Porcelain Mug or Ceramic Mug: The Real Difference
Most mugs sold today are ceramic: thick, heavy and sturdy. A Tazzarte mug is not one of them. Every Tazzarte design is printed on a slim mug of fine white porcelain. In the hand the two feel very different. Here is what sets them apart, so you know exactly what you are getting.
The short answer
Porcelain is fired hotter than ordinary ceramic and comes out of the kiln denser and harder. That allows a much thinner wall. The result is a mug that is lighter in the hand and finer at the lip, with a bright, smooth white surface. A standard ceramic mug is heavier, thicker-walled and built to take knocks.
If you want a heavy café mug, a Tazzarte mug is the wrong one. If you like a light cup with a thin rim, it is the right one.
Left the standard ceramic mug, right the Tazzarte porcelain mug. The difference is at the rim, the part that touches your mouth.
What you notice first: the rim
A heavy ceramic mug has a thick, rounded edge. On a porcelain mug the edge is thin and smooth, so the drink reaches you more directly. Many people only notice this difference after their first sip. It is the main reason people choose porcelain for coffee and tea.
Weight and wall
Our porcelain mug weighs about 200 g. A standard 11 oz ceramic mug is noticeably heavier. The thin wall makes it light and elegant. It also means the mug is not meant to be dropped on a stone floor or used as a camping mug.
Side by side
| Tazzarte porcelain mug | Standard ceramic mug | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Fine white porcelain | Ceramic (stoneware or earthenware) |
| Firing | Higher temperature, dense and hard | Lower temperature, more porous body under the glaze |
| Wall and rim | Thin, smooth rim | Thick, rounded rim |
| Weight | About 200 g | Noticeably heavier |
| Size | 10 oz, 104 mm high, 75 mm across the base | Usually 11 or 15 oz |
| Feel | Light and elegant | Sturdy and heavy |
| Care | Dishwasher and microwave safe | Usually dishwasher and microwave safe |
Warmth
A thick ceramic wall stores more heat than a thin porcelain wall. If you like your coffee to stay hot for a long time, warm the porcelain mug briefly with hot water before you pour. It is a small habit that cafés have always used.
The picture on the mug
A smooth white surface carries colour and fine lines well. That is why we print the works on porcelain. The photos on each product page show exactly how the picture sits on the mug. Handle and rim stay white.
Quiet luxury
A porcelain mug is quiet luxury: nothing about it is loud. There is no gold rim and no big logo. You notice the quality only when you pick it up: the low weight, the thin rim and the clean white. It is an everyday object, made a little better than it needs to be.
Which one is right for you?
Choose a heavy ceramic mug if you want something to knock about in a workshop or take camping. Choose porcelain if you like a light cup with a fine rim, for a slow morning coffee or an afternoon tea. Porcelain also suits a gift for someone who appreciates the details.
Each Tazzarte mug is printed for you at the hub nearest you and usually arrives within 5–8 business days. See all porcelain mugs.