Castelli Espresso 2 - The all-round collection in a long-term test

It's even harder to make an already excellent piece of cycling apparel better than it is to develop good kit in the first place. Jerseys or bib shorts that fit perfectly, last for years and convince on every ride give their owners little reason to buy again. New colours alone rarely spark that desire. What's needed is a revision that turns an already strong product into a noticeably better one. That's exactly the task Castelli has set itself with the Espresso 2 collection. After two years of feedback, the cut, pocket hold and material construction have been reworked, and the bib short now gets softer straps and a higher waistband. That sounds more like fine-tuning than revolution, but it's exactly these details that decide whether you keep reaching for your tried-and-tested kit or suddenly feel the urge to hang another one in the wardrobe.

Castelli sticks consistently to its core principle. The Espresso 2 isn't meant to be the lightest, most radical or most uncompromising outfit in the range, but the one that automatically ends up back on top of the pile after the wash. The new jersey sits a little closer to the body, but thanks to Air_O Stretch it remains comfortable to wear in your usual Castelli size. The high horizontal and limited vertical stretch is designed to combine freedom of movement with more stable rear pockets. The ensemble is rounded out by the Espresso 2 bib short and the proven Espresso 18 socks.

Added to this is the new Corretto jersey, which interprets the same Italian DNA with an even sportier race fit and a distinctly bolder look. The role division stays clear: Espresso is the versatile all-rounder for almost any ride, Corretto the sharper option for anyone after a bit more racing feel.

The Espresso set in Belgian Blue and Dark Gray does without flashy design elements, and it looks all the more premium for it. Tonal logos, matte fabrics and the largely monochrome build make the jersey, bib short and socks feel like a coherent package. The jersey's Air_O material shows a fine technical structure, the unhemmed sleeve cuffs sit cleanly, and the wide waistband already gives the impression, standing still, that it will hold the rear pockets reliably in place once you're riding. The bib short also stays visually understated: laser-cut leg cuffs, soft silicone grippers and the visible Progetto X2 Air seat pad make it clear that function comes before showmanship here.

A deliberately sportier counterpart is the Corretto jersey in Ivory/Clay-Black. Inspired by the Venetian caffè corretto - an espresso with a shot of grappa - Castelli interprets the concept with bolder graphics, contrasting material zones and a noticeably tighter race fit. Taped sleeve cuffs, an anatomically shaped collar and different fabrics across torso and sleeves give the jersey a distinctly sportier character. The role division is clear: Espresso goes for timeless understatement, Corretto for an extra dose of racing flair.

Our test selection consisted of the Espresso 2 jersey, the Espresso 2 bib short, the Corretto jersey (all size M), plus two pairs of Espresso 18 socks in size L/XL. Our size reference was NoPain, at 175 cm tall, 72 kg, with an 84 cm inseam.

Castelli Espresso 2 jersey

According to Castelli, the Espresso 2 jersey fits about half a size closer to the body than its predecessor. Thanks to the high elasticity, you're still meant to stick with your usual Castelli size - an impression our practical test confirms. For our Bikeboard reference (175 cm, 72 kg), size M remained the right choice.
On the bike, the Espresso 2 convinces less through hard compression and more through its controlled elasticity. The material gives way sufficiently at the chest, shoulders and stomach, while the wide waistband and low lengthwise stretch keep the rear pockets surprisingly steady even loaded with clothing, a smartphone and food. That makes more of a difference in everyday riding than any theoretical aero gains. The extra zippered pocket securely holds keys, a card or cash, and the large YKK Vislon zip is easy to operate even while riding. Finally, the slightly longer front cut means the jersey cuts a good figure not just on the bike but at the coffee stop afterwards, too.

The Espresso 2 bib short stays true to its core idea and improves exactly the details that make the biggest difference on long rides. The higher waistband gives a cleaner transition to the jersey, the softer straps distribute pull more pleasantly across the shoulders, and the laser-cut leg cuffs deliver a calm, secure fit without bulky elastic bands. Even at high temperatures, with plenty of sweat and several hours in the saddle, the shorts stayed free of chafing, pressure points or bothersome seams throughout the test.
Anyone after an uncompromising race bib for the final watt hunt will find lighter, more taut alternatives elsewhere. But if you spend many hours comfortably in the saddle and want a bib short that combines performance with long-distance comfort, the Espresso 2 is one of the most convincing all-round shorts in the premium segment.

The Corretto jersey isn't technically part of the Espresso 2 collection itself, but it complements it with a sportier orientation. Castelli doesn't stop at a sharper look here - it gives the jersey its own cut and its own material construction. Castelli combines different fabrics across torso and sleeves, finishes the sleeves with taped cuffs, shapes the collar anatomically, and consistently classifies the fit as race fit.

Three open rear pockets, a zippered valuables pocket, a full-length YKK Vislon zip and silicone grippers are still all present, though. So everyday usability isn't lost despite the noticeably sportier appearance.

Castelli Corretto jersey

The Corretto is aimed at riders who feel fundamentally at home in the Espresso, but on fast days want a tighter fit, a clearer racing silhouette and a bit more visual presence. The race fit, however, calls for more careful size selection and forgives less if your torso length, shoulder width or waist size sits right between two sizes.

The design in Ivory/Clay-Black looks premium and distinctive both in the studio and on the bike, or at the espresso stop afterwards, without drifting into loud sponsor-jersey territory. On the light base colour, though, sunscreen, coffee stains and road grime show up faster than on Belgian Blue or Dark Gray. If you're after a jersey for almost every ride, stick with the Espresso. If you want a sportier fit paired with a more confident look, the Corretto is the right complement.

With the Espresso 2, Castelli hasn't tried to reinvent a successful collection, but has noticeably improved it in the areas that matter. The jersey fits more precisely, keeps even fully loaded rear pockets convincingly stable, and stays pleasantly mobile thanks to Air_O Stretch. The bib short impresses with a higher waistband, softer straps and the excellent Progetto X2 Air seat pad, especially where many hours in the saddle decide between joy and frustration. The Espresso 18 socks round out the set sensibly both functionally and visually, while the Corretto jersey, with its own cut and sportier race fit, represents a genuine alternative for more ambitious riders - not merely an Espresso with bolder graphics.

At the recommended retail price, the collection sits clearly in the premium segment. The regular, attractive street and sale prices, however, quickly put that into perspective. If you're after a high-quality, long-lasting outfit for many different types of rides, the Espresso 2 is one of the most well-rounded all-round collections on the market. The Corretto, meanwhile, is aimed at riders who deliberately want to be a bit more uncompromising out on the road.