best travel mug not made in china

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Best coffee mugs not made in china.

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February 15, 2024

Last Updated 1/14/24. Originally published 8/10/21. “Designed in the USA, Made in China”

After scouring through hundreds of product listings on dozens of Web sites, I’ve concluded that coffee mugs is one of those categories where it’s almost impossible to find something not made in China. Over and over you see brands that started in the United States, but even if they felt strongly about keeping manufacturing anywhere but China, the unfortunate truth is that China is hard to beat from a manufacturing cost perspective, given the combination of cheap labor, abundant natural resources, and a CCP that is pulling the strings by ensuring that it’s monopolizing control of one industry after another.

Worse, if you try to search for “coffee mug made in USA” on Amazon or Google, you’ll find lots of companies that rank merely because their product listing has the word “usa” in it, even if the sentence reads “designed in the USA, made in China”. Brands that supposedly have non-China roots like Sweese and Le Creuset have long offshored their production to China. You’ll also see lots of products where mug designs are imprinted in the US, but the mugs themselves come from China.

And yet if you look hard enough, you’ll find lots of great coffee mugs, whether ceramic or insulated travel mugs, that are still not made in China. Of course, you don’t have the time to go through hundreds of listings and dozens of Web sites, but I do. And so here’s my list of the best.

1. Homer Laughlin Mugs by Fiesta

I’d originally featured the American Mug and Stein Company as my #1 pick. This company was the last pottery company remaining in East Liverpool, Ohio, which at the turn of the 20th century considered the ceramics capital of the United States, if not the world. Its apparent demise is yet another death knell in the story of American manufacturing at the hands of China.

There was another pottery company operating out of East Liverpool called the Homer Laughlin China Company, which ultimately moved to Newell, West Virginia and renamed themselves The Fiesta Tableware Company. They are still in business today, and they still make dinnerware out of Newell, which I featured in my write-up about best dinnerware not made in China .

I’m not sure how it escaped my attention when I first wrote this list, but Fiesta doesn’t just make great dinnerware, they make fantastic mugs in many colors and styles. I personally love the Java Mug for coffee, which is reminiscent of the mug you find at a diner. They also make tea cups, stackable mugs, and tapered mugs, all in the USA.

I originally linked to listings on Amazon, but I notice that third party sellers are price gouging. You can go to a retailer like Macy’s , Kohl’s , or directly to Fiesta to get them at the proper price.

2. “The Mug” by East Fork

As I wrote in my latest update to my article about best dinnerware, Wirecutter’s most recent article on “best dinnerware” mentioned three US-based ceramics makers: Heath Ceramics, East Fork, and Bennington Potters.

All three of these companies are great, but it’s East Fork’s mugs that stand out, in particular the product the call “The Mug”.

They have a whole page on their site talking about how the artisans at East Fork perfected the production and design of The Mug over 10 years from 2009 to 2019. It starts with iron-rich clay from North Carolina (not China), which gets pressed into a plaster mold and then dried and trimmed by hand. The handles are made in a separate die. The handle is attached to the mug by hand. The bottom of the mug is stamped, dried over a few days, and then brought to the kiln to fire. The mug is glazed and fired again.

You can get The Mug in different glaze colors and sizes. It makes a fantastic gift and like other products not made in China, it has a “soul” that you don’t feel when you drink out of a mass produced piece of junk made by a machine run by someone working in slave conditions.

3. Clay in Motion Handwarmer Mugs

Clay In Motion is a family-owned pottery studio based out of Milton Freewater, Oregon.

They design all kinds of pottery and stoneware, but among their highest reviewed products are handwarmer mugs that are available for both right handers and left handers .

They’re lead free and microwave and dishwasher safe. The design is brilliant in that as long as your beverage is warm, your mug will retain the heat as well (you’ll want to let it cool down just a little if the drink is close to boiling).

They also sell more traditional coffee mugs too, all made out of Oregon.

4. Bormioli Rocco Glass Coffee Mug Set

If you’re looking to go upscale with your coffee mugs, especially if you’ve purchased one of those expensive expresso machines, these are the among best glass mugs you can buy .

They’re handmade in Spain by expert glassmakers. They’re beautiful to look at, especially when you look through the crystal clear class to see the beautiful deep sheen of freshly-brewed coffee. The handle is comfortable to hold and doesn’t reflect the heat of the hot coffee. It’s also top-rack dishwasher safe. It’s a classy way to start the morning.

5. Anchor Hocking 16-oz Cafe Glass Coffee Mugs

Here’s a set of glass coffee mugs made in the USA by Anchor Hocking. Anchor Hocking began in 1905 in Lancaster, Ohio and to this day continues to manufacture all their products in the USA. These days they’re part of Oneida, whom we know shut down its flatware operations in the US and makes all their products out of China these days. But Anchor Hocking appears to have avoided this fate, at least for now (sadly, the other big glass maker in the USA, Pyrex” is shipping more and more of their manufacturing to China).

Keep an eye on Amazon reviews, as the same corporate executives who killed Oneida are in charge and so you may see some manufacturing go to China on a product-by-product basis. Buy their products that are marked Made in the USA on their product listing page, and if you get one made in China, send it back at their expense. You can also try this set from Libbey ; the Amazon product page says that it’s made in the USA, but the reality is that Libbey manufactures from all over the world, including China. If you do want to buy a Libbey product, it’s best to go to a brick-and-mortar store to verify in person (looking at the outer box) where it’s made.

6. Tervis Insulated Tumbler Cup

Tervis is a Florida-based drinkware company that has defied the trend and continues to manufacture its insulated tumbler cups here in the USA. Their stainless steel line unfortunately comes from China, but their BPA-free double-wall insulated plastic tumblers are all still made in the USA. Tervis actually invented the technology of using the natural insulating properties of air to create a permanently sealed, double-wall tumbler that keeps hot drinks hotter, cold drinks colder, and hands protected.

Sadly, you see lots of knock-offs on Amazon with the usual fake brand names (Maars, Boston Warehouse, TUMZAK, Zephyr Canyon) all from China companies who are ripping off Tervis’ idea, and unsuspecting consumers are falling for the fake reviews and leaving their own reviews. You’re going to want to make sure you reward a company that has remained loyal to its city of Venice, Florida, where all of its clear drinkware is still produced.

7. Deneen Pottery / Uncommon Clay Mugs

Deneen Pottery is a company out of St. Paul, Minnesota that produces beautiful, handcrafted, glazed pottery mugs for companies and organizations. If you’ve visited a National Park, you’ve probably seen their work; they produce souvenir mugs that you can buy at National Park gift shops. They also serve Bed and Breakfasts, Colleges, Museums, Restaurants, and others who need high quality customized products (and don’t want to bend a knee to China). The mugs get rave reviews for their solid construction, their sturdy weight, their beauty and how comfortable they are to hold.

While companies can usually only buy these mugs in bulk, you can order individual mugs from their online store . There’s also an Amazon brand called Uncommon Clay that says that they’re handmade in the USA and are highly rated as well; they look similar to Deneen mugs, so I’m assuming that Uncommon Clay is sourcing their mugs from Deneen.

8. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

If you’re looking for an alternative to a YETI insulated mug, this Zojirushi stainless steel mug is in my opinion superior to YETI in practically every way. It’s easier to hold, it keeps your hot beverages hotter and your cold beverages colder for longer, it has a wide mouth opening so it’s easier to drink from without spillage, and it’s durable.

This is our thermos of choice in our house; my wife still uses the one she bought many years ago when these were made in Japan. These days they’re made in Thailand, but still superior to anything you can get elsewhere, including and especially

9. Ten Thousand Villages

Anyone can buy a mass produced piece of junk out of China, but not everyone can get their hands on a piece of art that’s handcrafted by artisans in places like Nepal and Vietnam.

While most retailers and brands are trying their best to exploit workers by mass-producing schlock working in slave-like conditions, Ten Thousand Villages is a wonderful site that’s helping to connect artisans in developing countries with shoppers. They have a fantastic collection of mugs for coffee and tea; here you can see a cat-inspired mug from Nepal and a handpainted mug out of the traditional ceramic village of Bat Trang, Vietnam.

The selection may vary from time to time, but be sure to check them out to see what they have in stock.

UNICEF also has a nice selection of mugs by local craftspeople in developing countries, although their prices a marked up a bit to pay the local artisans but also fund their own charitable work. Check them out too .

10. Aspen Mugs

These are part of Crate and Barrel’s “Aspen” Dinnerware collection. They’re made out of porcelain and manufactured in Indonesia. These are the mugs I drink my coffee out of every morning. They’re great for casual use and formal use alike, and clean up great in the dishwasher.

OUT OF BUSINESS – American Mug

My #1 pick on this blog post used to be mugs from a company called American Mug. Sadly, since I first wrote this post in 2021, they appear to have gone out of business . Their Web site now goes to a blank page and their Facebook page hasn’t been updated since 2012. Adding insult to injury, the Amazon listing I’d been linking to has been hijacked by a Chinese manufacturer who is producing knockoffs (I’ve removed the link).

American Mug and Stein made news by being one of the only pottery companies left in the United States. Starbucks contracted with them in 2012 to make their ceramic mugs, but quietly pulled their contract in 2020, as did other accounts like the Smithsonian who were contracting with them. These organizations used COVID as their excuse, the gift from China that keeps on giving.

And just like that, the only remaining pottery company in the United States is no more.

East Liverpool, Ohio was once considered the “Pottery Capitol of the World”, thanks to the abundance of rich clay in the region and the ability to transport by river. The region is also home to Fiesta dinnerware, one of the brands we touted as the best dinnerware not made in China . Alas, the once-booming ceramic mug industry was decimated. After the recession in 2009 only two pottery companies remained in business. And by 2016 it was down to one, the American Mug and Stein company . But in 2012, in a move I wish more USA-based companies would emulate, Starbucks came in. They didn’t just talk the talk or issue a few press releases, they placed an order for 20,000 ceramic mugs–the single largest order in the company’s history. That kept American Mug and Stein going. They’re perhaps best known for their Indivisible mugs (sold out, but you can still find used versions on eBay ). To this day, Starbucks continues to sell Made in the USA mugs from American Mug and Stein in their Pikes Place store in Seattle.

You can buy mugs produced in East Liverpool, Ohio yourself. An Amazon store called American Mug Pottery sells products made by American Mug and Stein, including their square-handled coffee mugs and my favorite, their round-handled coffee mugs .

Do you know of other coffee mugs not made in China worthy of mention here? Let us know in the comments!

coffee mugs

58products makes very nice mugs, everything made in Germany. https://en.58products.com/shop/prd.1094.mug-set-grande/

The Villeroy & Boch brand and the Rosenthal brand also make very nice mugs, made in Germany.

Duralex makes glass coffee mugs in France.

Dunoon makes very nice looking mugs in the UK

Another good tip, just like with Amazon, you can also see the country of origin on the Indian website of Ikea. Ikea also sells various mugs that are not made in China.

