Double-wall glasses are insulated borosilicate drinkware with two glass layers separated by an air gap - keeping hot drinks hot, cold drinks cold and the outer surface comfortable to hold. Hospitality Connect supplies the trade range from Bormioli Rocco, Bodum, Pasabahce and DLPRO - in coffee, tea, cocktail, dessert and water-glass formats from 80mL espresso to 400mL latte.
Range and capacity
- Espresso double-wall (60-90mL): Insulated espresso glasses; the visual impact piece for specialty coffee bars.
- Cappuccino and flat-white (180-220mL): Mid-size double-wall glasses; the café standard for coffee service.
- Latte glasses (300-400mL): Tall double-wall glasses for milk-heavy coffee drinks; favoured for visual appeal.
- Tea glasses (150-250mL): Heat-resistant double-wall for hot tea service; often with handle.
- Cocktail and dessert glasses: Specialty double-wall for cocktails, layered desserts and visual presentation.
Material and use case
Borosilicate glass (Pyrex-grade) is the standard - low coefficient of thermal expansion resists thermal shock from hot pour or freezer transition. Wall thickness affects insulation and breakage resistance: 2-3mm walls give better insulation but lower mechanical strength; 4-5mm walls are more durable but slightly less insulating. The air gap is the insulation - hot drinks stay hot 2-3x longer than single-wall glass. Double-wall glasses present a modern aesthetic for specialty coffee venues; the floating-content visual effect is a key marketing differentiator. Some lines are dishwasher-safe; many are hand-wash only - confirm before specifying for high-volume service.
Care and longevity
- Hand wash where possible: Dishwasher rack abrasion shortens life; if washing in machine, use proper glassware racks.
- Avoid thermal shock: Don't pour boiling water into a chilled glass; borosilicate is durable but not invincible.
- Inspect rim for chips: Chipped rims fail HACCP audits and cut staff; replace immediately.
- Don't stack: Stacking can crack the inner wall under pressure.
- Air dry: Lint and spot-dry water marks; drip-dry on a glass rack avoids residue.
Specifier note for café fit-out: double-wall glasses are 3-5x the price of single-wall but generate 2-3x the social-media engagement and customer perception of premium product. Replacement rate runs 8-12% per quarter in busy cafés (vs 3-5% for single-wall) due to the higher fragility - factor breakage into pricing. For high-volume hotel and conference operations, single-wall ceramic or single-wall thicker-glass is more economical; reserve double-wall for specialty coffee, fine dining and signature cocktail service. Stock 30-40% over service capacity to allow for breakage and laundry-cycle gaps.
Pair with
Combine with dinnerware, coffee accessories and wine buckets coolers ice buckets stands for full FOH service.