ICOSA AVENSI Coffee Enhancing Glassware

Disclosure: Pull & Pour received this product free of charge to review for this post. I received no other compensation and as always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Using the proper glass to enjoy a drink is nothing new for drinks like wine, beer or spirits. There are countless glassware options for the different styles of these drinks, which help accentuate a different element of the beverage. Given the aromatic complexity and wide spectrum of taste in coffee, you would think coffee would offer a similar number of glassware options. While there are many different mug or drinkware options when it comes coffee, there are very few options that have been intentionally designed to enhance the taste, flavor and aroma of the coffee drink.

That is why I was so excited to find the AVENSI glassware set from ICOSA Brewhouse a few weeks back. It is a set of three double-wall glasses that have been specifically engineered and designed to draw out certain characteristics of your coffee. The three glasses were developed and tested by over 90 coffee experts from 30 countries with months of R&D and dozens of iterations, so there was definitely some effort put into the final product.

The Three AVENSI Glasses

The full Avensi set comes with three differently-shaped glasses—VIDA, SENTI and ALTO. Each glass was designed to enhance a different element of the coffee.

VIDA

The VIDA has a tulip architecture and is designed to enhance and balance the aromatics and flavor of the coffee. It works with all roast styles and is what they call “the all around hero.” If you are unsure which glass your coffee would pair best with, the Vida is a great place to start.

SENTI

The SENTI has a wide bowl architecture and is designed to maximize the aroma and enhance the body of the coffee. It works best with medium and dark roasts and is what they call “the aroma amplifier.”

ALTO

The ALTO has an hourglass architecture and is designed to enhance the body and acidity of the coffee. It works best with lighter roasts and is what they call “the illuminator.”

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What I Like About the AVENSI Glasses

• They encourage experimentation. It’s fun to have an excuse to experiment with coffee and try to discover something new in a coffee you’ve had many times before. I’ve really enjoyed trying the same coffee in the different glasses to compare the results, as well as playing around with pairing the best glass with each coffee I am currently drinking to see if I can discover something new.
• They are beautiful. The glasses are clearly well-designed and beautiful. While it seems superficial, there is science to suggest just that simply drinking out of a more elegant and beautiful glass can enhance the experience and taste of the beverage.
• They cause you to slow down. Every time I use one of the Avensi glasses, it encourages me to slow down and enjoy my coffee a bit more. Taking a few extra seconds to swirl the coffee, appreciate the aroma or contemplate the acidity and body helps enhance the coffee drinking experience.
• They work. While I don’t know if every coffee will benefit from being drunk in the Avensi glassware, there are definitely some that do. I usually drink lighter, more acidic coffees and I really have noticed the ALTO glass helps enhance the aroma of some of the more fruit-forward, aromatic coffees.

How to Get the Most Out of the Avensi Set

• Pair the correct coffee with the correct glass. Each glass is designed to pair with a certain style of coffee. Be sure you use that type of coffee to maximize the impact the glassware can have.
• Fill the glass to the 6oz line. Each glass has a “perfect pour line” that tells you where the best amount of coffee is to optimize aromatic diffusion (and allow you to swirl the coffee without it spilling).
• Swirl the coffee. The glasses are designed to be swirled. Swirling the coffee helps to draw out the aromatics and can help you appreciate the coffee more.

Conclusion

I’ve really enjoyed using the AVENSI glassware over the past few weeks. They have encouraged experimentation, caused me to slow down and have helped me appreciate both the aromatics and flavor notes in my coffee more.