So who makes cups like Yeti not made in China?

Thanks for your question, Sheila! I updated the post to include my personal favorite insulated mug, the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug .

I didn’t buy mugs in the last 10 years because this China-cheapo-mentality makes people throw away things as soon as they are out of fashion, so I got many mugs for free..Among them were many Chinese-made cups and they really break more easy than the ones made in the West – because the Chinese ones usually use less material and/or have a bad design. For example, I broke a whole set of Chinese-made espresso cups while all of the the Italian cups are still intact.

Kahla makes great porcelain products, made in Germany.

https://www.kahlaporzellan.com/

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Glassware & Drinkware

The Best Travel Mugs for Hot or Cold Sips on the Go

Easier on your wallet and the environment

The Spruce Eats / Derek Rose

Whether you drink coffee, iced tea , or water, a travel mug is a handy accessory that keeps you caffeinated or hydrated on the go. Owning a travel mug can also save money (no more need to stop at a coffee shop) and cut down on paper and plastic waste. Some people have a few different travel mugs for various occasions, like an extra-durable one for hiking and a cupholder-friendly option for driving to work. No matter where you're headed, we have a travel mug for you below, all of which we've tested ourselves and can recommend firsthand.

How We Tested Travel Mugs

To help you make an informed buying decision, we tested more than a dozen of the most popular travel mugs on the market today. Every travel mug was tested for a minimum of one week, and some of them have been used by our staff members for several years. To review the travel mugs, our writers evaluated key areas, including size, design, insulation, and value, and then provided additional insights about what we liked and disliked about each mug.

We Observed:

How easy the mugs were to clean: We made notes about how rigorous the cleaning process was for each travel mug. Some mugs were dishwasher-safe or only had a couple of parts to clean; others had multiple parts or lids so small that they were difficult to clean by hand.
How durable the mugs were: Our testers gauged the durability of each mug by traveling with them and putting them in bags if they were leakproof. Some testers have owned mugs on this list for numerous years and, as a result, gave long-term durability insights.
If any liquids leaked from the mugs: If a mug was labeled as leakproof, our testers shook it upside down over the sink to see if the claims were accurate.
Design: Our testers rated each travel mug's design on a one-to-five scale. Factors that led to higher design scores included functionality, durability, and a stylish aesthetic.
Insulation: After using a thermometer and stopwatch to measure drink temperature, we graded each mug on its degree of insulation.
Value: Finally, we compared the performance of every travel mug to its retail price. Items that lived up to or outperformed their price received higher value-for-money ratings.

The Spruce Eats / Suzie Dundas

What to Look For

Types of Travel Mugs

About our testers, why trust the spruce eats, best overall, contigo west loop vacuum insulated travel mug.

Effectiveness 5 /5
Functionality 5 /5

Effective autolock and anti-spill lid

Can be locked and unlocked with one hand

Keeps drinks hot/cold for hours

A little wide for smaller hands

Plastic lid seems prone to breakage

If you’re looking for a solid, leak-proof travel mug that will keep your coffee hot for up to seven hours, look no further. The Contigo mug is my number one pick for many reasons, the first of which is the “Autoseal” lid. Unlike other travel mugs that have a sliding lid, which is prone to leaks, the Contigo lid has a push button that opens the vacuum seal when you’re ready to drink and closes again when you release the button. (This means you can also use it with one hand.) I was able to carry it around in a bag all day without any leakage. Just keep in mind that this means the lid isn’t interchangeable with any of your other travel mugs.

In addition to hot drinks like coffee or tea , this vacuum-insulated stainless steel mug will keep drinks cold for up to 18 hours depending on whether you buy the 12- or 20-ounce version. You can also choose between seven different colors, so everyone in the family can keep their mug straight.

One of the few drawbacks is that the mug is fairly difficult to clean. If you’re washing the Contigo by hand, be prepared for a bit of an inconvenience as it comes with very specific washing instructions. The lid is dishwasher-safe, but the bottle itself is hand wash only.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 10, 16, 20, or 24 ounces | Dimensions: 3 x 9 inches (20-ounce model)

The Spruce Eats / Tamara Staples

The Spruce Eats / Suzie Dundas

Stanley Classic Travel Mug

Design 4 /5
Insulation 3 /5

Highly durable

Great for commuters

Lid is hard to clean

Faint plastic smell first few uses

Stanley is a century-old name known for its array of durable mugs, thermoses, and more. In fact, the company patented all-steel vacuum flasks in 1913. That top-grade technology is bottled into the sleek and simple design of the Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug today. You can purchase the item in three sizes—12, 16, and 20 ounces—as well as five different colors.

We tested the 16-ounce model firsthand and confirmed that it lives up to the brand's claims about temperature retention. Hot coffee stayed warm and drinkable for seven hours, cold coffee lasted 10 hours without ice, and ice water remained refreshing for more than 30 hours. With that in mind, temperature retention varies slightly depending on the size of the mug you buy.

We were pleasantly surprised that the trigger-action lid is completely leakproof. No water escaped even after we shook it upside down over the sink. It's rare to find a mug with a lid as convenient as this one that is also safe to throw in a bag or backpack. It's excellent for hiking, and because it fits in cupholders, it's viable for commuters, too.

We've also used this mug frequently over four years and it shows no signs of slowing down. The item is backed by Stanley's lifetime guarantee. The company claims the bottle can withstand everything from a 4,000-foot drop to a windchill of -70 degrees Fahrenheit. The best part? This lifelong companion is affordably priced, making it one of the top value-for-money options on the market.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 12, 16, or 20 ounces | Dimensions: 2.9 x 8.9 inches (16-ounce model)

Best for Hot or Cold

Zojirushi stainless steel mug.

Design 5 /5
Insulation 5 /5

Easy-to-hold design

Fits in most cupholders

Excellent heat retention

Locking mechanism prevents leaks

Hand wash only, many pieces to clean

While most of the mugs on our list work well for hot or cold beverages, they are generally better at one or the other—but that’s not the case with this mug from Zojirushi. It retains drink temperature for at least six hours, no matter if you take your coffee hot or iced. Our experience with the mug was even better than the company advertises: Coffee was warm enough to drink nearly 12 hours after brewing.

Available in 12 and 16 ounces, the Zojirushi mug also wins points for design and easy drinking. The flip-top cap not only stops the mug from leaking, it also keeps the drinking spout protected and clean. The cap includes a lock to keep it from coming undone in your bag, as well.

Cleaning this model is a bit harder than some of the others (a specially designed bottle-cleaning brush is recommended). Several different pieces need to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid staining and mildew buildup. The plastic sipping piece and rubber gasket on the lid can be popped out easily and cleaned separately, though.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 12 or 16 ounces | Dimensions: 2.625 x 2.875 x 9.125 inches (16-ounce model)

Best High-Tech

Ember travel mug 2.

Touchscreen display

Battery lasts up to three hours

360-degree leak-proof lid

Only 12-ounce capacity

Just like many other travel mugs, the sleek Ember Travel Mug² will keep your drink hot throughout your morning commute, but it stands out by using smart technology and a high-tech design. This second iteration of the Ember Travel Mug is lighter and more streamlined than its predecessor, mainly because instead of a manual dial, it features a touch-sensitive control panel.

The mug is "smart" because you can use the panel to control and set its temperature or link the mug to the Ember app via your smartphone. The app essentially serves as a temperature gauge for the mug, notifying you when the set temperature has been reached. This is a nice feature because it eliminates the possibility of burning your mouth.

The Ember Travel Mug²'s best design feature is the lid: It only needs a push to open, is leak-proof, and lets you sip from any side of the mug. Furthermore, the mug's design is ergonomic. It's wider at the top than the bottom and is coated with a matte finish, making it easy to grip and comfortable to hold. We wish it held more—12 ounces isn't a lot for many coffee drinkers—and we don't love the high price point, but you are getting a high-tech product so the cost makes sense.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 12 ounces | Dimensions: 3.14 x 7.9 inches

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Best Budget

Copco acadia travel mug.

Amazon

Safe in both microwave and dishwasher

Colorful grip

Fits in cupholders

Can stack inside each other

Prone to staining

Hole in lid can't be closed

This 16-ounce travel mug works for both hot coffee, iced coffee, and cold brew , and it comes at a budget price. It's designed with a double-wall construction to keep drinks at their temperature longer than a non-insulated cup; however, it’s not made for all-day temperature regulation like some stainless steel mugs. We found hot coffee to be lukewarm just two hours after brewing. The good news is that the mug is microwave-safe, so you can easily reheat drinks should they cool off.

Another advantage of this mug is how easy it is to clean. It's dishwasher-safe, and the lid opening is large enough to clean the inside by hand should you choose to do so. The lid doesn't have a cover, however, so you can’t toss the mug in your bag. Another downside is that the interior is prone to staining. We have owned the mug for nearly four years and it still works like new, but the coffee stains set in after roughly a year.

The cup portion is white, but you can choose from a variety of colored bands, so you always know which one is yours. The bands also serve as coffee collars to protect your hands from scorching temperatures while adding extra grip. There's nothing fancy to this mug, but it's dependable.

Material: BPA-free plastic | Capacity: 16 ounces | Dimensions: 3.66 x 6.78 inches

Best With Straw

Bubba envy insulated tumbler.

Design 3.5 /5
Insulation 4.5 /5

No sweating

Lid seals tightly

Fits in car cupholders

Keeps drinks cold or hot

Can't close hole on lid

Hand wash only

Prefer iced coffee ? Then a travel mug that has a straw might suit your palette more. This model fits in most cup holders and can keep your drink cold for up to 12 hours. You can use the removable plastic straw with the Tritan lid or not, depending on your preference. The one design flaw, however, is that there is no way to completely seal the lid since the hole doesn't include a cover or flap.

The cup is made of stainless steel, so it will repel stains and odors, meaning your lemonade won't taste like yesterday's coffee. The mug even has a lifetime guarantee, so you know it will last. If you’re looking for a durable travel mug that’s designed to hold both hot and cold beverages, the 24-ounce Bubba Envy Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler is a solid option at a price you can afford. While the mug is large and doesn't have a handle, it's surprisingly easy to hold because of indents that circle the cup.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 18, 24, or 32 ounces | Dimensions: 3.62 x 3.93 x 10.54 inches (24-ounce model)

The Spruce Eats / Rebekah Joan

Best Handled

Thermos stainless king travel mug.

Comfortable to hold

Doesn’t fit in all car cup holders

Thanks to the vacuum insulation of most travel mugs, a handle is no longer really a necessity to keep your hand dry from condensation or to prevent it from getting burned, but if you prefer to drink from a handled mug, this version from Thermos is the right pick for you.

Available in five different colors, this 16-ounce mug will keep beverages hot for up to five hours or cold for up to nine hours thanks to the double-wall stainless steel construction. The lid has a “DrinkLock” seal, which opens when you press the lever to the left or right. During testing, there were no spills and coffee stayed hot for longer (even on chilly days). The one drawback (if you even consider it one) is that this mug must be washed by hand.

