Coffee cups are more than just a vessel for your morning brew. They’re a way to express yourself and your personality, too.
Whether you’re looking for a mug that’s small enough to take on the go or one that’s large enough to hold an entire pitcher of latte (well, not that much, but you get the idea), we’ve got you covered with our guide to standard coffee cup sizes.
Keep reading to learn about some of the most popular sizes to help you choose the best mug for your favorite brew.
What is the Standard Coffee Cup Size?
For coffee lovers that need to make coffee at home or in the office, it’s essential to know the various cup sizes.
The most common cup size is 8.45 oz to 10 oz. This mug holds 250ml to 295 ml of liquid. It allows coffee drinkers to make a good cup of coffee without having to worry about large amounts of added milk or extra sugar.
Though the standard size is 8 oz, that doesn’t mean you can find it everywhere.
The US, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries that use the Imperial measurement system—so they’re the only places where 8 oz is a standard.
In Europe, and other parts of the world that use the metric system, you may find it to be closer to 6 oz (177.5ml), and in Japan, 6.76 oz (200ml).
For iced coffee, a standard 12-oz cup guarantees the best coffee experience. There’s extra space for ice while still fitting in a good quantity of coffee.
How Big is a Coffee Cup in the United States?
The term “cup” describes any vessel that holds liquids such as coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. It comes from Old French “coupe,” which means “bowl” or “vessel.”
In the United States, standard coffee cups range from 8 to 12 oz (237 – 355 ml) of liquid. There are even extra-large coffee mug sizes that can hold as much as 20 – 25 oz (591 – 739 ml) of liquid.
Standard Coffee Cup Sizes for Different Coffee Drinks
So far, we’ve discussed the traditional coffee cup sizes for a simple cup of coffee (filter or drip coffee).
However, different coffee drinks can come in smaller or larger cups.
Espresso Cups
The standard espresso cup size is approximately 1 oz (30 ml). This is what most baristas use when making espressos.
You can also ask your barista for the following standard espresso cups if you fancy a richer espresso drinking experience:
- Doppio (double shot of espresso) – 2 oz (59 ml)
- Triple espresso – 3 oz (89 ml)
A variation of these espressos is the ristretto (literally translated to “restricted”). The barista uses 1/2 oz of water per shot instead of the regular 1 oz. This results in a stronger brew that packs more caffeine per ounce than traditional espressos.
There’s also another variation called Lungo, or Long Shot. Instead of being “restricted”, the Lungo carries double the amount of water, which is around 2 oz (59 ml), paired with the same amount of coffee grounds.
Its extraction time is also a bit longer – up to 35 – 40 seconds, making the drink more diluted but packing a stronger caffeine kick.
Demitasse Cups
Demitasse cups hold about 2 to 3 fluid ounces (60 to 90 milliliters).
They’re perfect for espresso drinks or Turkish coffee.
The demitasse has been known by this name since at least 1679.
The name comes from the French word demi, which means “half cup”.
Cappuccino Cups
A typical cappuccino cup size is twice the size of an espresso. They measure 4.97 oz (147ml) to 6oz (177ml).
They’re slightly larger to accommodate the espresso coffee and steamed milk foam, integral for the perfect cup of cappuccino.
Latte Cups
Latte cups have a tapered base and wide top, which makes them perfect for pouring steamed milk onto espresso.
This standard coffee mug gives you plenty of room to add all the extras that make latte specials, like syrup, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and more!
Latte cups hold up to 443ml of coffee, which is about 12 oz—so you won’t have to worry about running out of your favorite drink at home or work.
Travel Mugs
Whether you’re on the go or just looking to drink your cup of coffee at home, travel mugs are the ideal solution.
Travel coffee mug sizes range from 15 oz to 20 oz (444 – 591 ml) standard cup sizes.
Travel coffee mugs generally have metal or plastic lids and straws so you can sip on your drink without spilling it all over yourself.
They also fit snugly into car cup holders for effortless on-the-go drinking.
Starbucks Coffee Cup Sizes
When it comes to Starbucks, forget what you know about any other standard cup sizes. With the unique system, such as short, tall, and grande, it can get awfully confusing when placing your order at Starbucks.
But, don’t worry—we’ve got an easy guide to help you figure out the right size for your order.
The average size of Starbucks drinks is a Short. This contains 8 oz (227 ml) of liquid. It’s also the cheapest option on the menu.
Next up is the Tall size (12 oz or 355 ml). This is the standard size for most drinks at Starbucks.
Next up is the Grande (16 oz or 454 ml). The Grande is one of the most popular sizes because it gives you extra room for cream and other add-ons for your favorite type of coffee.
Finally, there’s Venti (20 oz or 591 ml). This is the best cup if you’re craving an oversized iced latte at Starbucks.
Other Starbucks standard coffee cup sizes include:
- Demi 3 oz ( 89ml) – perfect for espressos, macchiatos, and cortados
- Venti Cold 24 oz (710ml) – for cold brew, iced teas, and coffees
- Trenta Cold 31 oz (917ml) – for cold brews, iced teas, iced coffee, and refreshers
Learn more about Starbucks cup sizes here.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, standard coffee cup sizes and their associated coffee volume capacity can be a useful resource when it comes to drinking coffee. It helps you know what size to order without any guesswork (or arguments).
For the coffee lover, finding the best sizes of coffee mugs comes down to how much coffee you prefer for your morning cup and where you usually drink your customary cup of Joe.
In the end, size doesn’t always matter, but it’s certainly nice when you find the right fit for you.
FAQs
How big is a standard coffee cup?
The standard coffee cup size (legal cup size) for any type of coffee is 8 to 10 ounces. This size works great for your favorite filtered coffee, flat white, or latte.
How many ounces are standard disposable coffee cups?
The most common size of disposable coffee cups is 6, 8, and 10 oz. If you want to choose the perfect size for you, think about how strong you like your coffee and how much time you have to drink it.
What size coffee cup should I use at home?
If you’re looking to buy a good coffee cup for home use, then the standard 8 oz mug should do the trick. You can easily fit it under your filter coffee machine or espresso machine, enabling coffee drinkers to enjoy a wide variety of coffee drinks, including espressos, flat whites, cappuccinos, and more.