Glasses and mugs come in a variety of different shapes and sizes but have you ever stopped and wondered why? From the subtleties of why you shouldn’t be drinking red wine from a white wine glass to something more obvious like why commuting with a standard coffee mug is a bad idea, this is the ultimate guide to different kinds of drinkware.
Short Tumbler
Capacity: 5 to 8 ounces
A short tumbler is perfect for juice, water, an old fashioned cocktail, whiskey on the rocks, soft drinks or milk. They’re also known as — or have slight variations known as — the lowball glass, an old fashioned glass or a rocks glass. The most important thing is its solid base, which speaks to its day-to-day durability.
Tall Tumbler
Capacity: 10 to 12 ounces
Tall tumbler styled glasses are ideal for drinks that need or are better with a lot of ice. The increased capacity means they’re great for mixed drinks. They’re also suited for fruit juices, iced teas/coffees, soft drinks and more.
White Wine Glass
Capacity: 10 to 12 ounces
If you’ve ever wondered if there should be a difference between red and white wine glasses, then the answer is yes. White wine glasses have a smaller bowl which helps the wine maintain its cool temperature. Another key aspect of a white wine glass is having a stem to protect your drink. It stops your hand from warming the bowl of the glass and ruining the crispness of the wine.
Red Wine Glass
Capacity: 9 to 14 ounces
A red wine glass’s bowl is wider than its white wine counterpart. This is so the wine has room for you to swirl it (without spilling), availing it to more oxygen and ‘opening up’ its flavors and aromas for you to enjoy. The wider opening also allows for a smoother taste.
Cocktail Glass
Capacity: 3 to 6 ounces
Cocktail glasses come in a few different varieties, but the traditional inverted cone design is still the most prominent. You can get a better sense of the whole drink through its scent and taste due to the wider mouth of a cocktail glass.
Tall Flute/Tulip Glass
Capacity: 4 ounces
These glasses have a tall, narrow bowl on a stemmed base and are used for sparkling wine, sparkling wine cocktails and sparkling wines. Interestingly enough, it’s the narrowness that maintains the bubbliness of the drink. The less exposure the liquid has to air means those bubbles survive for longer.
Cordial Glass
Capacity: 1 1/2 ounces
These glasses are designed to accentuate the aesthetic values of fine liqueurs and cordials.
Snifter
Capacity: 6 to 8 ounces
The shorter stem on the snifter, along with the wide bowl encourages you to gently warm the brandy with your hand. This actually releases the aroma and boosts the experience.
Shot Glass
Capacity: Around 1 ounce
A shot glass is designed to be easy to hold and easy in which to drink. The base of the glass is designed to survive it being slammed down on tables or bar counters after consumption.
Margarita Glass
Capacity: 3 to 10 ounces
The iconic double bowl of the margarita glass is easy to spot. The wide rim of the glass is perfect for placing sugar or salt around the edges.
Pint Glass
Capacity: 16 ounces
The shape of a pint glass is useful in a bar setting because it’s easy to clean, sturdy and it’s easy to stack. The shape allows people to gulp or take large swigs.
Pilsner Glass
Capacity: 10 to 14 ounces.
These tall and slender glasses typically hold less beer than a pint glass but compensate with increased taste. The wider head and rim bring out the flavor of a light beer by retaining the foam of the head for longer.
Stein/Beer Mug
Capacity: 10 to 15 ounces
The main feature that sets the beer mug/stein apart from other glasses is, of course, the handle. This lets you hold the beer and avoid warming it up with your hand. It’s also easier to keep a solid hold of so there’s less fear of dropping it.
Standard Mugs
Capacity: 11 to 15 ounces
Where would be without our favorite coffee mugs? The size varies depending on how much of a caffeine dose you need to get your day started. These are ideal for when you’ve got time to enjoy your coffee from a position of comfort and less so for surviving the swishing and swashing of constant movement.
Espresso Mug
Capacity: 2 to 6 ounces
These mugs are small enough that a shot or double shot of espresso isn’t lost in the bowl. Espresso has a higher amount of caffeine per unit volume than most coffee but when you take into account the size of a standard brewed coffee, you’re actually taking in less caffeine.
Latte Mug
Capacity: 12 to 17 ounces
A latte mug has a conical or bowl shape with an ear-shaped handle for a comfortable grip. Both shapes give you a wide mouth which is perfect if you want to play around with latte art. The conical shape is more common because it also means the coffee has less exposure to air. Glass latte mugs let you view the different layers and how they blend together.
Travel Mug
Capacity: Varying
Travel mugs are great for the person who enjoys coffee on the go, whether that’s on the morning commute or when traveling. The insulation keeps your tea or coffee warm and ready to drink. Some other useful features are spill-resistant seals and handles for keeping a good hold on your hot beverage.
Color Changing/Morphing Mug
Capacity: 11 to 15 ounces
These deceptively fun mugs look like any other standard coffee mug until a hot liquid is added. The heat reactive coating changes the design on the mug giving a perfect surprise.
As designs were developed to bring out the best qualities for each type of drink, there’s a lot of variety within and to the styles mentioned above. It’s interesting to note how little details like the stem of a glass, or shape of a bowl, can enhance the overall enjoyment of a certain type of drink.
With a background in psychology and sociology, love of football, literature, travel and music, Aonghus had always tried to be trendy, but then the trends changed.
Wow! Thank you Aonghus for this detailed article. Never knew so many different types of mugs existed. This will help with designer’s descriptions when designing Zazzle beverageware. .