Tea drinkers will also want to consider this mug since it has a built-in tea hook that accommodates most tea infusers and makes it easy to remove them from the mug. It comes with a five-year limited warranty in case there is an issue.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 16 ounces | Dimensions: 3.3 x 4.9 x 7.8 inches

The Spruce Eats / Rebekah Joan

Best Design

S'well traveler mug.

Multiple sizes and many colors

Great temperature retention

Price varies, can be expensive

Lid isn't ideal for commuting

The S’well Stainless Steel Traveler Mug is inarguably one of the best-designed travel mugs on the market today. Thanks to S’well’s high-end, triple-wall technology, you can rest assured that your drinks will maintain their ideal temperature for hours on end. It performed exceedingly well when we tested it. Coffee stayed hot for 12 hours and, after adding refrigerated coffee without ice, it was still cold 30 hours later.

This mug topped others in the design category because it is cupholder-friendly and available in 17 different color options as well as three sizes: 12, 16, and 20 ounces. The Traveler is completely leakproof and can be trusted in your bag or backpack. Just keep in mind that the lid can't be unscrewed with one hand, so you'll need both hands free if sipping on the go. Also, it's not dishwasher-safe, so to clean it, you can either put a drop of dish soap in and rinse with hot water or use a long bottle brush.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 12, 16, or 20 ounces | Dimensions: 3.3 x 9.3 inches

Best for Easy Cleaning

Yeti rambler 20 oz tumbler.

Size 4.5 /5
Design 4.5 /5

Dishwasher safe

Magnetic lid slides easily

Multiple color options

Not leakproof

The Yeti Rambler comes in three sizes: 10, 20, and 30 ounces. Some travel mugs are too small for a hand to fit inside or have multiple parts to clean. That's not the case with the Rambler. We appreciate that we can reach every nook and cranny of the mug with a sponge. The Rambler is also dishwasher safe when you're not in the mood to wash it by hand.

We've used the mug for more than two years and it's still going strong. We take it in the car a lot because it fits in cupholders and can be sipped with one hand. There's a toggle on the lid, which Yeti calls a Magslider, that's effortless to open with your thumb. One of the only downsides is that the lid isn't leakproof, so we don't throw it in our hiking backpack or messenger bag.

Like most Yeti products, the Rambler effectively keeps drinks hot for around 10 hours or cold for close to 20. It's also sold in more than 10 colors from neutrals to vibrant hues, so you can find one that suits your style.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 10, 20, or 30 ounces | Dimensions: 3.5 x 6.6 inches

Best Large Capacity

Bubba classic insulated desk mug.

Budget price

Lightweight despite size

Too big for cupholders

Lid has a hole you can't close

This 52-ounce mug is what you'll want to take to the pool, beach, or camping since it holds enough water for several hours. It’s also great for office workers who don’t want to keep running to the water cooler to refill smaller bottles. Of course, the drawback with a mug of this size is that it won’t fit in your cupholder, so this pick is better for non-drive time.

For those who intend to drink hot beverages out of this mug, it doesn't quite have the heat retention that the brand claims. When filled more than halfway full with hot coffee, it was lukewarm less than three hours later. The mug did perform better when tested with cold drinks, however. With refrigerated coffee poured into the mug without ice (as the amount of ice may vary for customers), the coffee was still cold 12 hours later. Another testing observation to note is that the lid opening seemed a little wide, and it was easy to spill when drinking.

As an added bonus, the Bubba 52-Ounce Desk Mug is incredibly durable and can handle being dropped or tossed around in the trunk of your car. The wide, comfort-grip handle feels very sturdy, too.

Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 34 or 52 ounces | Dimensions: 7 x 10 inches

We highly recommend the Contigo Autoseal West Loop because its sleek, durable, and easy to sip on the go thanks to its button-activated lid. As an alternative, the Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug is similar in price and quality, and it performed well in our testing process. You can't go wrong with either one.

Other Options We Tested

Yeti Rambler Mug : Yeti makes a number of reliable travel mugs—not to mention the brand's beloved coolers—but the Rambler mug has too many shortcomings for us to recommend it, starting with its poor insulative properties. The hot coffee we brewed lost temperature rapidly in the mug and, because it's made with stainless steel, it couldn't be reheated in the microwave. Additionally, the lid is not leakproof, which is a feature that's easy to find in a number of other travel mugs out there.
Ello Campy Travel Mug : The Ello Campy Mug is a stylish, large-capacity option that many customers may enjoy, especially those into the outdoors. While it doesn't have any major defects, it didn't quite make the cut for this list. We found that the paint can chip easily and that it's tricky to clean. On top of that, it's too large to fit in many car cupholders.

What to Look for in a Travel Mug

It doesn’t matter if you’re drinking coffee , tea, or water—every sip from your travel mug should be smooth and easy. That’s why it’s important to figure out the lid style that best suits you. Some of the top options include flip lids, thumb-sliding lids, push-button lids, twist lids, and straw lids. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Customers who prioritize durability or preventing spills, for instance, should choose a more secure style, like a twist lid. Others who want to seamlessly drink from their mug while on the move may prefer a lid that can be opened with one hand. Luckily, lid style does not affect price, so every option should be on the table when you start looking for a travel mug. Many brands also sell lids individually so that users can have multiple options at their disposal.

Temperature Retention

All too often we take a sip of coffee and find it’s gone lukewarm. A reliable travel mug can thwart that dreaded, flavorless middle zone and keep your coffee at the ideal temperature for hours, no matter if it’s hot or iced. Vacuum-insulated mugs, which are typically made from stainless steel, offer the best performance when it comes to temperature retention, while plastic and silicone are the least effective materials. When buying, think about the type of coffee you drink most often (hot or iced) as some mugs are better designed for one or the other.

The length of time that a mug keeps drinks hot or cold is often listed in its product details, but keep in mind that this figure is often based on the item being preheated or precooled before use. We also asked Graham Nearn of the Stanley brand what temperature range the company defines as "hot" and "cold." He told us that when Stanley says a drink stays hot for a certain amount of time, the liquid must be between 140 to 203 degrees; for a drink to be considered cold, it has to fall between 39 and 50 degrees.

Travel coffee mugs come in a variety of sizes. The average capacity is around 16 ounces, though the range extends far on either side of that. Some are no bigger than a regular at-home coffee mug; others are large enough to keep you caffeinated the entire day. Brands often manufacture the same mug in multiple sizes, so if a specific one catches your eye, you can likely find it in a size you love. Customers interested in larger mugs should see if it is microwave-safe or able to retain heat well; otherwise, they may be sipping a lot of cold coffee. Finally, for those who plan on taking their mug in the car, check out customer reviews or product details to ascertain if a mug can fit in your cupholders.

While most travel mugs are made from stainless steel, options are far from limited when it comes to material. Other possibilities include plastic, glass, silicone, ceramic, and bamboo. This choice naturally affects a mug’s aesthetic, as well as larger factors like price, durability, how the item is cleaned, how long it retains heat, and whether condensation appears on the outside. What factors are most important to you? If you want a budget-priced mug that can go in the microwave, plastic is likely the best material for you. If durability and heat retention are higher priorities, you may want to stick with the stainless steel route. Also keep in mind the downsides that certain materials have. Plastic mugs, for instance, can stain and retain coffee odors, while some stainless steel mugs may unfavorably alter the flavor of your coffee.

If you sift through a list of travel mugs, you will likely come across the phrase "18/8 stainless steel." This denotes a type of stainless steel made from 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. Graham Nearn of the Stanley brand says 18/8 stainless steel is often used for drinkware because it's "food-grade, durable, and resistant to corrosion."

Leak-Proof vs. Spill-Proof

Whether walking to class, embarking on a long hike, or heading out for the daily commute, it’s easier to transport a mug if it can be kept inside a bag; that’s where leak-proof travel mugs come in handy. They prevent even the slightest drop from escaping into your bag, no matter what. Make sure to read customer reviews beforehand, however, as some items advertised as leak-proof may not actually be up to the task. There is also a difference between leak-proof and spill-proof. Mugs labeled as spill-proof only prevent major spills from occurring; they are not safe to store in bags since they can still leak.

Taking a travel mug’s design into consideration involves two different paths. First, you can think about the item’s shape or silhouette. Do you want a mug with a handle? Or one thin enough to slide into a bag or backpack? Second, design also involves the many colors and patterns found on the outside of a mug. There is an array of options, from fun and playful to chic and striking, that can convey your personality with every sip.

Not only are most travel mugs affordable, but they also help customers save money by cutting down on daily trips to the coffee shop. The only type likely to break the bank are electric travel mugs. Other than that, budget picks are widely available both in-store and online. Some mugs cost as little as a bag of coffee beans. Size does generally impact price, however, as larger mugs tend to cost more than smaller ones, even if they are the same model. Expect plastic mugs to be the cheapest option, while glass, stainless steel, and ceramic are all slightly more expensive.

When picturing a travel coffee mug, most envision a tall, tapered item similar to a reusable water bottle, but there are actually many options designed to look exactly like the mugs we use every day at home. Items in this category provide the feel and comfort of a regular coffee mug but with added heat retention and the luxury to take your joe on the go. Because they are smaller in capacity than most travel mugs (usually around 12 ounces), they are also slightly more affordable. Unfortunately, coffee-mug-style travel mugs aren’t leak-proof and don’t fit in cupholders because of their handles.

Portable Coffee Maker

Truly defining on-the-go coffee, there is a category for travel mugs that additionally function as portable brewing devices. They allow users to make coffee and drink it all from the same bottle. This is certainly a less common variety, but it’s still worth consideration, especially for frequent travelers and campers. The majority of portable coffee makers work like French presses. Aptly named “travel presses,” they immerse coffee grounds in water and then push them to the bottom of the mug via a built-in plunger. The second most common type of portable coffee maker utilizes a pour-over brewing method instead.

Well known for their smooth exterior, tumblers are the most popular subcategory of travel mugs. They never have a handle and the body usually tapers to a narrow base, both of which make them cupholder friendly. Tumblers can be used for both hot and cold beverages, but they are especially popular for iced coffee. Many have straw lids for easy sipping. Customers may be familiar with tumblers in other types of drinkware, as they are also used for cocktails, iced tea, lemonade, and general home use.

What is a vacuum-insulated mug?

The phrase “vacuum-insulated” pops up all over the place when searching for travel mugs. It’s also commonly used with another phrase: "double-walled." Both labels denote that a travel mug is built with two different layers, an inner wall and outer wall, and that the space between the layers is partially evacuated of air, creating a vacuum. This design allows drinks to retain their temperature for a longer period of time because they are less exposed to the outside air.

Can I make my travel mug retain temperature longer?

