caffè ricos

Throughout the ‘90s, caffè ricos I made many trips to Italy. On each visit, I delighted in the unique cups I saw caffè ricos in the bars I visited, so much that I would consider starting a collection of these perfectly proportional vessels, called tazzini in Italian. My fear of getting them back to Oregon unscathed was a roadblock to collecting, but every time I returned home I would regret that I had not made the effort to stow some of these ceramic gems in my suitcase and take the chance that they would arrive in America in one piece.

Then, in October 1997, a dear friend took me to a unique bar in Amalfi called Caffé Maresca. Not only was the bar extraordinary, but the demitasse cups were unbelievably distinctive. I loved the industrial art design of the cups and I thought about trying to buy one, but instead I only committed to my friend that one day I would like to start my own tazzini collection. Two months later, a small package arrived just in time for Christmas containing a cup from Caffé Maresca.

This was the first in a collection that now includes more than 200 demitasse cups from nine countries. Many of the cups are from well-known coffee roasters and machine dealers. The ones I cherish most are those that bring back memories or are rare or unique in style and design.

On my most recent trip to Italy, I brought back more than 20 cups. Obviously, I no longer worry about breaking them en route or lugging them through airport security. This pictorial will give readers a glimpse of the artistry and energy that is applied to this tool that is primary and essential to the foundation of the espresso industry. Espresso is meant to be served in a demi. The cup has the right size, shape and thickness to hold in the heat of the espresso, but it also has a design that gives tactile pleasure to the user when handling it.