Ancap cups have been part of coffee competitions around Australia for more than a decade. Casa Espresso Director Antony de Fina reveals how the Italian-made cups affect the drinking experience.
Melbourne’s Casa Espresso – Australia’s only official importer of Italian-made Ancap cups – has been a big supporter of the coffee community since 2012 and shows no signs of slowing down.
Whether it be through sponsoring events like the Australian Specialty Coffee Association’s (ASCA) Australian Barista Championship or backing individual baristas looking to flex their muscles on the competitive stage, Casa’s Ancap cups have become a competition mainstay according to Director Antony de Fina.
The pride Antony and Casa take in their support of Australia’s barista competition landscape is palpable. He says not only do the cups enable baristas to get the best result possible on the stage but also that supporting these events is a significant point of pride for his business.
“We have been strongly involved in the coffee industry through the years and we’re a big part of the sector outside of purely selling retail products. We like to think of ourselves as a strong part of Australia’s coffee community,” says Antony.
“We pride ourselves on doing anything we can to encourage people to get involved in competitions and support them when they get to the stage of being involved.
“It’s a great thing to do. We’ll go along to a competition and see someone that came into the store and bought cups from our business, or who we sponsor. Seeing them competing on that stage gives us a lot of satisfaction.”
Casa Espresso imports a range of Italian coffee machines, accessories, and tools into Australia, and Antony believes Ancap cups are some of the best on the market.
“We’ve been operating for nearly 20 years and import a number of Italian products. We launched Ancap cups at the very first Melbourne International Coffee Expo in 2012 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. We had the Export Manager, Emilio Bellion, come out from Italy,” he says.
“Ancap cups really are one of the premium ceramic cups on the market, and I think really the only true Italian cup that is properly distributed in Australia. There are others with Italian sounding names, but they’re not made in Italy.”
What to look for in a quality cup What makes Ancap cups different, and what sets them apart as a leader in the industry? While introduced to the Australian market by Casa Espresso a little more than a decade ago, the cups have been made in Italy for more than 50 years.
Antony says established methods of production and the use of high-quality materials make them a must-have in any café setup.
“It’s not until you get into the cup game that you look at different cups and realise the huge differences between them,” he says.
“Ancap cups have a non-porous glaze, so the finish means you’re not constantly bleaching them which is something that happens with lower quality cups. They’re also kiln fired at more than 1400 degrees, which makes them very chip resistant and gives the glaze and density of porcelain an excellent lifespan.
“When you’re using top-quality porcelain, excellent kiln firing techniques, and quality glaze, you’re getting a product that really does stand out from the crowd.”
According to Antony, this results in cups with a longer lifespan than other options and are therefore a better investment for café owners and roasters.
“The longevity of these cups will outlast cheaper cups made with different materials and techniques,” he says.
“Cheaper cups will chip in a year and look second-hand, which means you will have to throw them away. Our cups can be in the field for five or six years and they still look brand new.
“Since you’re not constantly replacing your cups, long-term they’re a better investment. Our cups are at the top end of what’s available.”
The influence of design According to Antony, even the design of the cup is carefully manufactured to ensure the best results for baristas, and the best experience for coffee consumers.
“There’s a particular eggshell shape in the bottom of Ancap cups that’s designed to enhance the crema,” he says.
“In other cups, it’s a more squared off shape which can make the crema dissipate while you’re pouring the shot.
“The cup has very nice individually bevelled edges, so it’s a good mouthfeel for the person drinking from it. There are also a range of sizes. We have cups that suit the retail market, of course, but we also have cups that are specifically designed for competition.
“The Palermo 150 is our competition cup, which is used by a lot of baristas in competitions here in Australia. We pride ourselves in taking an industry approach with our cups, not just a specific retail approach.”
When purchasing Ancap cups from Casa Espresso, customers are not limited to different varieties of white cups. From its Contrade Itlaliane cappuccino cups that feature images of the Italian countryside to the ability to custom-brand cups, Casa Espresso provides Ancap cups to a range of high-end customers.
“About 50 per cent of our sales to roasters are branded cups. We have done cups for ST. ALi, Pura, Da Vinci, and Paul’s Milk, and have even collaborated with car brands like Ferrari and Maserati,” he says.
“We have two methods of branding. We can get them done in the factory in Italy for large-scale production, or we have our own kiln in Australia we can fire up for relatively small numbers of production.
“We also have a line of decorated cups that we sell into boutique retail stores, and we have some new ranges that are about to land in Australia which are really exciting. My favourite is the Supernova Espresso range, which has a lunar theme. It also has a lid and no handle, so it’s a really unique product.”
For more information, visit casaespresso.com.au
This article appears in the August 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