We all want the most out of our products, and this one small tip goes a long way: preheat or pre-cool your travel mug before use. Taking a few extra minutes to let hot or cold water sit in your mug will prime the material for better temperature retention. You can pour hot water from the tap or even boil it for an added boost of heat, all while your coffee is brewing.

How do I clean my travel mug?

Before cleaning, consult the product details or instruction guide to see if the item is dishwasher-safe. This is a common benefit of glass and plastic travel mugs but not stainless steel. If your mug isn’t dishwasher-safe, don’t worry. Cleaning is still quite easy. A simple daily cleaning only requires scrubbing with dish soap and a sponge or gentle brush. Avoid using steel wool brushes and harsh household cleaners on stainless steel mugs. For a more thorough job, allow a solution of vinegar and baking soda to soak inside the mug for several minutes, then rinse and clean with dish soap before using.

Can I add milk to my coffee if it’s in a travel mug?

Most brands advise against putting milk or creamer in thermoses unless it's for a brief amount of time. Bacteria can develop when dairy products are stored at warm temperatures, especially if the travel mug isn't properly cleaned. Graham Nearn of the Stanley brand echoed this thought, telling us: "We don’t recommend putting milk or dairy products in Stanley vacuum bottles or food jars for extended periods of time, as bacteria growth can occur at certain temperatures."

The Spruce Eats / Cheyenne Elwell

Cheyenne Elwell is a freelance writer specializing in food and coffee. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Insider, MSN, and her coffee blog BakedBrewedBeautiful.com.
Suzie Dundas is a freelance writer and editor based in Lake Tahoe, California. Along with The Spruce Eats, her writing has appeared in Forbes, Fodor's, SkyLife Magazine, and Outdoor Sports Guide.
Rebekah Joan is a writer and blogger located in Northwestern Pennsylvania. She has written for The Spruce Eats since 2019.
Derek Rose has been The Spruce Eats' coffee and tea expert since 2019. His other work has appeared in Forbes, SPY, and Angi.

This piece was written by Derek Rose , the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He has owned or tested a number of the items on this list, including the Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug , the Copco Insulated Travel Mug , the S'Well Traveler Mug , and the Bubba 52-Ounce Insulated Desk Mug .

Graham Nearn , the Senior Vice President of Product Creation & Design for PMI Worldwide, was interviewed for this piece. He oversees the Stanley brand, which has manufactured vacuum flasks and more since 1913.

The Best Travel Mug

Four different travel mugs next to each other.

By Trey French and Anna Perling

Hot drinks are a daily staple for many, and just as important as the beverage is the travel mug that keeps it warm while you’re on the go.

After a decade of testing travel mugs, we still recommend the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug for most people. It keeps drinks hot for hours, and its locking lid stays securely closed, even when you toss the mug into a bag. We also have another option, which fits better in most cup holders, for use while you’re driving.

Everything we recommend

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

The best travel mug.

This mug offers the best heat retention, plus one-handed usability and a locking, leakproof lid, which makes it especially useful if you carry your mug in a bag or backpack.

Buying Options

Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug (16 ounces)

A wider mug for drivers.

This wider mug fit securely in our testers’ cup holders, and its spill-proof lid design is good for rough roads. It doesn’t retain heat as well as the Zojirushi mug—a fact that some people might actually appreciate.

OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set

For cleaning your mug.

This bottle-cleaning set has a skinny straw brush and a looped detail-cleaning brush, which are all you need to keep your travel mug squeaky clean.

The 16-ounce Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug keeps beverages hot for hours, even in cold environments. It has a well-designed exterior, an easy-to-clean nonstick Teflon interior, and a foolproof lid-locking mechanism that you can operate with one hand.

The mug is lightweight and slim, but it may not fit snugly in some cup holders. However, thanks to its locking lid, we were comfortable carrying it around in a bag, without worrying about leaks.

This Zojirushi model is pricey for a travel mug, but this is the mug we trust most not to spill in a bag, and it’s hard to put a price on that. (Actually, that would be about the price of a new bag, laptop, phone, and whatever else happened to be in there at the time.)

It’s also available in a 20-ounce version .

Like other Zojirushi products, it comes with a five-year warranty.

The 16-ounce Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug is wider and fits better in most car cup holders than the Zojirushi mug. The lid has an auto-sealing button that prevents spills, and when you drink, it won’t block your view of the road ahead.

Although this Stanley model may not keep drinks as hot as the Zojirushi mug, some people might prefer such results—we’ve heard many complaints over the years of the Zojirushi mug keeping drinks too hot.

Both the mug and the lid are dishwasher safe, but the lid has fewer parts than that of our top pick, so it is easier to disassemble and hand-wash if you prefer to clean it that way.

And let’s not forget that these things need cleaning regularly. That’s why we also have a bottle-brush recommendation for when you need to clean out the gunk .

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: zojirushi sm-sf stainless steel mug (16 ounces), also great: stanley classic trigger-action travel mug (16 ounces), also great: oxo good grips water bottle cleaning set, other good travel mugs, the competition.

We’ve been testing travel mugs since 2013. Previous versions of this guide were written and researched by Séamus Bellamy and Anna Perling. In 2023, staff writer Trey French wrote the latest update to this guide. He gained an appreciation of high-performing insulated drinkware while spring camping in Colorado when the temperatures dropped below freezing.

In addition to conducting our own tests, we spoke to engineers and industry professionals about mug design, ideal coffee and tea drinking temperatures, and the best way to find out how long coffee will really stay good in a travel mug.

Travel mugs, as their name implies, are for people who want to take beverages on the go. Compared with paper or Styrofoam cups, a good travel mug offers better insulation and safeguards against leaks or spills. In addition, you can save money in the long run and reduce your environmental impact by using a travel mug.

Tumblers, thermoses, and insulated water bottles are all close cousins to the travel mug but have some important differences:

Tumblers have sipping ports that don’t seal as tightly or securely as on travel mugs and have wider mouths for you to add ice cubes. Many also have straws for you to sip cold beverages.
Thermoses usually lack the slim size and lid-design features that make travel mugs portable and convenient. With a thermos, instead of popping open a lid to take a sip, you need to unscrew the cap and pour liquid into an open cup to drink.
Insulated water bottles are geared toward keeping drinks cold and don’t have sipping ports like travel mugs do. Instead, they often have screw-top lids that require two hands to open and close, or they have sport caps, which aren’t great for hot drinks.

To determine which travel mugs to test, we look for mugs that advertise the following qualities:

Vacuum-insulated: All of the mugs we consider are double-walled and vacuum-insulated .

Capable of retaining heat all day: We look for mugs that claim to keep hot beverages drinkably warm for at least eight hours.

Made of stainless steel: Stainless steel is more durable than glass or ceramic and retains heat better than plastic. It’s also the best material for vacuum insulation and therefore heat retention.

Leakproof and spill-proof: A leakproof seal keeps a closed lid from leaking if the mug jostles. A spill-proof seal guards against spills should you drop the mug or knock it over; such seals typically incorporate a push button, like the one found on the Stanley Classic Trigger-Action.

Easy to use: A good mug should be easy to both open and close, as well as to lock and unlock, with one hand. It should also be easy to disassemble for cleaning. We look for mugs that advertise these features or have reviews indicating that they are easy to use.

Between 12 and 20 ounces in capacity: We’ve concluded that 16 ounces is the optimal capacity for a travel mug, as it delays the need for a refill while remaining portable and easy to hold. Some people prefer wider mugs that don’t rattle in cup holders, while others like slimmer mugs that take up less space in backpacks or bags. We test both styles.

After considering the everyday wear and tear that a travel mug might go through in real-world scenarios, we devised tests to mimic those scenarios. During our tests, we use the mugs daily, evaluating them for simple enjoyability.

Leak and spill tests: We test mugs for leaky seals by shaking them upside down, dropping them, and carrying them in bags.
Drop test: We drop each mug three times from a height of 4 feet onto asphalt.
Insulation test: We fill each mug with boiling water and then measure how quickly the water cools over eight hours, checking every hour.
Ease of cleaning: We wash each mug, following instructions; we also take apart their lids and wash those. We check for lingering smells and to see if the finish on the mug is harmed.
Cup holder compatibility: We test the mugs in cup holders of varying sizes (2.75, 3.5, and 3.75 inches in diameter).

A blue Zojirushi SM-SF Stainless Steel Mug.

The 16-ounce Zojirushi SM-SF Stainless Steel Mug is the best travel mug for keeping drinks hot for long periods of time. This mug also comes in a 20-ounce size. (The SM-SF is the current model; these model designations often change from year to year, but the mugs themselves stay the same.)

It kept our drinks the hottest. According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the best temperature range for coffee is 145 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit. After sitting for eight hours in the Zojirushi mug in a 72-degree room, our water measured 158 degrees—hotter than in any other mug we tested. That translates to hot coffee over a full workday. (If you’re opening the mug more frequently than once an hour, however, it might cool a bit faster.)

It won’t leak. It has sturdy, leakproof seals and a simple locking mechanism. Just close the lid, switch the lock into position, and you’re guaranteed that the top won’t pop open when you don’t want it to—when you’re carrying the mug in a bag, for instance.

It’s easy enough to keep clean. The nonstick interior helps to prevent odors and stains, though the mug’s instructions do warn against storing milk or fruit juices in the mug. (If you prefer drinking from a vessel that doesn’t have a nonstick coating, you might consider the Zojirushi SM-KHE , which has an electro-polished stainless steel interior.) The narrow girth makes it hard to get a sponge inside, but using a bottle brush circumvents that problem. You can disassemble the plastic lid to clean out any gunk that might be lodged in hard-to-reach places, although the small plastic and silicone parts can be difficult to get on and off the lid.

It’s durable. Though this mug developed a few scuffs in our drop tests, it acquired no more than the other mugs we tried, some of which fared far worse. Zojirushi backs the vacuum insulation of its stainless steel mugs with a five-year limited warranty, and the company sells individual replacement parts online .

It’s simple. The Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug has an attractive design that’s minimalist yet eye-catching in its simplicity. The 20-ounce version comes in only one color (navy), but our pick, the 16-ounce version, comes in three (navy, pale pink, mint blue).

How the Zojirushi mug has held up

The Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug might be the single most commonly owned and used product among Wirecutter staffers; it has traveled in many crowded bags, backpacks, and purses without any problems. One staff member did report that after eight years of use, hers finally developed a leak. Another colleague says that their mug has survived drops onto cement (once from a third-floor balcony) without suffering more than a dent.

Zojirushi specifies hand-washing only, but we know of several mugs that have survived accidental trips through the dishwasher without any noticeable decrease in performance, though the external paint has flaked as a result.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Zojirushi mug is sometimes too good at insulating. We’ve found that if we pour fresh coffee directly into the mug, the liquid can stay scalding hot for hours. To prevent burning your mouth, let your beverage cool a little before closing the lid.
It’s not cup holder friendly. This model, which is more narrow than a typical travel mug, did not fit snugly in our testers’ car cup holders. If you prefer a travel mug with a larger circumference, check out our also-great pick.
It isn’t spill-proof. Though the SM-SF is leakproof, it isn’t spill-proof like our also-great pick; the design lacks an automatic seal to prevent liquid from spilling if you drop the mug while you’re drinking.

