The Essential Guide to Buying Coffee Cups in Brisbane

Photo by Andrew Dahms 

Next time you are with a group of friends ask them what they like about their favourite coffee cup and you are likely to get a range of different answers.

Things to Consider when Selecting your perfect cup

When purchasing a set of new coffee cups you will want to consider a number of factors like the following list:

• Lips – does it have a smooth edge?
• Hold the cup – does it feel too light or heavy in your hand?
• Saucer – are you entertaining or are these for everyday use?
• Colour – do you want a practical white which matches everything, a trendy colour to match your kitchen décor or your favourite colour?
• Size – 125 ml is the standard size
• Usage – will you clean them in a dishwasher? Do you have kids who might break them?

Buying a coffee cup in Brisbane

Here are some your options for buying a coffee cup in Brisbane:

ACF Cups

Bean Brewding, Brisbane coffee tours recommend ACF cups as the industry standard. They come in a great range of beautiful solid colours and are made in Italy. They are hard wearing and resist regular washing without discolouration. The upper rim has been designed to withstand chipping and cracking, while the base cradles your drink. These cups come in a range of different shapes and styles to suit modern to vintage décor.
Bean Brewding recommends the Verona range as suitable for cappuccino and a solid all-rounder for everyday usage.

ACF Cups are stocked in Brisbane at:

• Veneziano Coffee Roasters
• Aromas Tea and Coffee Merchants

ACF Cups can also be bought online from the Nuova Point website.

Inker Coffee Cups

Inker Coffee Cups are another popular choice with cafes. They are designed to keep the coffee at a stable temperature with their solid porcelain walls. They come in a range of great vibrant colours and made to resist scratches and cracks. They are nice to hold in your hand.
Inker Porcelain (Inker Industrija Keramike) of Croatia is a major supplier of commercial porcelains in Europe for the coffee and espresso industry.
Inker coffee cups are stocked in Brisbane at:

• Veneziano Coffee Roasters

Hospitality Superstore

The Hospitality Superstore is a warehouse-like shop located in the Fortitude Valley. It’s well worth the trip and is open to retail customers. They stock a good range of affordable coffee cups and cups to match the rest of your dinnerware. They stock brands like Bevande, Australian Fine China, Contempo by CHURCHiLL, Maxwell & Williams and Duraceram.
Some are made with porcelain, china or melamine and may be microwave and dishwasher safe. The range includes practical stackable mugs in white. The sizes vary from 225ml to 350ml.

Alternatively, you can shop at the online shop on the Hospitality Superstore website.

Handmade Coffee Cups from Brisbane and Queensland

Here are some of the local people who make nice coffee cups, you can buy these off Etsy and online shops:

• Carys Martin Ceramics – hand built and wheel thrown ceramics from Brisbane
• Elke Lucus Ceramics – handmade porcelain made on the Sunshine Coast
• Fahey Folk – solid clay cups with a stone like finish from Brisbane.
• Two Warm Hands – make ceramic tableware with Australian stoneware clays in Brisbane. All pieces are dishwasher, microwave and oven safe.
• Stone Cat Ceramics – inspired by archaeological finds and traditional shapes. Funky mugs from Brisbane.

Handmade in Australia

Here are some of the Australian people who make nice coffee cups, you can buy these off Etsy and online shops:

• Mud Australia – handmade porcelain in a range of beautiful colours from Sydney
• Robert Gordon

Avoid these cups

I have learnt to avoid cups which are from tourist spots (they are usually badly made and you might burn your hand). My two pet hates at cafes are hot chocolate in glass and way-too-cold copper cups. Ulg. Any cup which has a chip or crack is unhygienic and needs to be disposed of straight away.

Just make sure you leave your favourite coffee cup at home because one of mine got stolen from work.