Specification

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Castelli have aimed to produce a jersey that has a more relaxed cut than race-day gear but doesn’t go so far as to appear baggy. Think close fit, not restrictive; gentle cuddle, not a bearhug. So, they hope it’ll become your every-day cycling jersey. There have been improvements, they say, on the original Espresso Jersey Castelli Espresso Jersey | cycling-not-racing.

This means nothing to me, as I have never worn one, but Castelli say they include; improved fit, a subtler logo, stronger rear pocket structure to reduce sag, and improved finish to the edges. Sounds good?

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So, what have we got? Well, on the face of it, we have a traditional summer jersey with short sleeves, three rear pockets, and a full-length zip at the front. There is more; a zipped security pocket, fabric that is upper-stretchy and breathable, a featherweight feel, tactile finish.

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The fabric is Catelli’s Air O proprietary fabric (92% polyester, 8% elastane), which manages moisture and, according to Catelli, tests very well in the wind tunnel. More practically, for the average enthusiast, the finish is really good. There’s a partial baffle for the top few inches of the zip, the collar is neatly hemmed, and the sleeves, though hemless, finish in a neat cut.

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Seams are smooth, barely noticeable against the skin. There’s a gripper strip to keep things in place.Zips can be a bit of a bugbear of mine, but this one seems pretty robust. Time will tell. There’s UV protection, although this can be a moot point. Ours was Vivid Orange, but there are several other colours available, which can be coordinated with a range of colours for Espresso 2 bib-shorts and other garments, should you wish.

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Size and fit 5/5

This is a tailored garment and comes in, according to Castelli, half a size smaller than the original Espresso. Despite that, they suggest sticking to your regular Castelli size, as the stretchy fabric will cope with that. I can’t comment on that, other than to confirm the stretchiness of the fabric (but you might have picked up on that feature already).

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The Castelli website allows you to work out your size by inputting a variety of data; age, height, weight etc. Alternatively, you can just use the usual measurements and the sizing chart. Both reached the same conclusion for me, leading to the XXL (in most brands I am XL).

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On reflection, I could probably have squeezed into an XL, but that may have been vanity getting the better of me. I’m actually really pleased with the XXL, as it seems to have the effect that Castelli aim for; close fit without constriction. The time taken getting the sizing right was well spent, and well-worth it, especially given the price.

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However, it has a neat little fob. It has the scorpion Castelli logo. That’s about as prominent as that sort of thing goes. The other logo and Castelli name or toned in with the rest of the jersey (unless you plan on revealing your gripper strip) so to be visible only on close inspection.

 

Care and durability 4/5

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As is usual with garments like this, wash at 30C with similar colours (especially for the firstfew washes). No ironing, no bleach, no tumble-drying, no dry-cleaning – also pretty regular stuff. Line drying in the shade is ideal, but not always easy. On tour, for example, one may need to do a hand-wash and hope for the best when it comes to drying – don’t hang it on a hot radiator.

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Drying times? Well, line dry after a machine wash with a spin and it’ll dry very rapidly, especially if there’s a breeze and the weather is warm. In those circumstances, think half an hour or so. Hand-wash in the hotel room and dry over the back of a chair close to the radiator. Well, provided you gave it a good ring, it should be ready after breakfast.

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Out and about, it goes well under a lightweight shell jacket. Getting caught in a light shower, it took half an hour or so before I felt bone dry, but fortunately, I arrived at the café moments after the rain stopped. Personally, unless the weather was very warm, I’d carry a lightweight jacket – if only for limiting the wind-chill of a wet jersey.

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The close cut makes snagging on undergrowth less likely, but this is not really single-track material for those who enjoy twisting their way through thickets of gorse, or similarly spiny examples of the local flora. I love bright colours, but they’ll all fade a bit in the end. I’ve not found it necessary to wash the Espresso 2 after every ride, especially as the weather is warming and it has ceased to be buried under a heftier jacket. Even so, after a handful of washes – following the instructions carefully – the Vivid Orange is still vibrant.

