Bormioli Rocco Ypsilon

Start with the carafes, because that is where the biggest difference in size lies. The 28.5 cl is meant for a single serving: milk with the coffee, or one pour of water. The 50 cl sits on the table for two people, the 1.1 litre for a whole table or for putting tap water in the fridge. With the glassware, the drink determines the shape. The 33 cl margarita glass has a wide bowl for a salted rim, the 24.5 cl cocktail glass a straighter bowl for shaken drinks with a foam layer. Shot glasses of 7 cl are roomier than the usual 4 cl, so you can also serve a short drink over ice in them. You will find more variants among the margarita glasses and the shot glasses.

Shake a margarita with ice and strain it into the 33 cl glass; salt only the outside of the rim, so no salt ends up in the drink. The 24.5 cl cocktail glass is the size for an espresso martini: shake hard enough to get a foam layer and pour it through quickly, because that layer collapses within a minute. Put the carafes on the table with tap water and a slice of lemon, or use them to give wine half an hour of air before pouring.

The split in the stem looks fragile, but it is solid: the glass is actually thicker there than on an ordinary stem. What you do need to watch is the carafe. A narrow neck cannot be cleaned with a normal brush, so use cleaning beads or a long bottle brush. Stand carafes upside down to dry after rinsing, otherwise water stays behind and starts to smell musty after a week. The glasses can simply go in the dishwasher.

If you are after the carafes separately, the complete selection is with the carafes. For sparkling wine in a narrower bowl there is the champagne flute glasses category. If you want to see the rest of the brand, look at Bormioli Rocco, where you will also find the ranges for wine and beer. The tools for shaking and straining are with the cocktail shakers, from shaker to bar strainer.