Spout, Fun Lovin', Specialty

Norman Ave Thermo Mugs

May 6, 2012 Leave a comment

Norman Ave Thermo MugsHere are some really cool mugs with a design that can only come from Scandinavia: the Norman Ave mug by Creative Danes.

First, the important specs: these are 3.5″h x 3.25″d and each holds 210 ml or roughly 7.1 ounces. Yes, this is a bit high, especially for the Nespresso Essenza. So, if you’ve got that machine, you’d have to hold this mug in place while your lungo dispenses… but if you have the Pixie, you can flip the drip tray down to make room for a higher mug.

More about this mug: each is hand painted (but there’s no paintbrush!), and each features insulated double walls to keep beverages hot. So, it’s a lot like the Bodum lungo cup, in that sense. Also, each comes with a porcelain lid that doubles as a saucer — a very Danish touch!

Okay, now about the source where you can buy these puppies: Apt2B.com. If you live in the L.A. area, you may know this place. This is a group of with-it designers who know retail, but mostly they know what people want: style without expense.  They make furnishing a home or apartment easy (at least in the L.A. area) by delivering all of your decor at once. When you visit their web site (they don’t have a retail store, eliminates expensive overhead), check out their room packages: they’ve got it all planned out, or you can design your own. Funny thing is, this is a group of really stylish people, but they don’t have Nespresso machines… Seems every apartment in L.A. should have a Pixie!

We’re sorry, but these mugs are no longer available. See similar versions at Amazon.

 

Filed under 7 oz., Double-Walled, Fits Under Spout, Fun Lovin', Specialty, Thermo

Iittala Taika Coffee Cup

April 28, 2012 Leave a comment

Iittala Taika Coffee Cup“Taika” means “magic” in Finnish, and you’ll probably feel extra magical when you’re drinking your favorite Nespresso lungo from this cup! Designed in 2007 for Iittala by acclaimed Finnish artist Klaus Haapaniemi. [For some interesting perspective on Haapaniemi’s work, see this blog post — very interesting designs!]

This cup is part of a full line of dinnerware from Iittala, and these cups are offered here via Amazon.com. This cup comes in several colors. If you want a matching saucer, you’ll have to order that separately.

This porcelain coffee cup is a good size for your lungo. Iittala calls this a cappuccino cup, but some who’ve purchased this seem to dispute that. You can read through all the reviews at Amazon yourself, but it seems that some believe the capacity is just too small for a cappuccino. But, I think you’ll find this to be just right for a lungo.

The Amazon description calls this a 6.75-ounce cup, but a kind reviewer measured it for me and says it holds 8 ounces of water to the very brim. Knowing that Nespresso’s factory settings for a lungo are 3.75 ounces, you’ve got a lot of wiggle room there. And, it’s 2.5″ height is an easy fit under your Nespresso spout. No problem there. Made of durable porcelain, microwave and dishwasher safe.

Exact measurements from a reviewer named “Cream Cake”:

3-1/2″ diameter on circle on the top of the cup
2-1/2″ from bottom to top of cup
2-3/4″ diameter on circle on bottom of cup
4″ from outer handle to opposite outside rim of cup
Order from Amazon.

Red Iittala Cppuccion Cup

Red

Iittala Taika White Coffee Mug

White

Filed under 7 oz., Fits Under Spout, iittala, Patterns, Porcelain, Specialty

Lavazza Cup Set

April 27, 2012 Leave a comment

Lavazza Cup SetOK, we know this is crazy. After all, you’re brand is Nespresso, so why drink Nespresso from a Lavazza cup? Well, if you like coffee, then you probably know and appreciate the Italian brand coffee, Lavazza. And maybe you’re like us, and you like to travel, too.

If that’s the case, then this coffee mug can bring back some nice travel memories as you sip your favorite Nespresso lungo!

Another thing about this mug is the size: it’s 5.5 ounces. That’s just about as small as a mug can get to fit Nespresso’s factory lungo setting of 3.75 ounces. So, if you’ve altered your settings, or if you like your lungos with a little more water, then this mug will be too small. This is for those of you who really like a small/short, rich coffee.

Comes in a set of 6 cups and saucers.

Available at Amazon.com.

 

Filed under 5 oz., Fits Under Spout, Specialty

%d bloggers like this: