I’m a big time coffee drinker and love it with cream and sugar. Espresso, on the other hand, can be a bit too strong a beverage for me and it often feels more akin to taking a shot of alcohol. Espresso is made by forcing near boiling water with high pressure through finely ground coffee. The resulting liquid can be near syrupy in consistency and contains both dissolved and un-dissolved coffee bean solids.  Since it’s such a condensed product, it is usually served in small, dedicated espresso cups that hold the three to four ounce serving. Ironically, while I don’t drink espresso, I just love espresso cups, which often seem to be more interesting than the standard sized coffee cup. I am always running across sets I want to purchase, but don’t because I wouldn’t use them. Here are nine of my favorites:

BIA Cordon Blue Assorted Espresso Cups and Saucers: These assorted bright color Espresso Cups and Saucers will certainly brighten anyone’s mood, nearly as much as the caffeine itself. The three ounce cups come in a mix of red, yellow, blue and green. ($45)

Certified International Coffee Café Espresso Cup with Saucer: The set of four 4 ounce Café Espresso Cups and Saucers are colorful and whimsical, with a mix of checks and polka-dots. Designed by Lori Lynn Simms, the cups are hand painted and dishwasher and microwave safe. ($46.32)

Fellina Sok-Cham Espresso Set: Available at the MoMA store, this modern Espresso Set was designed by Fellina Sok-Cham, winner of a 2008 student design competition. The bamboo wood tray features pullout coasters for to protect tabletop from hot cups and spills. The white porcelain cups are simplicity itself when it comes to design and include an integrated stainless steel flat spoon. ($55)

Belle Cucina’s Tazza Carrier with Espresso Cups: Inspired by similar milk bottle carriers seen Italian food markets, the Tazza Carrier with Espresso Cups makes transporting filled cups easy. The elegant design is simple and classic with a touch of rusticity. Imagine yourself carrying fragrant cups of espresso across your gorgeous lawn and garden to a group of your closest friends. ($28)

Frette’s Espresso Cups and Spoons: The exotic colors and metal work of these Espresso Cups and Spoons calls to mind Moroccan food stalls and old men sipping strong coffee. This item would make a unique wedding or anniversary gift. ($175)

Cost Plus World Market White Stacking Espresso Cups: Easy to store, these White Stacking Espresso Cups hold four ounces and come with petit saucers. Reminiscent of classic diner china, these cups are perfect for every day use. ($12.99)

Pantone Espresso Set: Pantone, the world color authority, offers a set of six colorful espresso cups in range of red and pink hues. Made from fine bone china, the cups are dishwasher and microwave safe. Perfect for the designer in your life. ($54)

Konitz Espresso Cup: Fine porcelain maker Konitz offers a range of modern and graphic mugs, such as these Script/Collage Espresso cups in brown and beige. The cup and saucer are covered with graphic text that spells the word coffee in pop-art form.  ($10 each)

Riviera Maison Single Espresso Mug: These sweet little mugs come complete with a porcelain spoon set right into the handle. The elegant black script on white porcelain spells out exactly what the mug is for: “Single Espresso”. (€ 4,95 each)

Linda Merrill is a designer who works with Boston-area contractors. Read more like this - http://www.networx.com/article/designer-picks-espresso-cups - on Networx.