Stoneware vs Ceramic: What's the Difference?

"Ceramic" is the umbrella term — stoneware is one specific type of ceramic, and the differences between it and other types (earthenware, porcelain) actually matter for how a piece performs day to day.

Ceramic Is the Category

Any clay-based object fired in a kiln is ceramic. That includes earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain — three materials with very different densities, firing temperatures, and durability. Asking "stoneware or ceramic" is really asking which type of ceramic you're getting.

Stoneware

Fired at high temperatures — every Doppiocotto piece is fired to 1220–1280°C — stoneware vitrifies: the clay body becomes dense and largely non-porous. That's what makes it durable, chip-resistant relative to earthenware, and genuinely dishwasher and microwave safe rather than just labelled that way.

Earthenware

Fired at lower temperatures, earthenware stays more porous. It's often lighter and can have a warmer, more rustic look, but it's generally less durable and more prone to chipping and absorbing moisture over time — which is why glazing quality matters more for earthenware's practical performance.

Porcelain

Fired even hotter than stoneware, porcelain is denser still — thinner walls, a harder, often whiter body, and a more delicate, refined look. It's typically less forgiving to hand-build and more associated with fine tableware than everyday use pieces.

Why Doppiocotto Uses Stoneware

Stoneware sits at a genuinely useful middle point: dense and durable enough for daily use, with enough tactility and weight in the hand to feel considered rather than clinical. Every piece in the Doppiocotto collection is stoneware, hand-built using the slab-building technique, and fired twice to reach that density.

What This Means for Care

Properly fired stoneware is dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe, as covered in our guide to caring for handmade stoneware. Browse the full collection to see it in practice.