Drinkware
There are many different types of drinking vessels, ranging from cups, mugs, outdoor drinkware, wine glasses, champagne glasses, beer mugs, as well as personalized drinkware. Drinking vessels vary based on what type of liquids that they hold. Cold liquids are generally held in glass or plastic; whereas, hot liquids are held in insulated earthenware, like coffee and tea mugs. Barware is completely separate and includes many different types of drinking vessels based on the type of beverage, from champagne flutes to pilsner glasses. You don’t want to run into a situation where you are entertaining and don’t have the proper drinking glasses. It is helpful to separate drinkware into two separate categories, from everyday drinkware to specialty drinkware. You can easily build your drinkware collection by selecting a reliable set of everyday drinkware and investing in specialty drinkware that you will use on specific occasions.
Everyday drinkware includes any drinking vessel you would use on a daily basis. For most people, everyday drinkware involves coffee or tea mugs and glass cups. The best coffee and tea mugs are made from ceramic or earthenware and have easy-to-hold handles. For those who enjoy a contemporary style, glass coffee and tea mugs are the perfect option. Drinkware for lunch or dinner typically involves glass or plastic cups that hold 8-12 oz of liquid. Some glasses have stems, whereas others are short and wide. The style of your drinkware should complement your dishes and table linens. For example, you can pair square shaped glasses with square plates or traditional glasses with simple plates.
Aside from tea cups, coffee mugs, and water glasses, most houses also have stemware or beer mugs. Stemware, also known as wine glasses, includes both white and red white glasses. White wine glasses typically have larger stems and a narrow mouth to keep the wine at a cool temperature. Red wine glasses generally have a wide base and some come without stems so that the warm of your hand releases aromas from the red wine. Champagne flutes are similar to white wine glasses and allow bubbles to rise up the narrow container. You don’t have to purchase a full stemware collection; however, you can easily purchase the drinking vessel that you think you will use the most. For example, if you are more of a beer person, rather than a wine enthusiast, then feel free to invest in nice beer mugs or pilsner glasses to enjoy your favorite beverages.
After you have established a nice set of drinkware, you may want to invest in outdoor drinkware for spring and summer dining. You can find outdoor drinkware that is made from thick glass or plastic to prevent the glasses from breaking if they come into contact with a hard surface. Similarly, glasses with a heavier bottom are great for your patio because they won’t be easily knocked off the table.
