Straws

Pick the length to suit the glass you use. A straw of 14 or 15 centimetres fits a tumbler or an old fashioned glass and just clears the rim; 20 to 21 centimetres is the size for highball and hurricane glasses. A straw that sticks out too far tips over when you set the glass down and knocks against the rim.

Then look at the material. Glass straws are clear and completely neutral in taste, so they add nothing to the drink, but they are the most fragile of the lot. Stainless steel is virtually indestructible and conducts cold, which feels pleasant with an ice-cold drink and stands out with a lukewarm one. Copper and gold are the same core with a finishing layer and need a little more care in the wash. The diameter on the metal models is 6 millimetres, plenty for juice and soft drinks but too narrow for a smoothie with pieces in it.

Only put the straw in the glass once the garnish is in place, otherwise you push mint leaves or a slice of citrus aside. With a mojito you do the opposite and push the straw deep into the crushed ice, so the guest drinks from below and the mint stays on top instead of being sucked up straight away. With a mai tai you slide the straw along the rim next to the garnish, so the float of rum on top stays intact until the first sip.

A bent straw sits more steadily in a wide glass and does not roll off over the rim. In a narrow glass you want a straight model instead, because otherwise the bend presses against the wall and pushes the straw upwards.

A straw never gets clean on the inside in the dishwasher. The spray arm cannot reach into a tube of six millimetres, so syrup and milk residue stay put and dry there. Run the supplied brush through it under running water straight after use, and only then put the straw in the machine.

Glass straws have thicker walls than they look, but they will not survive a fall onto a tiled floor. Wash metal straws with a gold or copper finish at a low temperature and without aggressive detergent, otherwise the layer discolours over time.

The straw is easier to choose once you know which glass it is going into. For the tall glasses, look at the highball glasses, for the balloon shapes at the gin and tonic glasses and for the mugs at the tiki glasses. For keeping both straws and glassware clean, the brushes are with the glass brushes. And if you are still short of tools behind the bar, you will find them with the bar spoons.