What are the characteristics of high-quality porcelain?

To determine the quality of porcelain drinkware or mugs, you’ll want to evaluate these characteristics:

Durability: During the firing process, porcelain is fired in the kiln at very high temperatures – around 2,650° F. This makes the finished product harder and denser than fine/bone china and more suitable for professional or everyday use. Porcelain is strong and chip-resistant. It is also non-porous, even when unglazed, and has a smooth, watertight surface. 

Color: Quality porcelain has a white body with gray or blue undertones.

The exterior decals on Konitz mugs ensure that the color and decor lasts through years of washing without fading. 

Glaze: Glazed porcelain has a smooth, shiny, glass-like finish. In proper porcelain glazing technique, a layer of decorative glass is applied to the body.

 

Coffee Bar by Könitz

Coffee: it gently wakes us up in the morning and stimulates our minds and bodies. People worldwide rely on its natural aroma to start their day.

You wouldn’t use the same glass for every type of wine, so why do it with your coffee? 

Coffee Bar from Könitz consists of 11 styles of coffee cups, each developed to maximize the unique experience of a specific coffee drink.

Here is an explanation of which beverages you should drink from which cup:

1.     Espresso Cups – Espresso, Espresso Ristretto

Flavor is concentrated in the upper part of the cup. Mount on the bottom inside of the cup supports the creation of a foamy cup. 

2.     Espresso Doppio Cups – Espresso Doppio (double espresso), Espresso Coretto, Espresso Macchiato, Turkish Coffee, Mokka

Flavor is concentrated near the nose because of the narrow shape. Foot of the cup is narrow and prevents coffee residue from mixing back into the coffee. 

3.     Café Crème Cups – Café Crème, Swiss Coffee, Caffe Amaretto

Open rim of the cup enables the aroma to mix with the air, making the aroma milder. Taste of the coffee will develop mainly on the palate. 

4.     Cappuccino Cups – Cappuccino, Espresso Doppio with Milk, Filter Coffee

The taste of coffee is sealed under the milk foam and emerges as you drink. 

5.     Latte Macchiato Cups – Latte Macchiato, Coffee Cocktails (alcoholic coffee beverages)

The tall and elegant shape ensures that you enjoy the sensation of one sip of milk and one sip of coffee alternately. Do not stir and coffee and milk together. 

6.     Café au Lait Bowls – Café au Lait (half coffee, half hot milk), Cereal

Large shape allows you to dip bread – the French dip until the coffee is lukewarm, then drink the remainder. 

7.     Irish Coffee Cups – Irish Coffee, Hot Chocolate

The flavor is retained in the top of the mug when it is filled 4/5. Tall, slim shape offers extra room for whipped cream. A cream top retains whisky flavor if alcohol is added, so don’t stir the cream but sip the coffee through it. 

8.     Coffee Cups – Coffee, Tea

Professional-weight porcelain retains heat longer. Metal, glass, paper and plastic will all have a negative impact on the flavor of your coffee. Porcelain is 100% neutral. 

9.     Mugs – Filter Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate

Classic, everyday mug to suit today’s lifestyle. 

10.  Maxi Mugs – Coffee Mocha, Frappucino, Iced Tea, Iced Coffee

Large shape is suited for large drinks or mixed drinks containing ice cream. Large quantity ensures lasting enjoyment. 

11.  Café Latte Cups – Café Latte, Milk

The Story of the Red Plate

It was a time-honored tradition among early American families that when someone deserved special praise, they were served dinner on the red plate.

When some of the first immigrants to America arrived from Europe, they often carried with them few personal belongings. It was common to have very little in the way of formal dinnerware, with the exception of maybe one beautiful, brightly-colored plate, which soon became a prized possession.

This is where the red plate tradition began. Since this “special” plate was reserved for special occasions, it became a way to mark life’s important milestones. 

Today, this custom reminds us that a simple reward can mean so much. By using the Red Plate, any meal becomes a celebration, honoring a special person, event, or deed. It is a visible reminder of love and esteem, a way of showing someone dear that they are appreciated and remembered. 

This beautifully glazed, red ceramic plate is designed and crafted to become a family heirloom, cherished and passed from one generation to the next. Make it a tradition in your family, symbolizing the good and happy times. It will speak volumes of love, when words just aren’t enough. 

Here are some of the many reasons to use the Red Plate:

• Birthday
• Engagement
• Wedding
• Graduation
• Good Report Card
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• Anniversary
• Homecoming
• Old Friend’s Visit
• New Baby
• Housewarming
• Job Promotion
• Won the Big Game
• Simply say "You Are Special Today"

Share with us: What’s your Red Plate Story? 

