How to choose a handmade ceramic mug: stoneware, porcelain or earthenware

“Ceramic” is an umbrella word. It covers a thick stoneware mug, a thin porcelain cup and a glazed earthenware jug. They all start from clay and fire, but they behave differently in the kitchen: some can go through the dishwasher for years, others prefer washing by hand.

If you want a handmade mug to use every day, it’s worth knowing the differences. Here is what each material means and what to check before you buy.

What “ceramic” means for a mug

Every ceramic object is made of shaped clay that is then fired in a kiln. The differences come from two things: what the clay body is made of and the temperature it is fired at. The higher the temperature, the more the body vitrifies: part of it melts and binds the rest, and the material becomes denser and absorbs less water.

On top of the body there is usually a glaze, a glassy layer that melts in the kiln and covers the surface. A glaze can be glossy or matte, coloured or clear, and it’s the part your lips touch.

Stoneware: strong, for every day

Stoneware is fired at high temperatures, usually around 1,200–1,300°C. At these temperatures the body largely vitrifies, so a well-fired stoneware mug is dense, feels solid in the hand and absorbs very little water, even in unglazed areas.

That’s why stoneware is the material many potters choose for everyday pieces: it copes well with daily use, keeps drinks warm and has a natural, mineral look. The walls are usually thicker than porcelain, and the foot is often left unglazed so the clay shows.

EMSENSA mugs are made of ceramic stoneware, thrown by hand on the potter’s wheel in Romania, with a matte glaze and fired at 1,200°C. The foot is left as natural clay, and the message inside is applied as a ceramic decal and fixed with a second firing. They are dishwasher safe and suitable for hot and cold drinks.

Porcelain: fine, white, delicate-looking

Porcelain is made from a body rich in kaolin, a very fine white clay, and fired at the highest temperatures, often above 1,250°C. The result is a white, non-porous, very hard material. In thin layers, porcelain lets light through.

Porcelain is elegant and light, but thin rims can chip if knocked. Made by hand, it’s even more demanding: the clay is less plastic on the wheel and can warp in the kiln. That’s why handmade porcelain is rarer and usually more expensive.

Earthenware and terracotta: warm, traditional, more porous

When people say “a clay mug”, they usually mean ceramics fired at lower temperatures, roughly between 950 and 1,150°C: earthenware, terracotta, traditional glazed pottery. At these temperatures the body doesn’t vitrify. It stays porous and absorbs water wherever it isn’t covered by glaze.

These pieces have warm colours and a long history, including in traditional Romanian pottery. For a mug used every day, though, a few things matter: the inside must be fully glazed, the glaze shouldn’t be cracked, and the piece is usually more prone to chipping and to sudden changes in temperature. Many makers recommend washing by hand, so check what the seller advises.

In short: which one for what

• For everyday use, coffee, tea and the dishwasher: stoneware.
• For a fine, white look and thin little cups: porcelain.
• For a traditional or decorative piece, used with care: glazed earthenware.

What to check on a handmade mug

• Weight and balance. A stoneware mug is heavier than a porcelain one, but it shouldn’t feel unsteady or tip.
• The handle. How many fingers fit? Is it comfortable to hold when the mug is hot?
• The rim. The edge you drink from should be smooth, with no rough spots.
• The inside. The glaze inside should be continuous, with no cracks or bare patches.
• The foot. An unglazed foot is normal on stoneware. It should be smooth so it doesn’t scratch the table.
• Capacity. Many coffee mugs hold between 250 and 350 ml. EMSENSA mugs hold 300 ml.
• Care. Ask whether the mug can go in the dishwasher and the microwave. Metallic decorations, such as gold or silver, should never go in the microwave.

Variation or flaw?

On a handmade mug, small differences are natural: the shape isn’t perfectly identical from one piece to the next, the glaze can vary slightly in tone, and you may feel the marks of the potter’s hands in the walls. At EMSENSA, every piece has small variations like these, which make it unique.

A flaw is something else: a crack that runs through the wall, a chip on the rim, a handle that moves, or a network of fine cracks in the glaze inside. These affect how the mug can be used and have nothing to do with it being handmade.

A few care tips, for any ceramic

• Avoid thermal shock: don’t pour boiling water into a mug straight from the cold, and don’t put a hot mug directly on a very cold surface.
• With matte glazes, teaspoons can sometimes leave grey metal marks. They usually come off easily with a soft sponge.
• Don’t let the mug knock against other dishes in the sink or the dishwasher: chips most often appear on the rim.

If you’d like to see what a handmade matte stoneware mug with a message inside looks like, all the designs are in Ceramic mugs with a message. And to learn how an EMSENSA mug takes shape, from the potter’s wheel to the second firing, visit the About EMSENSA page.