BodumAssam Double Wall Shot/Espresso Glass, 9 centiliters

To get straight to the point - these otherwise attractive glasses have an ugly plastic plug in the bottom and bunch of words printed upside down so they are readable when simply sitting on the table.I was very excited when I ordered these glasses. I have owned a whole slew of other Bodum double walled glasses including about a dozen Bodum Assam 6.5 ounce glasses and reasonably expected these to pretty much be identical but smaller, instead Bodum let me down.Here's the good:1) The shape is attractive and I like that Bodum has a whole array of different sized glasses in this same shape.2) The double walled nature of the glass has some big positives, specifically in that it never gets too hot to the touch and when not pre-heated it doesn't suck all of the temperature out of the espresso at the rate an un-heated standard glass would.3) It let's you watch the espresso as it's poured and really examine your crema. I'm able to dial in a new coffee blend faster being able to see how the espresso pours and settles in this see-through glass than in a ceramic cup.4) They seem to be durableThe bad:1) Unlike all the other Assam glasses I own these have an ugly opaque plastic plug on center of the bottom. My others all have no hole, just a slight dimple off center.2) Unlike all my other Bodum double walled glasses these have a ton of words on the bottom. A few of my other glasses (four total out of several dozen) have a small Bodum brand logo in the center of the bottom with a very tiny "3" in a circle but otherwise zero markings. The glasses I'm reviewing have the logo off center. In addition it has the words "PCT pat. pend. Registered by Pi-Design AG, Switzerland 3". All of the writing is upside down and around the outer rim purposely making it readable when the glass is sitting on the table even if full. There is so much writing on it that it covers at least two thirds of the glasses circumference.3) These glasses do suck the heat out of espresso pretty quick. It's not as bad as a non-preheated ceramic cup, but it is far worse than a pre-heated cup. Pre-heating these glasses doesn't help much either, it does help a tiny bit, but not much. How fast does it suck the heat out? This isn't the end of the world for me as I don't sip my morning espresso over the newspaper but instead drink it rather quickly. However I wouldn't use this as a serving glass nor as something to politely sip out of at brunch - it simply gets too cold too quick.In summary, these glasses really let me down as they aren't the excellent serving vessels I was hoping for. However they are my favorite glasses to use for my morning espresso, which I drink in my bathrobe in the kitchen at 5am...note: If all new Bodum double walled glasses now have this plug and writing on the bottom please let me know via a comment. That won't change my opinion of these glasses, but it would be worth everyone knowing.

Many people focus on the looks of these shot glasses as a priority, and to each their own. Although I do like the looks of these glasses, I would prefer a straighter profile, but these are quite nice already.Unlike many of other users writing reviews, the backwards writing and such don't bother me, since I don't use these for serving. These sit on top of the machines to pull shots only and only hold the shots for no more than 30-45 seconds at a time. Shots go directly into a shaker or serving cup right away and into the sink for washing. Then repeat step one.I can attest to their durability. These usually go from machine to sink. Once they were in the sink while I was cleaning my portafilter. Everyone knows how solid portafilters are and as I was cleaning, I slammed the filter right into the glass. I gasped but the glass didn't even blink. They suffered no damage at all. They are still helping to pull wonderful shots.Size-wise however, make sure you measure your equipment. For personal use, I have a Gaggia Classic and an old Gaggia Espresso; practically the same machines. With the portafilter locked in the group head, these glasses fit perfectly under the Gaggia Classic with a few millimeters to spare. Under the Gaggia Espresso, the glasses need to be tipped about 30 degrees to slip under the spouts. I resorted to removing part of the catch tray to comfortably place and remove the glasses from the machine. I haven't measured these glasses to share any dimensions, but I'd rather be pulling and serving shots than measuring a glass. :)

These glasses are better than I ever expected. My espresso is cold before the outer glass ever becomes too hot to hold (though you might want to avoid holding it right beneath the rim), and that was my only concern before purchasing them.They're also surprisingly durable. One accidentally rolled off my counter just days after getting them and I remember thinking to myself as I watched it fall, "Wow I was stupid for getting these. 15 bucks down the drain: one down, one to go." It hit the ground, bounced an inch with a solid thunk, came back down and rolled to my toes perfectly fine.My only complaint(s) would be that it is laser etched with the manufacturer info etc. on the bottom, but I get that companies need to let people know who made the product in their hand. I never notice it, though, unless I'm holding it upside down while cleaning it. It also has a small rubbery dot on the bottom. It doesn't upset it's seat on the counter, but I don't know if it is supposed to cover the contact point of the glass during its manufacturing so I leave it on. I figure it can only offer more resistance to slipping again in the future, anyways.

This is the third set of Assam glasses I have purchased. I bought the second set because we were using them so frequently that they were always in the dishwasher when we wanted them. I bought the third set because, after almost ten years of use, we finally broke one from the first set. [word of caution: these shatter fantastically when broken, so best to store them away from small children]These glasses are the perfect size for coffee. They are just a little too small for tea (I prefer Bodum's 12-ounce Pavina glasses for tea). We've also used them for milk and cookies, cocktails, even ice cream. They elevate whatever drink or food we put in them.I do think that the design has changed just a little bit over the years (the bottom of these glasses look different than the ones I bought almost a decade ago). But unless a guest is looking very closely, I don't think s/he would notice that the glasses didn't match.

Great looking shape, double walled to keep heat. Price could be better but splurge item for someone who just received a new espresso maker.

Great product! Keeps heat in really well, longer than an average mug but not so long that you can't enjoy your coffee without waiting too long. Excellent size for a Nespresso Gran Lungo (150ml)

These glasses are great! I can't believe I had an espresso machine without owning these glasses.Pros:Great qualityAesthetically greatKeeps drink hot for a long timeCool to the touch on the outsideFeels nice on your lips while drinkingCons:Price (but you get what you pay for)Feels very light (You get used to it though)Must wash by hand if you don't want to get a film insideI use these whenever I make espressos and the size is great. It's not too big but it allows you to make a longer shot of espresso if you want to. It looks amazing and everyone is impressed when I serve their drink in one of these glasses. Although they are pricey for a set of two, it is well worth the money. It really improves your espresso experience!

I've been using these glassesfor 18 months and some sign of leakage for me. yes there is a seal at the bottom of the glass and sometime some water got trapped aound the seal (but not inside the double glass). I've placed these glasses in my dishwasher everysingle day at high temperature without any issue so far. I do use the complete dishwasher cycle including the drying one. but still some water might not have time to evaporate. I'm satisfied with the design but the build quality of the glass is poor. Received lots of compliment when guests use them during the 1st year of usage. now, I'm seeing a lot of scratches and the glass is not longer transparent. 1 of them looks like frosted from the inside the double glass vaccum.

Great glasses. Keep liquids hot or cold longer while still being cool to hold the glass.

Generally this works well.. stayed hot and didnt burn hands etc, decent to hold and the 0.1 was good for espresso plus a little extra.- Both my cups were not symmetrical and the internal wall had more gap on one side-Some idiot decided it would be a good idea to write a nice little memo about patents pending on the bottom and since its all clear it means I get to read it while drinking my coffee.I probs wouldn't buy this brand again and try something that looked better and didnt have stupid writing all over it.