Design glass carafes: how to choose the right one
Wine or water, sparkling wine or sparkling water? Whatever you like to drink, a glass carafe lets you serve it in style. Carafes look at home on an elegant dining table, a summer garden table or beside the sofa. Read on to find out about the materials, shapes and care of glass carafes.
Buying a new glass carafe: what to consider
1. Choose the right shape
2. How large should my glass carafe be?
3. Carafes and jugs for every occasion
4. How do you clean glass carafes?
5. Brands and prices: glass carafes for different budgets
1. Choose the right shape
Bulbous, softly rounded or defined by clean lines, the shape of a glass carafe influences how you use it.
Decanter, wine carafe: Good wine needs to breathe, and it does this better in a decanter than in the bottle. To let the aromas develop, pour the wine into a wide-bodied carafe, giving it plenty of surface area to breathe before serving and as you pour. The Perfection carafe by Holmgaard, for example, has a distinctive shape. An air chamber inside the decanter helps protect the wine's aroma, while its considered design makes decanting easy.
Glass jug: Its wide opening makes a glass jug an elegant accessory and helps you serve drinks without drips. Eva Solo gives the classic glass jug a fresh interpretation: the carafe holds water and juice spritzers, and its generous opening makes it easy to add ice cubes.
Water carafe: Cold drinks are especially welcome in summer, and you can add flavour with mint, lemon, orange or ginger. A slim glass carafe with a lid is ideal: the lid keeps lime slices and pieces of ginger inside, and helps prevent leaves or pollen from falling in. It is a practical choice for a garden party or an elegant picnic. The tapered water carafe with a stainless steel lid by Menu is also easy to handle. It sits comfortably in your hand, and its gently curved opening helps you pour accurately.
2. How large should my glass carafe be?
From HAY's large 2-litre carafe to Eva Solo's designer glass jug, carafes come in a range of sizes.
A larger capacity is useful if you want to avoid frequent trips to the kitchen. Peter Svarrer designed the 1.5-litre Cabernet glass carafe as a practical size for everyday use. Glass jugs with a particularly wide opening can also double as punch bowls.
Smaller, easy-to-handle carafes fit in the fridge and are easier to carry. Even when full, a 1-litre glass carafe is easy to lift with one hand. The Eva Solo fridge carafe keeps cold drinks ready to serve. Made from borosilicate glass, it is heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe.
3. Carafes and jugs for different uses
With their elegant shapes, carafes make a statement on the table. Pair one with a matching drinking glass set or individual glasses for a coordinated look. Glass carafes with lids, decanters and other designs can also offer practical features.
Good design brings considered form and smart function together, creating a glass carafe that can do more. Many brands make jugs especially for warmer days. The Scandinavian design brand Menu has equipped its Norm Cool carafe with an integrated cooling stick to keep drinks refreshingly cool, even in hot weather. Its iconic shape, reminiscent of a classic glass bottle, makes it a stylish accessory at home, in the garden or on the go. A high-quality stainless steel lid and silicone seal help prevent leaks.
A flip-top lid opens automatically as you pour and keeps ice cubes and fruit inside the carafe.
Carafes are also an elegant way to serve good-quality oils. An oil pourer makes it easy to measure accurately, while a well-designed shape keeps flavourings such as rosemary, basil or garlic in the carafe. Rosendahl has brought these features together in the Grand Cru carafe with oil pourer. Its understated conical shape suits a wide range of table settings.
4. How to clean your new glass carafe
To keep enjoying your design carafe, prevent water marks and cloudiness in the glass. Fortunately, this is easy to do.
The shape of some carafes and jugs can make them harder to clean. Use a slim, flexible carafe brush for bulbous decanters and wine carafes with narrow necks. Many wine and water carafes are also dishwasher-safe, particularly sturdier designs. Wash delicate, bulbous decanters by hand with a mild washing-up liquid.
To prevent streaks and water marks as the carafe dries, use water that is as hot as possible. Cold water may leave marks. If you wash a glass carafe by hand, dry it with a clean tea towel to prevent water spots.
Take extra care when cleaning glass carafes with lids. The glass may be dishwasher-safe, but the lid often is not, particularly if it has a rubber or silicone seal. The heat in the dishwasher can make it brittle.
You can find care information for your glass carafe in the product details on its product page.
5. Brands and prices: glass carafes for different budgets
Glass carafes come in a range of price brackets. The range includes designs from established brands such as Rosendahl, as well as mid-range options from Menu and Eva Solo. At the higher end, you will find distinctive designs such as the Mamba wine decanter by Riedel and the Ultima Thule collection by Iittala. Handcrafting contributes to the price, while mouth-blown glass gives each new carafe its own character.
Buy a glass carafe – your benefits at Connox
- A carefully selected range from top design brands
- High-quality glass carafes by well-known designers
- Simple, direct online shopping
- Personal support from our customer service team
- Fair delivery costs
- Secure payment thanks to SSL encryption
- Delivery in just a few working days
Shopping advice from Connox
Would you like to buy a design glass carafe but need some help? Our customer service team is always happy to help. We'll support you with advice while you shop, make recommendations and answer your questions quickly. Then simply sit back and have your chosen glass carafe delivered straight to your door in just a few working days.