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Performance 4.5/5

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The Espresso 2 feels super-light – and it is. I use it first as a baselayer. True, this is not its primary function, but for those who go on multi-day rides, layering is really still a big thing. As expected it performed less well than function-specific garments, but it did a job, and, of course, when the temperature has risen (getting into the higher teens, in this case, stripping off reveals a great jersey for when things warm up (yes, I know, the UK in spring may not reach the peaks of Death Valley, but it feels warm to me). It was better, in my opinion, as a mid-layer over a base-layer and under a light-weight jacket. However, in real-world terms, I’m not sure when I’d go for this set-up – unless on a multi-day ride.

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The tailored fit is not Castelli’s sportiest but fits beautifully without clinging. I really like it, athough, I’ll admit, it may not be such a pleasure to the onlooker (There is a significant imbalance in my training regime, between attacking personal bests on the road and the cake in the café.) It is not that I insist on tailored fit, the Lomo Cycling Jersey Lomo Short Sleeve Cycling Top Full Zip | cycling-not-racing has become a favourite of mine; I went a size too large, it is baggy, cool, and hides the effects of the training imbalance.

 

However, no speedster or trainer would be seen dead in it, despite it costing a fraction of the Espresso. It is just a different animal. Breathability is great. After sweating up climbs, I’ve found that moisture has dissipated rapidly. The gripper strip works beautifully to keep things in place when crouching over the bar. The collar is smooth and comfortable; the whole thing just feels light and snug, without clinging. Seams? Oh, seams. Not really noticed them.

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Zippers can be a bit of a bugbear for me. This one seems to be of better quality than some. Despite that cake in the café, I don’t put too much stress upon it, but it feels robust. The fob is not large, but that does not really matter as you’ll have your summer mitts on when youare using this. Add a ribbon if wish – or, as Michael likes, a zip-tie.

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Needless to say, full-length zips add that bit extra temperature control – a welcome feature when things really heat up. At the time of writing, that is something to look forward to. Or so it was, until a sudden spike in the temperature took April into the mid-twenties.  I can very happily report that the Espresso 2 Jersey just felt perfect; cruising the country lanes or honking some hills, it remained cool and moisture disappeared rapidly. Pockets are traditional and will take the bits you need on a summer’s day jaunt.

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Given the tailored cut, you’d expect them to hold things securely in place. In addition, Castelli say thatthey have strengthened these to be even more robust. Don’t overstuff them, but don’t expect to find your mini-pump invading your saddle space. The zipped pocket is really useful, although I’d not recommend accessing it on the fly – why would you? This may be something to do with my general cack-handedness, but it is hardly a drawback, in my

opinion.

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Value 3.75/5

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Michael liked the original Espresso Jersey, and it seems that Castelli’s claim to have improved it are reflected in reality, even if they were starting from a high point. All for five pounds extra, too. I’d not for one moment suggest that I’d not think twice before splashing out £135 for a jersey; I baulk at five pence more for a cuppa at a regular rest stop. However, there is always an element of getting what you pay for, even if some features may be seen as marginal as the price goes up. However, it is difficult to see how much more you could expect from a summer jersey than you get from the Espresso 2 jersey.

 

Of course, there are rivals. I’m currently trying out the POC Cadence jersey, which is a bit cheaper, a few grams heavier, and I’ll let you know what I think, in due course. Rapha’s Pro-Team Jersey will set you back around £190, if you pay the rrp. Serving the same temperature range, with some nice features, but slightly cheaper than the Espresso 2 is the Lusso Paragon Jersey. Even cheaper, at £80, but still a strong contender for your attention would be the Stolen Goat Kalahari Jersey at £80. It covers the same temperature range and has some similar features as the others.

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Summary

As ever, there are gains to be got by going up-town, both on terms of the type of cycling you go in for and in the quality of fabrics and construction of a garment. You don’t have to want to go at top speed most of the time to appreciate this jersey, but you’ll probably make the most of it if you do more than ramble to the rest-stop. Equally, it is very well-made, looks stylish (of course, matter of opinion), and is, again personal opinion, is a delight to cycle in.

 

Verdict 4.5/5: tip-top jersey, at a price.

Steve Dyster

https://www.castelli-cycling.com