If you are a cocktail enthusiast experimenting with non-alcoholic spirits, you need great glassware. Part of what makes a mocktail festive is the glass. There are many different types of glasses for serving drinks, but one of the most elegant is the coupe glass and also my go-to cocktail glass for classic mocktails.
The most important factors to consider when looking for the best coupe glass are the design and capacity. To help you pick, I’ve researched for hours and found the best options for serving your drinks with style. If you’re the type who likes to make festive beverages at home, then it’s about time you invest in these gorgeously silhouetted glasses.
What Is a Coupe Glass?
A coupe glass is made to serve champagne and cocktails. It has a bowl-shaped saucer with a stem. Most of these glasses have at least 6 ounces of capacity and keep spills at a minimum. In case you didn’t know, the correct pronunciation of coupe is “koop.”
A coupe glass has a lengthy stem to prevent the temperature of your hand from warming your chilled drink. Coupe glasses are ideal for drinks that have been shaken or stirred with ice, served “up.” While the shape is somewhat similar, don’t confuse coupes with margarita glasses. Those are thicker and much larger.
Coupe Cocktail Glass vs Martini Glasses
Martini glasses are classic, but if you’ve ever used one, you know that spills are likely. My relationship with the traditional V-shaped martini glasses has long waned. A coupe has a curved bowl, so it is easier to keep your drink in your glass.
Don’t waste that precious beverage that you worked so hard to make. Besides, the coupe glass elevates every drink to a more sophisticated presentation.
Where Did Coupe Glasses Come From?
Ever wondered where the coupe came from? According to French folklore, this glass’s broad shape was molded from the left breast of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Rumors also suggest that the glass was molded from the breast of Helen of Troy, and others even point the finger to Madame de Pompadour.
Despite these claims, the coupe glass was actually created in England a century ago before the time of Marie Antoinette. It was designed in 1663 for champagne, then favored among the elite French throughout the centuries.
Up until the 1970s, the coupe remained popular drinkware in France. It was hugely popular from the 1930s until the 1980s in the US. The surge in fame corresponded with the Prohibition era, when many great cocktails were created.
My Top Picks for the Best Coupe Glass
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Editor's Choice |
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Splurge |
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Budget Set |
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| Check Price →Read Our Review |
Reviews: The Best Coupe Cocktail Glasses
After hours of researching coupes, below are the best options on Amazon, perfect for presenting your creative libations, mocktails, and non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Set that martini glass aside and try one of these on!
Best Overall
Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Cocktail Glass Set
The Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Cocktail Glass Set is the top pick for best cocktail coupe glass. This coupe glass set comes with four glasses, made of durable glass and 7.25 ounces of fluid capacity, which is a good size for most classic cocktails.
These Libbey coupe cocktail glasses feature a 3.8-inch wide mouth, which is on the more petite end compared to other models. The glasses have a fairly thin lip, which gives you the mouthfeel for sipping your favorite cocktails. I also like the cut on the upper part of the stem, which gives them a vintage feel.
The glasses are not light, yet, they’re not that heavy either. They have a good heft that feels comfy to hold, and the stem is sturdy.
The Libbey glasses will give your home bar a dash of retro sophistication. Overall, they are good value with style, dishwasher safe, and a great size. Your mocktails will look great in these glasses!
Pros:
- Vintage, sophisticated design
- Sturdy stem
- Durable and lead-free
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Might feel small for certain drinks
Best Coupe Glass for Weddings
Libbey Signature Greenwich Coupe Cocktail Glass Set
Coupe glasses are the ideal choice of drinkware for special occasions like weddings. The Libbey Signature Greenwich Coupe Cocktail Glass Set is an excellent option if you want to add an extra touch of elegance to your wedding day.
These Libbey Greenwich glasses offer a generous 8 ounces of capacity with a 3.9 inch mouth. The proportions of these glasses’ shallow depth, broad mouth, and lengthy stem make champagne and cocktails look sleek.
They also feature a reinforced flat foot. This is essential for delivering added stability. The coupe cocktail glass set comes with four pieces of durable and dishwasher-safe glasses that are also BPA and lead-free.
Pros:
- Durable, BPA and lead-free
- Generous capacity
- Timeless style
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Some orders arrived broken
Budget Pick
BarConic Coupe Glass Set
If you’re looking for the best budget set to add to your bar at home, you may want to check out the BarConic Coupe Glass Set. With 7 ounces of fluid capacity, you’ll be serving a decent quantity of cocktails in this durable set of four coupes.
The BarConic coupe glasses stand at 5.5 inches high and have a 2.375-inch wide mouth. They are the most petite of the products on the list – perfect for small spaces. With their classic silhouette, they will look elegant on any home bar.
