A coupe glass is a shallow, wide-bowled stemmed glass – sometimes called a champagne coupe or saucer glass. It was the original champagne glass of 17th- and 18th-century France, and it became the icon of 1920s cocktail culture during Prohibition. Today, bartenders use the coupe for cocktails served "up" (without ice), including the French 75, the Sidecar, the Manhattan, the Cosmopolitan, and the Daiquiri. The shape lets aroma open and gives citrus garnishes a place to rest on the rim. Glassique Cadeau coupe glasses are hand-blown from lead-free crystal and arrive gift-ready in our signature box.

A coupe glass is used for cocktails served "up" – meaning shaken or stirred with ice, then strained into the glass without ice. Classic coupe cocktails include the French 75, Sidecar, Daiquiri, Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Vesper, Aviation, and Bee's Knees. The coupe is also a beautiful choice for champagne, prosecco, and sparkling cocktails like the Bellini and Death in the Afternoon. The shallow bowl releases aroma quickly and gives garnishes – twists, edible flowers, sugar rims – somewhere to sit. For drinks served on the rocks, reach for a lowball instead. Glassique Cadeau coupes range from 5 oz to 9 oz, gift-ready in our signature box.

A Nick & Nora is a small, stemmed cocktail glass with a deeper bowl than a coupe – typically 5 oz to 6 oz. It's named after the cocktail-loving sleuths Nick and Nora Charles from the 1934 film The Thin Man. Bartenders prefer the Nick & Nora over the V-shaped martini glass for stirred drinks like the Manhattan, Martini, Vesper, and Sazerac, because the deeper bowl keeps the drink colder and the smaller volume means fewer spills. Glassique Cadeau's Nick & Nora coupes come in vintage, Art Deco, and modern silhouettes.

Coupes and flutes both serve champagne – and the right choice depends on what kind of toast you're after. The coupe is the historical choice (it was the champagne glass of the 17th, 18th, and early 20th centuries) and gives a softer, more luxurious mouthfeel because the wider bowl releases bubbles faster. The flute (tall and narrow) preserves carbonation longer and concentrates aroma upward, which is why sommeliers favour it for tasting fine champagne. For a wedding toast, brunch mimosa, or any cocktail with foam, choose the coupe. For a careful sparkling tasting, choose the flute.

A coupe glass has a shallow, rounded bowl on a stem. A martini glass has a sharply V-shaped, angular bowl on a longer stem. The martini glass is the classic mid-20th-century shape – but most modern bartenders prefer the coupe (or its smaller cousin, the Nick & Nora) because the rounded bowl is harder to spill and the smaller volume keeps the drink colder. The V-shaped martini glass is still iconic for visual presentation, but for everyday use, a coupe is the more forgiving choice. Both work for the same cocktails – Martinis, Manhattans, Cosmopolitans, and Gimlets.

Coupe glasses typically range from 5 oz to 9 oz. The 5–6 oz size – including the Nick & Nora style – is built for stirred classics like the Manhattan and Martini, served without ice. The 7–9 oz size suits foamier or garnished cocktails like the Sidecar, Bellini, and Daiquiri, plus a generous champagne pour. Glassique Cadeau offers coupes in 5 oz, 6 oz, 7 oz, 8 oz, and 9 oz, so you can match the glass to the drink – or to the moment (smaller for nightcaps, larger for toasts and brunch).

The coupe was first designed in France in the late 17th century – legend says it was modelled on the breast of Marie Antoinette, though the actual origin predates her by a century. It served as the standard champagne glass of European aristocracy until the 1950s, when the slim flute took over for sparkling wine. The coupe came roaring back during the 1920s cocktail revolution as the glass of the Manhattan, the French 75, and the Sidecar – and it's become the icon of the modern craft-cocktail movement. Today, the coupe sits on bar carts as both a working cocktail glass and a piece of design history.

Glassique Cadeau hand-blown lead-free crystal glasses are dishwasher safe on a gentle, low-temperature cycle – but hand washing is the safer long-term choice for keeping rims smooth and crystal clarity intact. Use warm water and a mild detergent, avoid extreme temperature changes (never put a frozen glass into a hot wash), and air-dry on a soft cloth. For sets with gold rims, painted detail, or hand-cut crystal – the Octagonal Gold-Rim Coupes and the Art Deco Speakeasy Lowballs in particular – hand wash only to preserve the finish.

Yes – lead-free crystal is the modern standard for premium glassware and is safe for everyday use with any beverage. Traditional lead crystal contained up to 32% lead oxide, which improved clarity and weight but could leach trace lead into spirits stored long-term in decanters. Lead-free crystal (sometimes called crystalline or potassium-zinc crystal) uses barium, zinc, or potassium oxides instead, delivering the same brilliance, weight, and ring without the safety concern. Every Glassique Cadeau glass is hand-blown from lead-free crystal and tested to comply with FDA and EU food-contact standards.

Yes – every Glassique Cadeau set ships in our signature gift box, ready to wow at unboxing. The box is structured, branded, and printed with the cocktail recipe for the glass inside (an Old Fashioned recipe with our lowballs, a French 75 with our coupes, a classic Martini with our martini glasses). No additional gift wrap needed. For weddings, housewarmings, engagements, anniversaries, and birthdays, every set is already presentation-ready straight out of the shipping carton.

Yes – Glassique Cadeau offers free standard shipping on every U.S. order over $89. Most sets ship the next business day from our warehouse, with delivery in 3-6 business days. Every shipment is packed with reinforced padding and tracked end-to-end, and any breakage in transit is replaced free of charge. Expedited shipping is available at checkout for time-sensitive gifts (weddings, milestone anniversaries, holiday deadlines).

Hand wash Glassique Cadeau crystal glasses in warm water with a mild detergent, then air-dry upside down on a soft cloth or stemware rack to prevent water spots. Avoid extreme temperature changes – never pour ice into a hot-from-the-dishwasher glass or hot liquid into a refrigerated one, since thermal shock can crack crystal. Store stemware upright (not on the rim) to protect the lip. For gold-rimmed, painted, or hand-cut sets, hand wash only. Lead-free crystal is durable, but it rewards gentle handling – every glass is hand-blown, so each one is unique.