A martini glass looks precise, but its wide V shape can feel fragile in a crowded room. A coupe is usually easier to live with: it is shallower, more stable, and works for sours, stirred drinks, sparkling cocktails, and small desserts. If you host often, buy coupes first and add martini glasses only if you truly love that silhouette. The best first stem is the one you will actually reach for.
The real question is not which glass is more classic. It is which glass protects the drink and survives the room. Both shapes keep hands away from a chilled cocktail, which matters for drinks served without ice. The difference is geometry. A martini glass pushes liquid out toward a wide rim, so every step from kitchen to sofa becomes a balance exercise. A coupe has a lower bowl and a gentler edge, so it feels calmer when guests are standing, talking, and reaching over a table.
Choose a coupe if you make whiskey sours, daiquiris, sidecars, French 75s, spritz variations, or small zero-proof drinks. It also works when you want one stemmed glass that does not scream one recipe. Choose a martini glass if you specifically love martinis, Gibsons, or drinks where the visual line of the V is part of the pleasure.
For a small home bar, buy four to six coupes before buying any martini glasses. Look for a capacity around 5 to 7 ounces. Oversized stems look dramatic but make normal drinks feel underfilled and warm faster. Thin rims are pleasant, but avoid glass so delicate that you hesitate to use it.
Further reading: Bon Appetit on cocktail glass types and background on the cocktail glass.