The Latest Trend: Mug Cakes

It's true that people love eating food out of mugs. The latest recipe craze is the Mug Cake - a delicious, single-serve treat you can make in the microwave in under 3 minutes!

We love the idea of cake-in-a-cup, which is why we designed Mug Bakery. Each of these four cute mugs is printed with its own recipe for making a mug cake.

Because they're made of porcelain, our mugs are microwave and dishwasher safe (but don't put them in the oven!).

Mug cakes are so easy and require little of the cleanup associated with traditional baking. Simply mix your ingredients in the mug, pop in the microwave, and voilà! You have a warm, moist dessert for one.

Here are some of our favorite recipes: 

Strawberry Cheesecake Mug Cake

Ingredients:

3 tbsp. cream cheese

3 tbsp. sour cream

1 egg

1 tsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. vanilla sugar*

3 tbsp. sugar

5 strawberries

Oil to grease the mug

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in the mug and microwave for 2 minutes. 

Cream Liqueur Mug Cake

Ingredients:

5 tbsp. flour

4 tbsp. sugar

¼ tsp. baking powder

1 egg

3 tbsp. oil

4 tbsp. cream liqueur

Instructions: Mix all ingredients and microwave for 2 minutes.

Chocolate Coconut Mug Cake

Ingredients:

5 tbsp. grated coconut

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. cocoa powder

2 tsp. vanilla sugar*

3 tbsp. milk

2 tbsp. oil

1 egg

¼ tsp. baking powder

Oil to grease the mug

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in the mug and microwave for 3 minutes.

White Chocolate Raspberry Mug Cake

Ingredients: 

3 tbsp. flour

¼ tsp. baking powder

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tbsp. milk

½ tbsp. vegetable oil

½ tbsp. lemon juice

5-7 raspberries

3 tbsp. white chocolate chips

Oil to grease the mug

Instructions: Mix all ingredients in the mug and microwave for 2 minutes. 

*Note: Vanilla sugar is a German product commonly used in baking. You can substitute by using regular white sugar and a bit of vanilla extract. Or, you can purchase it from your local grocery store, Walmart, or World Market. Our favorite brand is Dr. Oetker.

History of the Coffee Mug

It's said that Waechtersbach is the inventor of the can-shaped mug - the traditional coffee mug with cylindrical body and curved handle. During World War II, Waechtersbach designed and manufactured this style of ceramic drinking vessel for soldiers stationed in Germany.

However, archaeologists have discovered mugs dating back as far as 10,000 BCE! These mugs, hand carved from bone, were made by people of the Neolithic Stone Age in China and Japan. They were extremely durable but lacked handles.

Bone Mug from the Stone Ages

Stone mugs gave way to decorated clay mugs (this time with handles!), like those found in Greece from 4,000 BCE. The clay mugs had extremely thick walls and were clunky and difficult to drink from.

By 2,000 BCE, artisans were experimenting with mugs made of bronze, silver and gold. The problem with these mugs was that they were extremely hot to touch and painful to hold.

In 600 CE, the Chinese invented porcelain, which brought a new era of mugs, the kind of which we still enjoy today. Porcelain mugs are well suited to both hot and cold drinks.

These mugs were created long before the arrival of coffee, which originated in Africa in the 13th century. The first coffee shop, opened in Constantinople in 1475, featured wooden mugs.

 Something to ponder next time you're drinking a mug of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate!

An Interview with the Waechtersbach Team

Where do you find inspiration when designing new products? 

Since Waechtersbach is best known for its vibrant color and contemporary patterns, our philosophy is to create products in a combination of solids and decorative prints. In designing our dinnerware, we aim to produce the boldest, brightest designs, drawing inspiration from art, pop culture, and nature. We also take suggestions from our customers into account.

Are there any specific designers, places or eras that influence you?

Because we are a German company, European trends will always influence our dinnerware. In the 175+ years since Waechtersbach was established, our products have been influenced by artistic movements such as Art Nouveau and Bauhaus. We strive to stay true to our German heritage by creating modern pieces with clean lines and innovative glazing techniques.  

Is there an approach or look that joins the functionality, form or emotional appeal of your products?

For us, color is key. We believe the colors you use to decorate your kitchen or dining table can enhance your mood or influence your well-being.  With color, you can choose what sort of atmosphere you’d like to create. For example, orange is energizing, blue is calming, red evokes emotion, and green promotes relaxation.

Do you have a specific philosophy surrounding Könitz Mugs?

At Könitz Porzellan, we strive to be the #1 mug resource. We produce high-quality porcelain mugs and are inspired by the way people use them and give them as gifts. We believe each mug can stand alone as its own unique piece.

There is an interesting piece of research conducted by a German professor that shows how a favorite mug can become an important statement about who you are. With this in mind, we make special mugs for special people as well as a variety of mugs to suit all types.