Bormioli Rocco Line

Start with the size. The 29 cl tumbler is the all-rounder: roomy enough for a generous glass of water, low enough to stand steadily and to fit into a full dishwasher basket. The 39 cl long-drink glass is narrower and taller, so that after a good scoop of ice there is still a proper serving left. Take both and you cover the whole day with two shapes. The coloured tumblers add something practical: at the table everyone recognises their own glass, which cuts down considerably on half-full glasses left on the worktop. More colour can be found at the coloured glasses.

Line is a table glass, not a wine glass. Water, juice, soft drinks, iced tea and lemonade all come into their own in it; for wine you miss the bowl that holds the aroma together. The 39 cl long-drink glass is the right size for a gin and tonic or a cuba libre: fill the glass more than half with ice, pour the gin or the rum on top and top up with tonic or cola. Pour the mixer down the side rather than into the middle and you keep noticeably more fizz.

Line is made of clear glass and is dishwasher-safe. Use a glassware programme at low temperature and place the glasses apart from each other in the rack; rims tapping against each other are by far the most common cause of damage. Afterwards let them steam off with the door ajar and they will dry without marks. With hard water, rinse aid keeps away the dull haze that otherwise settles on the wall. A glass with a damaged rim should no longer be used.

More sizes and shapes from the same maker are at Bormioli Rocco. To compare straight-sided models, look at the tumblers and the long-drink glasses; if it is purely about water, the water glasses category is the quickest overview. And if you are after the tools that go with the table, such as jiggers, ice buckets and bar spoons, the bar tools are the place to be.