Choosing a mug: size, handle and weight

A mug is the piece of pottery people use most, often several times a day, so it is worth choosing carefully. At the studio we watch customers pick up five or six mugs before they decide, and they are usually testing the same three things without saying so.

Start with size. Think about what you drink and how. A South Indian filter coffee with milk is around 150 to 200 ml, so a stacking cup of 200 ml suits it well. A large tea or a coffee with plenty of milk fits a 350 ml mug, like our speckled mug, with room at the top so it does not spill as you walk. Mugs above 400 ml look generous but cool quickly and feel heavy when full.

Next, the handle. Our handles are pulled by hand from a lump of clay, not cast, so each one is slightly different. Hold the mug as you would with a full cup. Your fingers should fit inside the handle without pressing on the body, and your thumb should rest naturally on top. A handle that takes three fingers feels steadier than one that takes two, especially with hot tea.

Finally, weight. Stoneware is heavier than porcelain, and that is part of its charm, but a mug that feels heavy empty will feel tiring full. Our 350 ml mug weighs about 380 g. If you can, visit us in White Town and pick up a few. If you are ordering online, every product page lists the capacity and weight, and we are happy to send a photo of a mug held in the hand.