Bormioli Rocco Sorgente

The 30 cl tumbler is the everyday size: water, juice or a soft drink, with or without ice, and small enough to fit in any cupboard. Take the 42 cl when you want to top up less often or when a lot of ice goes in, with iced tea for example. The 7 cl shot glass is generous for a four-centilitre measure, and that is pleasant: you pour without it standing right up to the rim. If you want a table in one style, combine the two tumblers and keep the shot glasses separately in the cupboard.

Place the tumblers filled next to a carafe on the table, so everyone can top up their own glass and the water stays cool in the carafe instead of in the glass. For iced tea or lemonade, fill the glass with ice first and then pour, so the drink does not become diluted. The shot glass is intended for chilled liqueur, herbal bitters or genever, filled to just below the rim. If you want more than a neat pour, the recipes are listed under shots. A small glass of mocktail also makes a great finale.

The wavy relief is attractive, but it holds water in places where a smooth glass does not. So place the glasses upright in the dishwasher, with space between them, and choose a programme with a thorough rinse. A white haze after drying is limescale and not wear: water with vinegar and a rinse take it off. The glass is tempered and made for daily use, so there is no need to be overly careful.

You can find this brand's wider selection among the Bormioli Rocco glasses. Looking for other low models? Take a look at the tumbler glasses or the water glasses, where you'll find the clear and smooth variants. For smaller servings, the shot glasses are grouped together, with liqueur glasses in various sizes. And if you want to keep water cool on the table, start with the carafes.