Castelli Espresso Thermal Jersey review: doing the basics well

Castelli’s Espresso range could mostly be summed up in a few words; ‘simple things done well’, and the Espresso Thermal Jersey continues the trend. It is a long-sleeved jersey designed for use when a jersey and arm warmers aren’t sufficient but it's not yet time to drag the big jackets out of their summer hibernation. It can be used as a single, next-to-skin piece or as part of a layering system over a base layer and/or under a gilet, windproof or waterproof.

Castelli clearly has faith in the product as it is available in seven colours for men and four for women in XS to 3XL and XS to XL respectively.

Construction

Only one fabric is used throughout the jersey, a Powerstretch type material that has a light fleece interior with a more densely woven outer. This provides a slight element of wind resistance and is extremely breathable. All the available colourways are a single tone (other than the rear hem elastic), giving them a simple but classy aesthetic. I was particularly impressed with the Winter Sky colour of the test jersey.

There are three open rear pockets and a vertically zipped security pocket on the right-hand side for keys and cash, all of which are easy to access, with a small Castelli Scorpion logo on the centre pocket. I’m not convinced that the tiny reflective tab under the pockets is going to do much to increase road safety, but the YKK zip feels substantial and durable whilst the short, branded placket behind the top of the zip is a premium touch.

The Ride

The Espresso Thermal Jersey, paired with the Espresso Vest and Bibtight quickly became my go-to autumn garb. The flexibility in terms of temperature range and weather conditions made them an easy choice and they kept me warm and happy from about 6°C to 15°C, much cooler than Castelli’s suggested usage window.

The fabric is cosy against the skin if worn on its own, but didn’t cause any drag when worn over a long-sleeved base layer, and breathability was very good - even in combination with the Espresso Vest there was no discernable moisture on the inside of either piece.

For me (186cm/73kg), the cut of the size large was ideal, with room for a base layer but no bagginess anywhere. I could have worn a medium without anything underneath, but I think that the versatility of the larger size is a more sensible option. The broad elastic gripper band at the rear worked well to keep the jersey in place without riding up and

It has been worn and washed a lot in the last couple of months, having rarely made it off the drying rack before being pressed back into service, and shows no signs of shrinking, pilling or fading which suggests that it should be pretty durable.

Value and conclusion

It’d be easy to raise half an eyebrow at the £140 price tag, but given the excellent cut, quality materials and general fit-for-purposeness of the Espresso I think it is excellent value. Sure, there are cheaper options but few will offer the same technical and aesthetic qualities as the Espresso and given the amount of wear it has had already I can’t level its price at it as a criticism.

The UK’s ever-changing weather makes it ideal for the versatility of layering systems, and at the heart of every such system should be a functional, warm jersey. The Espresso Thermal makes a very good case for itself to be that centrepiece with undergarments and over jackets to be added or subtracted as needed.