A white Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug.

The 16-ounce Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug is our recommendation for use in a car, as it’s a great spill-proof mug that keeps drinks hot and fits in a cup holder.

It’s designed for drivers. Wider than the Zojirushi mug, this Stanley model fit more securely in our testers’ car cup holders. The top of the mug is narrower than the base, though, to help reduce heat loss through the lid. (Experts told us that the lid is where a double-walled mug loses the most heat.) And the design has no pop-up lid to bump your nose or block your eyes while you’re drinking.

A close-up of the cap of a white Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug.

It’s spill-proof, unlike the Zojirushi mug. You do need to hold down a button to keep the sipping port open to drink from the mug, which may be frustrating to some people. However, this design prevents spills—whether from rough roads, say, or if you accidentally knock the mug over while reaching for it—since the mug closes automatically. Other mugs we tested, such as the Contigo Autoseal Transit and West Loop (both former runners-up), had similar buttons, but the button on the Classic Trigger-Action was easier to press and hold. Unlike the Zojirushi model, this mug has no lock to secure its lid, but it never leaked in our tests.

It keeps drinks hot long enough. The Classic Trigger-Action can’t keep your beverages quite as hot for quite as long as our top pick can, but that might be a plus for those who complain that the Zojirushi mug keeps drinks too hot. When we boiled water and let it sit in this Stanley mug, the water took only three hours to cool to 158 degrees (whereas water in the Zojirushi mug took eight hours to reach that temperature). After eight hours, the water in the Classic Trigger-Action measured 132 degrees—26 degrees cooler than the water in the Zojirushi mug. If you drink your beverages quickly or don’t want to wait for them to cool down before sealing your mug, the Classic Trigger-Action may be a better option for you.

It’s tough. This mug endured our drop tests, sporting only light scuffing on the plastic lid and minor dents at the side of the base of its body. Like Zojirushi’s five-year warranty, Stanley’s lifetime warranty covers only manufacturer defects, not damage to mug components due to accidents or wear. Should you damage the lid or simply lose it, you can buy a replacement lid .

It’s dishwasher safe. Both the mug body and the lid can go in the dishwasher. The lid has some hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, so be sure to disassemble it for the best cleaning results. Stanley’s lid has fewer pieces than Zojirushi’s lid and is easier to take apart.

You have more color choices. If you care about colors, the Classic Trigger-Action comes in many—about a dozen at last count. This mug also comes in a 20-ounce size .

The OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set is the best bottle-cleaning set. It comes with a large bottle brush, a skinny straw brush, and a looped detail-cleaning brush, all kept together on a handy ring so you won’t lose any of the parts. The set is dishwasher safe, and we found that it works well for anyone looking to remove gunk from travel mugs and other hard-to-clean items.

If you want a mug with a locking lid for about half the price of our top pick: Consider the GSI Microlite 500 Flip , which keeps liquids almost as hot as the Zojirushi mug and has a similar one-handed flip top with a lock.

However, when we dropped this GSI mug to the ground when the lid was unlocked, the lid popped open and spilled coffee everywhere—and the exact same thing happened when we dropped it a second time. Eventually, we dropped the mug enough, accidentally, to break the lid; GSI does sell replacement lids.

This mug, which has a large sipping port, also has a higher flow rate than our picks, and may require more careful sipping when the beverage is really hot.

If the Zojirushi mug is out of stock: You might look into the MiiR 360 Traveler , which in our tests kept drinks almost as hot and resisted denting just as well as our top pick. When it’s unlocked, its sipping port allows you to drink from anywhere on the lid’s circumference. We decided not to make it a pick because we struggled to decipher whether the sipping port was open or closed—which in turn led to spills. Unlike some twist-to-open 360-degree ports, the MiiR 360 Traveler’s lid has a push button for operation that forms the center of the lid, and at a glance, it looks nearly the same whether closed or open.

The mug is also available in a flip-top version called the Flip Traveler , but we’ve found flip-top lids prone to breaking during our drop tests. The mug bodies for the 360 Traveler and the Flip Traveler are the same, and the lids are interchangeable, in case you buy one and then decide that you’d like to try the other.

We’ve considered and evaluated several other Zojirushi travel mugs throughout our testing. Here’s a breakdown:

Zojirushi SM-WR : Almost identical to the SM-SF series, this version has an integrated gasket, which reduces the total pieces to clean. We like it almost as much as our top pick. However, it dispenses a little faster than the SM-SF, which is good for cold drinks but can be too much for really hot drinks.
Zojirushi SM-YAE : This 16-ounce mug costs a little more than our main pick. It comes with an electro-polished interior, like the Zojirushi SM-KHE, but has a shape that’s stouter than other Zojirushi mugs and short enough to fit under the spout of a single-cup brewing machine. In our tests, however, it fell short of our picks in insulating performance: After eight hours, the water temperature had dropped to 100 degrees, 58 degrees cooler than the water in our top pick.
Zojirushi SM-SHE : We were reluctant to test this mug due to persistent stock issues. Zojirushi sent us one to try out anyway, but it broke during our drop test.
Zojirushi SM-JHE : We opted not to test this mug because it has a wide-mouth, screw-off lid.
Zojirushi SM-JTE : We also elected not to test this model, which has a tea-leaf filter, due to its screw-off lid.

The JoeVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug brings a scalding drink down to a drinkable temperature and holds it there by using a third layer in its wall to capture excess heat and then release it over time. It isn’t leakproof or spill-proof, though.

The 17-ounce Kinto Travel Tumbler insulates well—so well that it was the third-best contender at insulating in our tests behind the Zojirushi SM-SF and GSI Microlite 500 Flip. Drinking from it requires fully removing the lid, though, as well as finding a place to put the lid.

After dismissing previous iterations of the Hydro Flask travel mug, we tested the 20-ounce Hydro Flask Coffee Cup with Flex Sip Lid , and it was a clear improvement over older models. It kept drinks hot for about a half day, and it resisted denting better than about half of the other tested mugs. The lid requires two hands to open and close, however, so it can be tough to open while you’re distracted, and it has a tendency to “burp” a small amount of liquid when you rotate the lid from closed to open.

The 16-ounce OXO Good Grips Thermal Mug with SimplyClean Lid resembles—and insulates about as well as—the Hydro Flask mug we tested, keeping drinks hot for a half day. It also shares that model’s flaws, requiring two hands to open and close, and burping some liquid.

The Klean Kanteen Insulated Wide Mouth Water Bottle was a previous runner-up in this guide, as well as a former insulated water bottle pick, but we found that the lid occasionally leaked when we left the bottle on its side overnight.

The 18-ounce Purist Mover with Scope Lid insulates nearly as well as our picks and has a 360-degree sip lid, which lets you drink from any side of the mug. It requires two hands to open and close, though.

We broke the flip-top lid of the 20-ounce Welly Traveler , as well as the glued-on product-label plate on the bottom of the mug, the first time we dropped it.

The 12-ounce Ketiee Travel Mug is cheaper than most mugs we looked at, and we wondered what we’d get for the price. It kept drinks hot for about two hours during our tests, scoring near the bottom. Our main complaint is that the molding process left a pointy knob on our test unit, right above the drinking port, that pressed into our testers’ noses. Also, the product page states that it’s spill-proof—and we found that it wasn’t, whether the flip-top lid was open or closed.

The promise of the battery-powered Ember Travel Mug 2 is that it allows you to keep your beverage at a specific temperature (up to 145 degrees) for three hours—if you remember to charge it. Without the battery, it scored at the bottom on our insulation test; we also managed to break its inner seal during our drop test. Although we like the standard Ember Mug 2 (read more in our mug warmers guide ), we can’t recommend this even more expensive sibling.

The Contigo Autoseal West Loop Travel Mug was one of our previous runners-up, and like the Stanley Classic Trigger-Action , it has a button that you need to push before you can drink. The West Loop didn’t hold up as well in our drop tests as the Stanley model did, and we found its vertical push button harder to use than the one on our current also-great pick.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Hongbin Bill Ma, director, Center of Thermal Management at the University of Missouri , phone interview , September 22, 2017

Michael Dickey, professor of chemical engineering at North Carolina State University , phone interview , September 26, 2017

Meet your guides

Trey French

Trey French is a staff writer at Wirecutter covering outdoors gear. A trail runner, backcountry skier, and long-distance backpacker, he has reviewed gear for Treeline Review and advised wilderness travelers on lightweight backcountry equipment at Katabatic Gear. He resides in California’s Eastern Sierra, where scenic desktop backgrounds are born.

Anna Perling

Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association.

This Inexpensive Water Bottle Is Meant for Cyclists, But It’s Great for Travelers, Too

by Christine Ryan

The Camelbak Podium is affordable, lightweight, and perfect for packing.

A collection of different types of water bottles laid flat on a surface.

How to Clean a Travel Mug or Water Bottle

Don’t want your coffee to taste like yesterday’s brew? Give your travel mug a good deep clean—and do the same for your insulated water bottle, too!

Our Favorite Mugs

by Jackie Reeve

Our Wirecutter home team is passionate about the vessels they drink them out of. Here are the mugs we can’t get enough of.

Two photos of the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug in illustrated polaroids.

We’ve Recommended This Travel Mug for a Decade. It’s Still Going Strong.

by James Austin

Our longtime favorite travel mug keeps drinks piping hot, and the nifty locking lid makes it virtually spill-proof.

Best travel coffee mugs in 2024 — tested and rated

We’ve tested a range of models to find the best travel coffee mugs

The best travel coffee mugs displayed together on an outdoor railing

Best overall

Best budget and durable

Best with handle

Best heavy duty

Best color selection

Best smart travel mug

Best for heat retention

Best for sustainability

Most secure

Best mug design

Best ceramic

Whether you want to ensure your coffee stays warm throughout the morning, or your iced tea remains cool in warm conditions, you'll need one of the best travel mugs.

And while it might seem simple enough, the task of choosing out of tons available, can be tricky. You'll need to find the right travel coffee mug to suit your needs and lifestyle. Consider what material you'd prefer? Durable materials range from steel, aluminum and plastic, to even ceramic. Other things to think about include how heavy it is to carry, heat retention, and overall style.

Finally, how much are you willing to spend? The best coffee travel mugs range from $15 to $35, though there are more advanced types with their own battery that cost $185.

To help you decide, we’ve found a great selection of the best travel mugs to suit any lifestyle and budget right now.

Best travel coffee mugs: MiiR Flip Traveler

1. MiiR Flip Traveler

The MiiR Flip Traveler is one of the best travel coffee mugs we’ve tested, offering a compact cup that will keep your liquids hot or cold for hours. Coming in 9 different colors, the double wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel body holds 16 fluid ounces of liquid. Although there are 12 and 20 fluid ounce capacities available too. The cup itself is very light, coming in it at 10.2 ounces.

