When it comes to making latte art the type of cup you use matters. Although you can pour latte art in any vessel, having the right shape makes it a lot easier. That's why in this post I'll be talking about the best latte art cups to improve your coffee art. This website is called "latte art guide" for a reason, so I know a few things about the topic.
The cup I use to make latte art
I'll start off by listing the best cups for latte art, before discussing why some types of cups are better than others, and what you can do to improve your latte art in odd shaped and long cups (like mugs).
Best Latte Art Cups
Best for most
These porcelain cups from Coffeezone are great as they have a gradual curve, a large surface area on top to fit patterns, and thick material to retain heat. They also come in a range of colors to match your home.
Cafe sytle
NoNeutral is a great cup commonly found in cafes. It also has a gradual curve to allow milk to flow, wide top for patterns, and thick porcelain walls to keep heat. The key difference to our top pick is the handle is a little wider for easier grip.
Clear cup
Kruve is a good cup for the person who wants a cool looking clear cup. It's also good for latte art as it follows the key principals for a good cup: wide top, as a gradual curve, and is double insulated for great heat retention.
Why are some cups for latte art better than others?
You should have noticed something about the three cups we selected above and what they have in common. They all share the three factors that make them better than other cups when making latte art: a gradual curve, a wide top for greater surface area, and good build quality to retain heat.
A curved and round cup allows the milk to flow and wrap around for a symmetrical latte art.
Gradual round curve
The most important factor for a good latte art cup is a round gradual curve. This is because when you pour steamed milk into the cup if will flow smoothly and evenly to create more symmetrical and larger patterns.
If you use a cup or mug that is vertical with no curves, you can still pour latte art in it, however, you won't be able to get as good results. You’ll find that the design will be smaller and jagged as the milk will bounce off the walls of the cup harshly. Whereas a curved cup allows the milk to flow smoothly for better results.
Who would have through fluid dynamics was a factor in latte art!
Wide top on cups
The next factor you should look for in a coffee art cup is a wide top. This is because the larger surface area you have, the more room you have to create bigger and more complex patterns. It's hard to fit a latte art swan in a narrow cup compared to a cup with a wide brim. A wide top also allows you to wrap around you patterns, like a rosetta, across the whole cup.
A wide brim on your cup allows for larger and more complex patterns.
Good build quality for heat retention
The last factor for a good cup is good build quality, specifically thick walls or double insulation. A cup that retains heat better gives you more time to make latte art. Pouring latte art is all about speed and dexterity, by having a cup that allows the espresso within it to stay at peak heat longer, the more time you will have to pour your design from your milk pitcher. This is important, as if the espresso cools, it results in worse latte art. A hot canvas makes for hot latte art!
How to improve latte art with odd and vertical shaped cups?
Now that you know what makes a good cup, how can you make better latte art in odd shaped and vertical cups?
Vertical cups
From experience, I've found the best way to make latte art in vertical cups (like take aways or mugs) is to angle your cup as much as you can while pouring your latte art in.
This allows you to bring the spout of your milk jug closer to the espresso sooner to start your pattern sooner. The trouble with vertical cups is you can't start your patterns until the end of the pour, by angling your cup you can start sooner to make better patterns, sooner. Give it a go!
This is a cup I own with no curves and vertical, you can still get good patterns with practice with my tips above.
Odd shaped cups
With odd shaped cups, like cubes and the like, the key here is to pour a little slower to not allow the milk to bounce off the walls as much to control the pattern. Also, again, you want to bring the spout of your jug as close as possible to minimise the effect of the walls. You will find you will still be able to pour decent latte art, however it won’t be as symmetrical as a round shaped cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions people have asked me about cups for latte art. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll add it to the list.
What sized cup is best for latte art?
8-10oz cups are the best for latte art as they're the right size to pour any type of pattern. Once you get bigger you have more milk to deal with and push against, which makes it harder to pour complicated latte art.
Why do you tilt the cup for latte art?
You tilt the cup when pouring latte art so you can get the spout of your jug closer to the espresso sooner to start your design. This allows you to make crisper and more complex designs.
Conclusion
I hope you now know what make a good cup for coffee art and how to improve your latte art with odd shaped cups. Below is my pick for most people as it comes in a range of colors and is the ideal shape for latte art.
Best for most
These porcelain cups from Coffeezone are great as they have a gradual curve, a large surface area on top to fit patterns, and thick material to retain heat. They also come in a range of colors to match your home.
