If you know me either online or in real life, you know my biggest vice is coffee. I love coffee and espresso. The only reason I’m on Facebook these days is because of my involvement in several of the groups focused on espresso. So recently, I decided to start writing again. They say, “write what you know”, well, I might not be the most knowledgeable, but I will write what I love. I hope this will be the first of many reviews focused on espresso, espresso gear and coffee in general.

In December, as I was enjoying a latte in front of the fireplace, I realized that while I enjoyed the whole espresso preparation ritual, I was letting myself down by drinking it out of an extremely plebeian mug. There was nothing about it that added to my contentment, so I began looking at my options.

Where do you go when you don’t know what you want? The internet of course. And…. it completely failed me. Don’t get me wrong, there were a million options. Most were mass market, bowl type latte/cappuccino cups, but nothing spoke to me. So I asked in the Espresso Aficionado group on fb. Many, MANY recommendations for mass market mugs were thrown up, and then one of the group members, Sarah Kaye, shared a link with me that had some of the most unique, gorgeous porcelain-ware I’ve ever seen. Hand made. Left porous on the surfaces meant to be handled. Just beautiful. I admit, I felt like an idiot when I thanked Sarah before realizing she was the artist. She was very low-key and almost hesitant about promoting her own work. Sincerely, she need not be.

I’ve always enjoyed anything in black and I was thrilled that she made her latte cups in black. I ordered one and have been enjoying it immensely.

The feel of the finish reminds me of extremely weathered driftwood. Almost soft. Almost glowing. So very, very nice to hold. The thermal properties are very nice for an open topped mug/cup. The weight speaks of a nice density. The glaze used on the surfaces used in contact with liquids are extremely uniform and well done.

Two weeks ago, I realized I was drinking more and more straight espresso shots, and really had nothing like my latte mug to drink them out of, so of course I was drinking them out of my latte mug. I went on her site and looked at the espresso mugs. I realized not only would it be ideal to add to my set, but that it would also make a perfect capture cup for under the group head of my espresso machine. I received it three days ago and it truly has made my daily routine an even nicer part of my day. How? For the first time I have sufficient room to actually see the espresso emerging from my bottomless portafilter. And the texture.. as much as I enjoy it in the latte cup, I enjoy it even more in the small espresso cup.

I highly recommend checking out Sarah’s online shop at http://www.skayeceramics.com

Odin’s rating: 2 Ravens!

UPDATE: On March 11, 2025, I decided to try to capture my espresso extraction on video. I was focusing on the video and made the noob mistake of not locking in my portafilter. You can see the results for yourself.

Although the mirror and cup went flying, the cup survived a direct hit from a hot heavy portafilter with no damage. I cannot say how happy I am with these cups!