The unique lid on top flips out when you need to drink and is secure when you need it locked in. But right after you drink, a small amount of liquid can gather on the lid, leaking to tiny droplets getting in places they shouldn’t. Also, if you don’t lock the lid firmly in place, it can spill. There’s nothing worse than having hot tea on your electronics because you didn’t make sure the lid was completely down.

It was one of the best we tested at keeping liquids consistently hot. Our testing started at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, only to drop to 178 after two hours, 154 after five hours, and 126 after 10 hours. Other cups paled in comparison, with the MiiR outclassing them in the category that is, literally and figuratively, the hottest.

Washing the cup is super simple and the lid doesn’t need to be taken apart to be put in the dishwasher. The whole cup is fairly durable and comfortable to hold. Overall, MiiR offers a fantastic travel mug with few downsides, keeping everything cool and on the inside. Give it a try if you are looking for a mug that offers everything you’d need.

Best travel coffee mugs: Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug

2. Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug

Best budget and best durable

Stanley is a brand built for rugged adventures and their Trigger Action Travel Mug is no exception. The strong, durable exterior claims that it has survived a bullet so it should be able to handle whatever you can throw at it. Made of stainless steel, the double-wall vacuum insulation creates a sturdy mug that weighs 12.8 ounces and holds 16 ounces, making it one of the heaviest we reviewed. A 20 ounce capacity is available too, which will no doubt weigh even more — we tested the 16 ounce capacity.

The lid is also built to last, having a unique trigger system that lets you take a sip by just pressing the button. Though the lid is useful, it does tend to leave a bit of water in the mouthpiece if you close it too quickly. But other than the occasional dribble, it won’t leak even when turned upside down and severely shaken. The whole cup is dishwasher safe, but you might want to think twice about taking apart the lid. It's a bit difficult to reassemble, especially when you haven’t rebuilt it before.

It kept the heat in fairly well, starting at 204 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to 176 at two hours, 152 at five, and 125 hours at 10. But when it does have a hot liquid in it, the heat only breaks through a bit allowing you to hold even scolding beverages without a problem.

While the MSRP is $25, it can often be found for $17.50, so you are getting one of the best travel coffee mugs out there for a great price. Even if you aren’t the adventurous type and just need something to shove in your cup holder that won’t tip over, then Stanley is your guy.

Best travel coffee mugs: Hydro Flask Coffee with Flex Sip Lid

3. Hydro Flask Coffee with Flex Sip Lid

Hydro Flask is one of the most popular brands for travel mugs and cups for a very good reason. Available in multiple sizes, from 12 to 40 ounces, and in 11 colors, this travel mug features double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drinks at the right temperature for hours. The stainless steel bottle is durable, with paint that won’t chip from use.

What really makes this mug different from the competition is its unique lid. The top handle is great for taking it on the go, but when you unscrew it you see the real magic. To take a sip, just turn the lid counterclockwise to open the seal. When you want to take the whole lid apart to clean, just unscrew it in the opposite direction, revealing the intricate mechanism beneath. Keep in mind that getting it put back together can be a bit of a hassle or might take practice.

The cup is incredibly durable and lightweight, coming in at 11.6 ounces for the 20 ounce capacity. Though it lacks a rubber bottom, the cup is still comfortable to hold and stable. It's also great at keeping your drinks hot, falling from 202 degrees Fahrenheit to 172 after two hours, 145 after five, and 116 after 10. It's definitely one of the more unique-looking cups we’ve tested, but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular. Expert engineering and craftsmanship put it at the top of our list. This is why it’s one of the best travel coffee mugs.

Best travel coffee mugs: THERMOS Stainless King Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug

4. THERMOS Stainless King Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug

Thermos is a brand that has become synonymous with quality travel mugs, and the Stainless King is truly a wonderful option. Made of stainless steel, this vacuum-insulated cup is dishwasher safe and should fit in most cup holders. The handle on the side makes holding the cup easy and the outside stays cool even when hot liquids are inside. It is available in four different colors and holds 16 fluid ounces of liquid.

The lid is expertly crafted and won’t leak no matter how many times it's turned over or shaken. But it does have to be completely closed to work, just a little bit of an opening and the cup will spill out whatever is inside.

To open the lid, just turn the nozzle counter-clockwise revealing the “open” label on the lid. When it's closed, the lid creates a vacuum seal that keeps everything nice and hot. There’s even a small hook on the bottom of the lid to hold your tea bag and make sure it doesn’t fall in. The lid doesn’t even need to be taken apart to clean.

The Thermos excels at keeping beverages hot, outperforming everything else we tested. Starting at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, it only dropped to 181 at two hours, 159 at five, and 131 at 10 hours, which we found was still too hot to drink. It earns a spot on our list as one of the best travel coffee mugs for this reason alone.

It is one of the heaviest cups we tested, coming in at a whopping 15.6 ounces. The only heavier mug was the Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug.

5. Yeti Rambler

Available in 10, 20 or 30 ounces (we tested the 20 oz capacity), the Yeti Rambler is unique in its design, offering a much stouter mug with enough room for your liquid inside. Cupholder-friendly and dishwasher safe, this double-wall vacuum-insulated mug is great for taking your cold or hot drinks on the go. Plus it’s available in a whopping 34 colors, so you can find whatever tone you want.

Because of its more round shape, it's better than some we’ve reviewed at not getting knocked over, though it doesn’t have a rubber bottom for grip. But even the mightiest wind should allow the Yeti to stay upright.

The lid is simple but effective when kept upright. You can slide it up to take a sip and then slide it back down to seal it. The slide requires a bit of pressure for it to get opened, so it shouldn’t just flop open and spill what's inside. But you shouldn’t just place this cup in your bag because it is possible for it to spill. The lid does not screw on and only has a rubber circle keeping it in place. With enough shaking or momentum, the lid will pop off and won’t have an airtight seal when turned upside down.

It's also a bit dangerous to drink while hot. We found that while testing the outer ring on the lid retains heat a bit too well and was too hot to touch. The cup itself retains heat well enough, starting at 204 degrees Fahrenheit and going to 166 after two hours, 136 after five, and 108 after ten.

But if you aren’t going on any backpack adventures and just want a drink to keep warm, then the Yeti is a great option.

Best travel coffee mugs: Ember Temperature Control Travel Mug

6. Ember Temperature Control Travel Mug

Having an electronic travel mug that costs $185 might seem a bit extra, but the Ember makes it seem absolutely reasonable. The mug has an internal battery and can keep a drink at the same consistent temperature for three hours on a single charge. All you have to do is tap the center to reveal icons and set it to your desired temperature.

It's packed full of smart features, which is why it’s one of the best travel coffee mugs, like Bluetooth that connects it to your phone to set the temperature and light that tells you when the cup needs charging. It also has an app, which is simple to use and works flawlessly, showing the battery level and temperature of the beverage (but it does need to be reconnected after every use). To charge it, all you have to do is place the cup on the included stand and it should be ready to go in just a few hours. We set the temperature to 136 degrees Fahrenheit after starting at 199, it managed to stay the same for the whole 10-hour period.

The lid is also a marvel of engineering- all you have to do is press down whenever you want to drink to create a small circle of liquid to flow through. Even when shaken, the liquid didn’t escape and stayed inside the remarkable metal cylinder. Some liquid might stay around the lid after you take a sip, so keep that in mind.

It’s also very durable and has a rubber-coated bottom to keep it from spilling over. It might be a great travel mug, but other options can do what it does without the hefty price tag. There’s no need to over-engineer a cup that’s worked fine before. It’s fairly lightweight, coming in at 12 ounces and holding 12 fluid ounces. Being hand wash only is a drawback to boot as well.

7. Teabloom

The Teabloom tumbler allows you to make teas on the go with everything inside the bottle. Unlike a lot of other travel mugs, this long but elegant bottle comes with a metal diffuser with its own handle that you can throw your favorite tea blend or coffee right inside. Holding 16 fluid ounces, it's made of stainless steel and brushed with a metallic exterior that stood up to the wear and tear of everyday use and weighs 15.2 ounces.

The tumbler is very thin and can be a bit wobbly. It doesn’t have a rubber grip and it's tall but the thin facade can cause it to get knocked down with just a little bit of force. But it will fit in almost every cup holder snugly, without any worry of it flying out.

The lid is a simple screw-on top with a rubber ring that easily stops it from leaking even when shaken upside down. We found that even with the lid not screwed on completely all the way, the cup did not spill any water.

It also retained heat very well. When you put it in high-temperature beverages you can feel the heat on the side but it is definitely not too hot to touch. Out of all the travel mugs we tested without its own battery, the Teabloom held heat the longest, starting at 203 degrees Fahrenheit, and falling to 179 at two hours, 154 at five hours, and 126 at ten hours. It's by far one of the best travel coffee mugs to store hot liquid in, the fact it can make tea, coffee, or infused fruit water is just a plus.

Best travel coffee mugs: bioGo 16 oz Reusable Coffee Cups

8. bioGo 16 oz Reusable Coffee Cups

The bioGo Reusable Coffee Cup is simplistic but offers everything you’d need in a travel mug. Available in eight colors, it's made of recycled rice husks making them better for the environment. They also fit in cup holders and have a padded bottom to stop the cup from falling over.

It's also remarkably light; the model we tested weighs 6.2 ounces while still holding 16 fluid ounces. Although a 13 ounce capacity is also available. That light nature does make it feel a bit flimsy, but it held up to being knocked around just as well as other stainless steel mugs we tested. The cup is dishwasher safe and won’t break apart after multiple uses.

The screw-on lid is simple but effective. The hole on top has a plastic stopper that can be flipped in or out, which effectively keeps liquids inside. No matter how shaken or flipped upside down, the cup did not leak. The lid closer did not move once it was locked in place, but when the piece came out of the hole it did flop around.

Though it's a very pretty and stylish cup, it didn’t retain heat as well as a lot of the other mugs we tested. Starting at 202 degrees, it dropped quickly to 118 by two hours, 90 by five, and room temperature by 10. The whole cup became extremely warm on the outside, starting out at 125 degrees making it too hot to touch. If you need a mug that's safe for the environment and that you don’t need to hold hot beverages for long periods, then give this bioGo a shot. The environmentally friendly aspects make it one of the best travel coffee mugs.

Best travel coffee mugs: Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug

9. Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug

The Contigo West Loop Travel Mug has a gorgeous and unique shape that is durable enough to last. Made of stainless steel and its own patented Thermalock insulation, drinks stay hot or cold for hours inside. The shape makes it stand out from other travel mugs out there while still being slim enough to fit in most car cup holders. It holds 16 ounces of fluid and weighs 6.9 ounces. A 20 ounce capacity is also available, but we tested the smaller model.

