Onis Bloom

Look at the height and at what goes in. The 35 cl long drink glass is the narrowest and tallest model and has room for a layer of ice plus a soft drink, which is what you need for a mixed drink that runs on volume. The 35.5 cl tumbler holds almost the same but is lower and wider, so it sits more comfortably in the hand as a water glass or for juice. The small 26.5 cl tumbler is the size for soft drinks with a meal or for spirits with a single ice cube. Compare the models at the long drink glasses and at the tumblers.

Fill a long drink glass with ice first and pour afterwards; the ice then melts more slowly and the drink is watered down less. For a fresh mix with mint and lime, bruise the leaves at the bottom before the ice goes on top; the recipe for the mojito explains the order. Water and juice can simply be poured to the top of the wide tumbler, as no space is needed above the liquid. For coffee with fizz the small tumbler works well, as with the espresso tonic, where the layer of ice cools the espresso straight away.

Stemless glass is the type least prone to breakage, because the weak transition to a foot is absent. This series can go in the dishwasher on any standard programme and is made for machines running several times a day. Never slide the glasses into each other to save space, because they can suction together and then break when pulled apart. Store them upright and, with hard water, rinse afterwards to prevent a limescale haze.

The other series from this manufacturer are listed at Onis. If you are mainly after glasses to lay the table with, take a look at the water glasses. If you want to get serious about mixing at home, the cocktail shakers hold the tools that go with it. And if you want inspiration before choosing a shape, the cocktails page has dozens of recipes with the matching glass listed alongside.