title_body: How much does the shape of the drinking vessel change the flavor?
upvoted_answer: According to my "Lavazza Barista Guide" the shape of the cup affects the foam of the espresso and indirectly affects the taste.
  
  It is explained as; the foam helps to protect the valuable ingredients to not to be evaporated easily. Also, the foam keeps you espresso warm while you are not drinking it.
  
  In the guide, it is stated that the thickness and the vertical angle of the lavazza cups are specially designed for best coffee experience. So that, at each sip you drink some of the coffee and a bit of the foam and the remaining part of the coffee and foam fits to the now norrower part of the cup.
  
  This sounds like a bit advertisement and a bit reality in a manual prepared by a commercial company. Quite expected in my opinion.