I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I know enough to get you started reading the cups.
The first way that I suggest is the past, present, future layout. I'll try to explain as simply as I can. This is only one method. My method, and I don't claim it's precise or guarantee it to work the same for others as it does for me. I suggest you experiment.
Well, first of all you need tea. Preferably loose tea in a tea pot, but bags of tea will suffice if you tear them once tea is brewed. (I call this poor girls tasseography.)
The tea is then drunk, leaving about a teaspoon or so of liquid. Then, it is best to spin the cup clockwise about three times, flip onto a saucer, or paper towel, and once again spin three times, this time counterclockwise letting all of the liquid drain from the cup.
The cup is then also read clockwise, in an almost downward spiral manner.
The Handle represents you or home. (Querent) Almost like a tarot layout. Symbols and images in this position may represent how you're feeling or the situation you may be in at the moment. (Depending if you're asking the cup a specific question or you are just looking for a general reading.)
The rim of the cup to the left represents past events and feelings, and increasing in time the further around the spiral you go. The right of the handle at the rim is present. Towards the middle is more close future, while further down the cup is more distant future. The bottom of the cup represents outcome (once again, if asking a specific question), or distant future.
It's best to write all symbols and images down including their location, then to decipher afterwards.