These glasses can withstand a few knocks, as well as a run in your dishwasher. Don’t dare put them inside your freezer, though, as the glasses are not thick enough for that environment.
Pros:
- Durable
- Classic shape
- Budget-friendly
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- The seam on the stem might bother some
Splurge Pick
Riedel Veritas Coupe Glasses
Don’t mind spending a little bit more on an extra fancy coupe glass? Then you may want to check out the Riedel Veritas Coupe Glasses. The brand crafts some of the most sought after glasses in the bar industry. And I guarantee you, these particular glasses live up to the hype.
The Riedel coupe glasses have a beauty that’s so eye-catching that you’ll want to keep it on display as if it’s part of an exhibit. The set is sold in pairs, and each glass features an extra-long stem that gives them a luxurious appearance.
Although the shallow glass is probably what sets them apart from their other counterparts. Each coupe glass can hold up to 8.5 ounces of liquid. Now, that’s really big in comparison to the other options I’ve listed here. The glasses also stand 9 inches high and are convenient to clean in the dishwasher.
Pros:
- Beautiful, luxurious design
- Shallow bowl offers generous capacity
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Fragile elegance
- Pricey
Best Design
RCR Cristalleria Italiana Aria Collection 6 Piece Crystal Wine Glass Set
If you have an eye for design, you will love the RCR Cristalleria Italiana Aria Collection 6 Piece Crystal Wine Glass Set. The proportions and angles of this silhouette are stunning.
Made in Italy of lead-free crystal, the oversized bowl and elongated stem are sure to make your home setup fancy. Mocktails will look amazing in these glasses, but be careful with them – reviews suggest they might be a little too fragile.
The capacity of the RCR Aria coupes is larger than any other on the list, which leaves room for all that designy negative space in your creative concoction. Impress your guests with the beauties. Better yet, these might be the best coupe glasses for a wedding gift.
Pros:
- Stylish design
- Larger capacity than most
- Thin, delicate rim
Cons:
- Might be too delicate
How to Choose the Right Coupe Glass for You
While it’s easy to get enticed by the attractive designs and shapes of coupe glasses, it’s still essential to get the ones that suit your style and needs. Refer to the handy buying guide below to know more.
Size and Capacity
If you don’t have much space, smaller coupes like the BarConic Coupe Set might be best.
According to professionals who have been in the beverage industry for years, the best coupe glasses should at least have a capacity of 6 ounces. That’s because classic drinks served “up” typically range in volume from 3-4 fluid ounces per drink.
With the coupe glass, you will want some space at the top, so it should have a capacity 6-8oz. The coupe is an elegant beverage, and it looks nice if there is a good proportion of space to liquid in the bowl. All of the coupes listed have plenty of capacity for a classic cocktail.
Coupe Stem
A coupe glass’s stem may be deemed as an unimportant feature, but it plays a big role in keeping your drinks cold. Those with long stems make sleek and luxurious-looking glassware, and such stems are often thin. While the ones with shorter stems create that vintage look.
Coupes with short stems are usually easier to store in short cabinets. While longer-stemmed glasses can be placed on your home bar’s glass rack, but might not fit easily in the dishwasher.
Coupe Design
The design of the coupe glasses is entirely subjective. You can choose from the various lovely designs available, which include vintage styles and modern styles. Vintage designs are usually shorter and have a little more decoration, and modern silhouettes have angular, elegant proportions.
What Kind of Drinks Go in a Coupe Glass?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, coupe glasses are perfect for drinks served ‘up’ and are a great substitute for a martini glass. Classic cocktails are perfect for coupes, as are champagne and sparkling wine. However, anything can look fancy in a coupe glass – why not use one for an upscale juice glass at brunch?
Browse the collection of non-alcoholic cocktail recipes for some excellent drinks to go in your new glassware.
Tip: pop a coupe in the freezer to chill before serving for a fresh beverage. Though be careful not to put them in immediately after taking them out of the dishwasher. Glasses may shatter, especially the thin ones.
Wrapping Up
Switch up your martini glass game with a set of coupes. My favorite is the Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Cocktail Glass because it’s a great price point with some style. It has a vintage, sophisticated design that’s also sturdy and easy to hold.
If you want to upgrade your home bar with more of a luxury item, the Riedel Veritas Coupe Glasses would be a great addition. The set is on the pricey side, but the beautifully proportional design is worth it. Its unique shallow bowl and generous capacity are what I love about these.
The Godinger Champagne Coupe (link to see on Amazon) is a common recommendation and one I researched, but after considering the options, I decided that the best looking design should be delicate, modern, and slender.
I hope you find this guide helpful in finding the perfect coupe glass for your creative drink presentation. Make sure to check out the latest prices and discounts on these wonderful glasses above. Cheers!