Simple quality.
This pitcher arrives well-packaged in a graphically rich, retail-shelf ready cardboard box. Inside, shaped foam padding holds it so that it seems unlikely it will be damaged in transit. Once removed from packaging, the pitcher stands vertical easily on the flat portion of its bottom. It is capped with a rubber lid that fits tightly inside its wide neck. Capacity is close to 1/2 gallon.Borosilicate glass, advertised for this pitcher, is a type of glass that includes boron trioxide. This chemical addition gives the glass a very low coefficient of thermal expansion; in other words, it will not crack under sudden temperature changes. Corning (the corporation) owns the brand name Pyrex, which is associated with glass of this type, even if how this type of glass is manufactured varies among glass makers. This introduction is to explain why the claim of resistance to temperature changes claimed for this item is plausible.This pitcher can be used to brew tea using boiling water from a kettle, by dropping enough tea bags in it and then filling it with hot water. The cap works as a strainer, holding back anything solid that will not pass through the perforated steel sheet at its bottom. The cap fits gasket-tight into the wide neck of the pitcher, and can be rotated so that its side opening aligns with the beak of the pitcher (opposite the handle) to allow pouring the liquid without any of the solids (tea bags in this example; or possibly ice, when used for different applications).This is a functional 1/2 gallon pitcher built so that form-follows-function. This is a utilitarian piece, the value of which is in its functionality, while still providing a streamlined look that is pleasing in its simplicity. Compared to equivalent items in plastic, this is infinitely more durable as long as it's not dropped... At some point, the cap may become a little worn out, but keeping it in place with a hand when pouring is not going to be a problem, and it will remain a capable strain, as the stainless steel mesh looks long lasting. Recommended as a non-disposable item that, treated properly, will last longer than the memory of its price. Simple quality.