The lid opens with a button press on the side, allowing any liquid to flow without issue. Even when shaken and held upside down, nothing escaped. To make sure nothing escapes, there’s a fantastic locking feature where all you have to do is press down on a button on top to make sure the lid can’t open. So when you place the mug in your bag, the button won’t accidentally get pressed and spill everywhere.

The odd shape does have it wobble a bit when tapped and it lacks rubber grips on the bottom, so it can fall. But it is still quite durable so even a tumble shouldn’t crack the exterior. The whole cup is dishwasher safe and the locking lid does not require disassembly to clean.

When filled with hot liquid, we found that the plastic lid coated in rubber got very hot and couldn’t be touched at max heat. But it did hold heat tolerably, starting at 204 degrees Fahrenheit and failing to 166 at two hours, 137 at five, and 111 at 10. Other travel mugs insulated a bit more consistently, but the Contigo still earned a recommendation, which is why it makes the list as one of the best travel coffee mugs.

Best travel coffee mugs: Ello Campy Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug

10. Ello Campy Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug

The Ello Campy Travel Mug is a simple, yet truly effective, liquid container. Its sleek metallic exterior hides a vacuum-insulated interior that keeps beverages cold or hot hours after use. That hard body makes it incredibly durable, though the plastic lid may not be able to handle the most aggressive of use.

The handle is coated in cork inside, helping you keep your grip and not burn yourself when going for a drink. The large handle makes it impossible for it to fit firmly in most car cup holders, especially any that are very deep. But it does make the cup look aesthetically pleasing and simple to use if you’d rather grasp a handle.

The screw-on lid is a bit more than just a simple piece of plastic, using a unique flipping mechanism to look the cup in place. Hot liquids made the lid too hot to touch and drink. It's also just a simple push button that can easily be knocked open without you noticing. This cup can’t be placed in a bag because it will spill everywhere. But it won’t leak when turned upside down as long as the lid is positioned correctly.

The whole cup is fairly good at keeping liquids hot, starting at 203 degrees Fahrenheit it fell to 171 at two hours, 142 at five, and 113 at 10. That puts it alongside a lot of the other cups we tested with vacuum insulation. Overall, it's great as long as you don’t try to drink scolding hot beverages. The model tested holds 18 ounces and weighs 5.3 ounces, but a smaller 11 ounce design is also available.

Best travel coffee mugs: Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug

11. Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug

The Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug is elegant with a timeless look, capturing the vibe of a cozy summer cottage somewhere in the wilderness. With a thick rubber bottom, the mug stays firmly planted when placed down and won't jiggle too much unless you try to knock it over. Being made of ceramic, we imagine that it's not as durable as other steel options (though we didn’t intentionally try to break it).

The handle on the side makes it comfortable to hold, though it is a fairly wide mug that won’t fit in most cup car holders. You can fill it with 18 fluid ounces of liquid and clean it in the dishwasher.

The top lid is a thin piece of plastic that you can shift up and down to take a drink. The lid is most certainly not leakproof and does not offer an airtight seal. If you just flip it over, the liquid will come gushing out, potentially with the lid as well. The lid is not screwed on and has no rubber gasket and is only held in place by a thin rubber bit around the lid.

It’s also not very good at retaining heat. It started at 199 degrees Fahrenheit and went down to 115 in just two hours. Like the Tupkee Glass Tumbler, the cup reached room temperature in just five hours. It's a much better indoor mug than a travel one, offering a unique option that just isn’t as stable as others on this list. The mug is also quite heavy, coming in at 22 ounces.

How we test

We put these travel mugs through rigorous testing for durability, heat retention, and comfort. First, we gave a score to every mug based on holding capacity, comfort to hold, stability, ease of opening, ease of cleaning, weight, and quality.

Best travel coffee mugs: Thermos mug shown above sink

Then we performed a test to see if it could hold liquid while turned upside down, without spilling a drop. We filled each cup to its maximum amount and held it upside down for five seconds. Then we noted which cups leaked and spilled onto the countertop. Most mugs managed to stay tight-lipped, while others leaked their insides everywhere. After a quick wipe-down of each mug, we moved on to the next step.

Best travel coffee mugs: Ello Jane Ceramic Travel Mug, Ember and Thermos shown on counter with digital thermometer testing liquid temperature.

Then we tested each mug's ability to retain heat. We filled each cup at the same time with boiling water and checked its temperature with a digital instant-read thermometer at two, five, and 10 hours. To check the inside temperature, we opened the top and placed a thermometer with a rod inside just long enough to get the recording without leaking much heat. Then, we closed the lid as quickly as possible before moving onto the next one.

How to choose the best travel mug

Material A travel mug can be made of stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, or glass. If you need a more durable mug, you should find one made of a tougher material like steel or plastic. These tougher mugs are also much better at retaining heat, with some having a vacuum insulation that keeps heat from escaping.

Durability Steel and plastic mugs are incredibly durable, able to withstand rigorous outdoor activity or time spent knocking around in a backpack. Mugs with rubber bottoms are also better at staying upright and not just falling over. If you are looking for a mug you can take on the road, it needs to be both durable and practical to use.

Size Most travel mugs are between 12 and 20 ounces, with 16 and 18 being the sweet spot. Most are slim enough to fit inside your average car coffee cup holder, while being snug enough to not just bounce around inside. If you are looking for a good sized mug, then aim for one that's around eight to ten inches in height.

How easy is to clean

Ideally, you should wash or rinse out your travel mugs straight after use, to prevent any grimy build-up inside. If you want to remove odors, one tip is to add ½ cup of vinegar before adding 1tbsp baking soda into the travel mug. Allow it to soak in the solution overnight, and then rinse it with warm water. Make sure you rinse it well so that there are no traces of the solution/vinegar. This should have removed lingering smells.

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Steven Asarch is a writer and editor who lives on Twitch and YouTube. After graduating from Baruch College, he wrote for IBT Media, Newsweek and Insider. In 2021, he executive produced the docu-series "Onision in Real Life" on Discovery +. As someone always looking to have the best smelling apartment possible, he's made it his mission to find the best air purifiers out there. His home has since become an air purifier haven, having stored and tested ten models for over three months. You could say he now knows everything there is to know about air purifiers, and what separates the good from the best.

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The Best Travel Mugs to Keep Drinks Hot or Cold

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Best Overall Miir Flip Traveler (16 Ounce) Read more

Runner-Up Hydro Flask Coffee Mug With Flex Sip Lid (16 Ounce) Read more

A Close Third Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated Mug (16 Ounce) Read more

A Classy Paper Cup Replacement KeepCup Brew Cork (12 Ounce) Read more

If it isn't wine or whiskey, you shouldn't be drinking it at room temperature. Even river water on a warm day of hiking is refreshingly cooler than the ambient air temperature. Lukewarm coffee is a great way to get your whole day off to rough start, and nobody daydreams about relaxing by the pool with a tepid glass of 70-degree water by their side.

Lucky for you, everybody seems to be selling a vacuum-insulated bottle, mug, or tumbler these days. Most of them are perfectly capable, too. It's rare to run across one that's a total failure at its one job, but it's also rare to find one that truly stands out. Here are the best travel mugs that impressed us, and some of the rest.

Updated December 2023: We've moved the Yeti Rambler to honorable mentions, as well as added the KeepCup Thermal, Hydro Flask All Around Tumbler, and GSI Outdoors Glacier 15-Fluid-Ounce Camp Cup. We've also updated pricing and availability throughout.

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Best Overall

Miir makes one of my favorite stainless-steel water bottles , and its insulated travel tumbler doesn’t disappoint. It has a tough powder coating with a flip-top lid that is absolutely leak-proof. I couldn’t get one drop of liquid to escape, no matter what I did to this tumbler. It’s narrow enough to fit any cupholder or backpack bottle holder, and it feels tough enough to survive years of abuse.

Hydro Flask’s powder coating is one of the toughest I have come across on a beverage container. Whenever I can foresee some serious abuse happening to a coffee mug on a trip, I take a Hydro Flask. I’ve yet to dent or scratch one through routine carelessness. Without a cupholder in my car, my Hydro Flask lived on the floorboards, rolling and crashing around with every maneuver, and it still held up. The pebbled texture is grippy, so you won’t fumble it like a stick of hot butter if your hands get wet or greasy.

A Close Third

Narrow openings are fine for water, in my opinion, but for hot beverages, I like having a wider gap so I can take a big gulp. You’re less likely to burn your mouth on hot drinks when you can slurp, too. The TKWide’s Cafe Cap is like drinking from a regular to-go coffee cup, rather than a water bottle.

All the colors have matte powder-coated finishes, which are more scratch-resistant than the brand’s smooth powder-coated finishes. That said, I haven’t found them to be as tough as Hydro Flask’s powder coating, and the uncoated stainless-steel ring on the bottom of the mug is pretty easy to scuff up.

A Classy Paper Cup Replacement

The Brew Cork is greater than the sum of its parts. Its double-walled, insulated version is meant to replicate and replace paper coffee shop cups. It’s fun to drink out of. Many other tumblers’ lid openings are blocky or mash your nose, but the KeepCup is ergonomically on point. It’s not the best for road trips, nor the best for keeping a ton of coffee hot for hours, but I highly recommend the LongPlay if all you want is a reusable cup to cut down on single-use waste and keep your drink warm long enough for you to actually drink it. That said, the lid is a bit dribbly. While the interior and lip are glass—no metallic off-tastes here—the exterior shell below the rubber grip is plastic.

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An Eco-Friendly Option

It doesn't fit a typical car’s cupholder, but if you like an insulated mug that resembles an actual cup more than a pack of Lifesavers standing on end, the Climate+ is for you. It has the solid build quality and tough powder-coated finish we’ve come to expect from Miir, in a package that has less of an impact on the environment. Miir says that the Climate+ uses no new plastic (the lid is 100 percent recycled and recyclable), and its insulation uses 25 percent less stainless steel than traditional insulated mugs. It’s also completely BPA-free.

Camp Classic

The blue enameled steel camp cup is a piece of Americana that hearkens back to black-and-red flannel shirts and war-surplus Army tents. Like all the tumblers on this list, it’s vacuum-insulated to keep hot drinks hot and cold ones cold. Its screw-on plastic lid, with a sliding lever for sipping, is leak-proof enough. If you leave it upside down for more than a few seconds or shake it, it’ll drip, but we couldn’t get it to leak by knocking it onto its side.

The handle is plastic to avoid conducting heat from hot contents, and the inner part of the handle is lined in cork. The Campy isn’t enameled—it’s just painted to look like it—but it pulls off the effect well.

For Coffee Purists

Instead of a tiny sippy hole, the Carter’s screw-on cap reveals a wide tumbler that lets you breathe in your coffee’s aromas as you drink. The opening is 69 millimeters wide, so you can use most manual coffee brewers, such as an AeroPress or Hario pour-over , directly on it. That’s too wide for many cars’ cupholders, but it’s plenty stable, and you won’t have to worry about tipping it over on a desk. My average-size hands had no issues, but some buyers with smaller hands might find it difficult or uncomfortable to hold.

