How to Choose the Perfect Mug

Start With How You Actually Drink

Before you think about aesthetics, think about your habits.

Do you linger or drink on the move? A wide, open shape such as the Pantry Mug cools faster and is best if you drink your coffee all at once. A taller, narrower profile like the Tall Silo Mug retains heat between sips, making it the better choice for slow mornings or if you like to top off throughout the day.

What's in your cup? Coffee and tea drink differently. A thinner rim is generally preferred for tea as it lets the liquid flow cleanly onto the palate. For a bold drip coffee or latte, a heavier rim and a generous bowl let the aroma open up before you sip.

How much do you actually drink? Most standard mugs hold 10–12 oz. If you find yourself refilling constantly, look for a 14–16 oz option. If you prefer a stronger, smaller pour, a piece like our Marbled Stone Espresso Mug keeps the ratio right.

Browse our full mug collection →

Pay Attention to Weight and Feel

This is the thing most people overlook in photos, and the thing they notice immediately when holding a mug in real life.

A well-thrown stoneware mug has a weight that feels intentional, not heavy. It should feel balanced, not top-heavy, not flimsy. The wall thickness matters too. Thin walls feel delicate and elegant; thicker walls feel grounding and warm.

Pay attention to the handle. It should accommodate at least two or three fingers comfortably, with enough clearance so your knuckles don't graze a hot surface. A good handle is structural, not decorative.

At Farmhouse Pottery, every mug is designed in Vermont and crafted by hand, in our Woodstock studio or by partner potters we trust. The variation between pieces, a slightly different curve or a glaze that breaks a little differently, is a feature, not a flaw. It's what makes your mug yours.

Consider the Glaze

Glaze is where the making gets quiet. After the throwing and the drying and the first fire, it's glaze that gives a piece its final voice; the way it holds light, how it feels against a lip, whether it warms in the hand or stays cool.

Our glossy glaze has a depth that catches morning light. Run your fingers over it and there's a smoothness that feels almost liquid, still, unhurried. The matte finish is the opposite: it drinks in light rather than reflecting it, and the surface has a softness, almost like fine stone, that makes it feel grounded in the hand.

Color comes from the clay and the glaze working together. The variation between pieces — a warmer tone, a slightly different break at the rim — is the nature of the material. It's what makes yours different from anyone else's.

The base of each handmade mug is left unglazed, exposing the raw clay. Burnished smooth in the making, it won't scratch even a glass table, but it does show the honest material underneath. That's intentional.

Food-safe is non-negotiable. All Farmhouse Pottery glazes are food-safe and lead-free. If you're buying from any maker, it's always worth asking.

Match the Mug to the Moment

A mug isn't just for one occasion. But different forms serve different moods.

• A quiet morning alone: Something smaller, weighted, familiar. A mug with history.
• A slow weekend with someone you love: Two matching mugs, side by side. The ritual matters as much as the coffee.
• A gift: Look for something with a story; handmade, signed, made in a place with meaning. A mug from a living craft tradition is a gift that outlasts the occasion.

Use It Everywhere

Don't limit a well-made mug to the coffee maker. Put one on your windowsill with a single stem. Fill it with a negroni. Cradle it with both hands over a bowl of your favorite soup. Drop your pens in it on your desk. The form is just right for all of it: wide enough to be useful and weighted enough to feel intentional wherever it lands.

A good mug doesn't have one job. Let it prove that.

We love seeing how you use your mugs! Tag us on Instagram @farmhousepottery

On Buying Handmade

There's a growing movement toward slowing down in how we shop for the objects we live with. A handmade stoneware mug costs more than one from a big-box store — and it's worth understanding why.

Each piece is made by a person, on a wheel or by hand, glazed, fired, and inspected before it reaches you. The material is clay from the earth. The finish is the result of thousands of decisions made by a skilled craftsperson. When you hold it, that history is present.

A good mug, cared for properly, lasts decades. It's the kind of object that gets passed down, not thrown out.

A Few Questions to Ask Before You Buy

• Does the handle feel comfortable with liquid in the mug (it will be heavier than you expect)?
• Is the glaze food-safe and dishwasher-safe for your lifestyle?
• Does the size match how you actually drink, not how you want to drink?
• Does it feel like something you'll reach for every day?

If the answer to all four is yes, you've found your mug.

Browse our full mug collection →