Rarity of Beautiful Collectible Espresso Cups
Discover the fascinating world of espresso cups, particularly egg-shaped models that combine style and functionality to enhance every sip.
This article traces the history and characteristics of these unique pieces, while highlighting the famous illy Art Collection, which showcases the talent of renowned artists.
Let yourself be guided by this feature to find the perfect cup, combining attractive design and optimal performance.
Unlike the world of tea, which offers a phenomenal quantity of beautiful mugs, it is rarer to find beautiful espresso cups, particularly if they are dedicated to espresso. Indeed, most often, we find all-white cups or, at best, a solid color, sometimes with the manufacturer's logo or the café where we enjoy our espresso.
When I speak of coffee cups, I am specifically referring to egg-shaped cups (or egg cups), that is, intended for latte, cappuccino or espresso.
As this topic greatly interested me during my research to buy some, I will give you a summary of my findings.
What is a "real" espresso cup?
George Sowden, a British industrial designer renowned for his work with the Italian design collective Memphis in the 1980s, invented egg-shaped espresso cups, often called "egg".
These cups are appreciated for their distinctive shape and functionality, enhancing the espresso tasting experience by concentrating the aromas and flavors.
Their thick wall made of porcelain maintains the espresso's heat longer, reinforces the cup's sturdiness, and preserves the aromatic purity of the coffee thanks to porcelain's property of not retaining odors or flavors.
The "illy art collection" cups
In 1992, a group of artists transformed a coffee cup created by Matteo Thun for illy into a blank canvas. This is how the illy Art Collection was born, allowing 132 internationally renowned artists (as of 2024) to express their talent. If you're interested in one of the previous editions, you'll need to investigate Le Bon Coin, eBay, or even, surprisingly on Amazon to find them for sale.
Reinhard Walenta, an Austrian retiree, collects Illy cups, each designed by a contemporary artist source.
The "illy Art Collection" series is a true treasure for collectors and contemporary art enthusiasts. Launched in 1992, this collection has seen world-renowned artists such as Jeff Koons, Julian Schnabel, and Marina Abramović transform espresso cups into works of art. Certain series are particularly sought after, such as the one created by artist Robert Rauschenberg in 1996, whose cups have reached impressive sums at auctions. Although exact amounts vary, some limited and signed series can reach thousands of euros. Enthusiasts can refer to specialized sites like Artvalue or Catawiki to estimate the value of these precious cups, where evaluations take into account the artist, the limited edition, and the condition. These platforms provide precise pricing, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for these unique art objects.
If the subject interests you, there is even a book that tells the story of the illy Art Collection adventure.
Loveramics cups
Loveramics is a well-known cup manufacturer in the field of contemporary ceramics. Founded in 2008, this company stands out for its commitment to quality and design. Each piece is designed with particular attention to detail, combining modern aesthetics and functionality. Loveramics collaborates with artisans and designers to create collections appreciated by professionals and coffee enthusiasts. Present internationally, the brand is also a major sponsor of several latte art competitions, thereby reinforcing its reputation in the coffee world.
You can find their cups on their official website or on Amazon.
Ancap "Edizione Espresso"
Ancap, a brand perhaps a little less well-known than Illy, comes straight from Italy. Much like the Illy Art Collection, Ancap offers limited edition cups based on a theme. Although these editions are less prominently showcased than Illy's collection series, several series have been released in recent years. Sometimes, you can find them on Le Bon Coin or eBay at prices around a few dozen euros. This is how I was able to acquire five of the six cups from the "mondo futuro" collection.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, beautiful espresso cups are still rare on the market as they are often associated with limited editions, sometimes sought after by collectors.
If your budget is limited and you simply want to buy one or more espresso/cappuccino cups, the cheapest option will be to go through Le Bon Coin. Often, professionals sell their stock at prices around 2 or 3 € per piece.
A series of highly collectible cups, which I haven't mentioned in this article because they don't meet the criteria of egg-shaped cups but are in fact simply mini mugs, is so sought after by collectors that it is the subject of a kind of "Starbucks mugs black market".
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