The interior is ceramic-coated, so you don’t get any metallic flavors, and the thin metal lip is curved like a cabernet glass. Its textured matte exterior coating is tough and held up as well as the mighty Hydro Flask’s coating. It's been completely leak-proof too. You’ll have no concerns throwing it into your laptop bag completely full.

For Camping

When traveling, I want to pack light. Snow Peak’s gorgeous insulated titanium camp mug is less than 4 inches tall, weighs only 4.2 ounces, and has foldaway handles to make it even smaller. Its 450-ml capacity equates to slightly more than 15 fluid ounces. As someone who finds washing mugs to be an interminable hassle, this is the easiest one to travel with—just refill, rinse, and carabiner it to the outside of your bag. You can also buy a lid separately .

Tumblers and travel mugs are generally designed for you to pour your chosen beverage into, but what if you just want to slam a can in there? These kinds of insulated drink holders are particularly useful when I'm out and about, drinking a canned soda or beer, and there's no nearby recycling bin immediately nearby to toss the empty can into.

The Hydro Flask displaced the Yeti Rambler Colster because, yes, it's designed to keep an entire beverage can cool, but if you feel like pouring one out and drinking directly from the tumbler, you can do that too. Just remove the collar, and now you've got a handsome, stainless steel rim to sip from. The collar fits over the bottom of the can to stabilize it too, so you won't lose it. This is the 12-fluid-ounce version that fits a standard beer, soda, juice, or wine can. There's also a 16-fluid-ounce Tallboy Cooler Cup for $28 if you're feeling particularly thirsty.

Honorable Mentions

We run through so many travel mugs, and not all of them are winners. These are a few we like, just not as much as the ones above.

Contigo Luxe Autoseal for $36 : What makes the Contigo “automatic” is a button on the side of the lid that opens the sippin’ hole. There’s a lock to prevent the button from opening the hole too. With or without the lock activated, the Contigo never leaked a single drop. Of all the tumblers and bottles I’ve tested, this is the easiest to reach down and quickly use one-handed. You don’t want to mess with latches while you’re piloting a wheeled missile down the road. Some buyers have complained that the metal lid gets too hot, but I filled up the Luxe Autoseal with scorching, molten coffee, and the lid barely even got lukewarm, so consider that myth busted.

KeepCup Thermal for $33 : The answer to those who like the KeepCup LongPlay's ergonomic shape and paper-cup-imitating feel but long for a cup that can keep their coffee warmer for longer. The Thermal is, like most of the vessels in this guide, vacuum-insulated stainless steel that insulates against heat loss or, in the case of cold beverages, heat gain. It shares the Brew Cork's slightly dribbly lid, although it loses some of the novelty of the Brew Cork's glass.

Miir Camp Cup for $28: Miir's insulated coffee mug doesn't fumble any crucial details. It doesn't leak, it insulates hot and cold drinks just fine, and the coating is as tough as any Miir. But it's up against tough competition, and for the same money the Hydro Flask Mug is a bit nicer. The Miir lacks the stainless steel rim, and the transparent plastic lid feels a little cheaper.

Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler for $35 : With its soft, pastel colors and chunky handle, the All Around Travel Tumbler seems to be crying out, “Hold me!” The rounded handle is comfortable to hold, which is important in an 18.4-ounce mug loaded with up to 32 fluid ounces of drink. Like most Hydro Flask products, it comes with the same bomb-proof powder coating that resists scratches and chips like a nuclear fallout shelter, with the addition of a straw poking through its lid. There's also a 40-fluid-ounce version for $40 .

GSI Outdoors Glacier 15-Fluid-Ounce Camp Cup for $20 : Not too easy to find at retailers, unless you count Backcountry's limited selection of two colors, this is an insulated version of GSI Outdoors' classic camp cups. It's awfully simple, particularly the incredibly basic lid, but it's more than a little endearing. There's a brushed stainless steel version and, my favorite, a "blue speckle" that imitates the classic enameled blue camp cups of past generations, although both of these colors are plain steel. Other colors come in a more durable-seeming pebbled coating.

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug for $29 : Zojirushi's classic 16-ounce travel mug is a favorite around these parts. The stainless-steel interior is BPA-free and has a wide-mouth opening to accommodate ice cubes. The lid locks to avoid accidental spillage, and I accidentally left hot tea in it for 18 hours and found it still hot when I cautiously opened it again. It’s also small enough to fit in my jacket pocket on chilly morning walks. It’s not my preferred mug for daily use, simply because the lid has three separate parts—a mouthpiece, a gasket, and a lid—that are deeply ridged and hard to clean. I also need a bottle brush to wash the interior.

Rambler Stackable Pint Glass for $22 : Never mind the fact that Yeti calls it a glass when there's no glass—this insulated cup holds 16 fluid ounces, which is the capacity of a typical tall drinking glass. The best aspect of these is that they stack, so you can keep a bunch in your pantry without taking up much room. It comes with Yeti's durable powder coating, too, making them among the toughest options out there.

Hydro Flask Mug for $28: This style of mug has become increasingly common. The Hydro Flask Mug merges a durable powder-coated, vacuum-insulated construction with the traditional, handle-sporting shape of a diner or camp mug. Hydro Flask does it better than most. The stainless steel rim makes it nicer to sip from than competitors' mugs, and it comes with Hydro Flask's usual drip-proof lid and bomber-tough powder coating that is nearly impossible to scratch. But it is more at home on a desk than at a campsite or in a car's cupholder, which it can't fit into.

Owala FreeSip for $28 : Drinking from the FreeSip while wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet (by tilting the helmet up slightly and sipping from under the chin bar) was surprisingly easy, thanks to the built-in straw on this mug. If you've got mobility or pain issues that make tilting your head a hassle, this mug is a solid performer. It's easy to grip too, with its flattened sides, which can come in handy for those with reduced hand dexterity.

OtterBox Elevation for $30 : At 8.5 inches tall, the Elevation 20 looks a lot bigger than it is. It has a copper lining to maintain your beverage’s perfect temperature, and the clear press-on lid has a locking mechanism. You can also switch it out for a straw lid or a French press lid if you’re in a hurry. It comes in a variety of stunning ombre hues.

Purist Mover for $48 : Ever empty a stainless-steel bottle of one beverage and fill it up with a different one, only to notice that the taste of the first drink lingers? The Purist has applied a thin layer of glass over the interior of the Mover, which keeps this taste transfer from happening. You can down a mug full of coffee and then fill it with herbal tea without risking a coffee aftertaste. I didn’t experience leaks from the Element top, but a high number of customers have reported their Purist lids leaking over time. I’ll keep using the Purist and update this page with information on how it performs over the course of the year.

S'well Traveler Tumbler for $30 : S’well boasts that its tumblers are triple-walled, but we’re not convinced that has much real-world benefit over a normal double-walled tumbler. What really sets the S’well apart are its designs. There are 12 finishes, from plain colors and bare stainless steel to elaborate patterns, such as blue marble and faux wood, and a slide-open lid so you don’t have to pop it off every time you want a swig of coffee.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Pint for $26 : Stanley’s vacuum pint includes a press-on lid with a deeply pebbled exterior that’s reminiscent of classic flasks, and also hard hats and construction sites. Although it’s billed as a 16-ounce pint, Stanley has added a few extra ounces to accommodate foam (or splashing hot coffee), and the lid comes with a slide-in metal bottle opener if you like to go immediately from work to happy hour.

a Beast stainless steel travel mug next to it's packaging

Avoid These Travel Mugs

We’ve tested a great many tumblers, and not all are winners. These aren't anywhere near as good as our picks above.

Greens Steel Beast 20-Ounce Insulated Tumbler : Greens Steel’s Beast tumbler has nearly 14,000 positive reviews on Amazon and is, at least for me, one of the top hits when I search Amazon for an insulated tumbler. But the rubber seal around the lid is thin and easily comes out of place. I was ready to write the Beast off when it was leaking like a sieve, but after I adjusted the seal, it was reasonably leak-proof. Sometimes it dribbles, sometimes it doesn’t, depending on whether the seal stays put when you’re attaching the lid. The exterior color coating is not as durable as the Klean, Hydro Flask, Yeti, or Fellow. It did come with a regular metal straw, a thick metal milkshake straw, and a cleaner brush.

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Quencher : It's not that it's a bad tumbler, but rather that I don't see the point. Yes, it has the typical Stanley bombproof powder coating and build, and it does a fine job of keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, but the chief feature is just … a straw. It pokes out of a hole in the lid without sealing to the opening's sides, so it's not spill-proof if you're using the straw, even though there's a lid on it. You can close the lid, but you have to remove the straw and put it somewhere. It doesn't flip down conveniently or anything. “Insulated tumbler with a reusable straw thrown in” seems like an afterthought of a product.

Snow Peak Kanpai 500-ml Bottle : Unlike most of Snow Peak’s line of camping and backpacking gear, the Kanpai is stainless steel, not titanium, and it’s not made in Japan. It’s a double-walled, insulated stainless-steel tumbler with a glossy finish, and it comes with three lids, for some unnecessary reason. There’s a white screw-on lid that needs to be removed every time you want a drink, and a black version of the same lid. The third lid—one with a sipping hole that can be closed with a sliding latch—leaks if the Kanpai tips over. It took damage in a mere 3-foot drop when it was empty, landing on its rim, which flattened. A steel bottle, especially one with no liquid in it, should be able to survive that without battle scars.

Toaks Titanium Double Wall 450ML Cup for $40: More often than not, I champion Chinese-made Toaks gear as an affordable source of titanium camp cookware compared to Japanese-made Snow Peak and Evernew and Thai-made MSR, which tend to be more expensive. But this mug is only $10 less than the Snow Peak mug we recommend above, and it's finishing is rougher.

Louryn Strampe

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The 12 Very Best Travel Mugs

Cut back on waste and enjoy a better cup of coffee..

When I walk into any coffee shop, I see at least a handful of people asking for their morning brew to be poured into their own reusable vessel instead of something disposable. And trust me: Baristas are more than happy to oblige. Every single one of the pros I talked to for this story said that not only are ceramic, glass, and stainless-steel options better for the environment, but they actually make your coffee tastier than paper or plastic. They’re also more convenient — I make my coffee and tea at home the vast majority of the time, but now, I pour it into one of the few reusable mugs I tested for this story whenever I want to take it with me on the go. Not only does that save money, but it keeps my drink hot or cold for longer. And I can sip some, throw it in my bag , and save the rest for later.

All the travel mugs on this list have temperature retention for at least a few hours, with the exception of three, which I’ve noted and explained. While all of them work well, if you’re going to invest in this long-term good habit, you want to find the one that best fits your coffee habits and, of course, aesthetic preference. Read on to help determine which reusable cup, mug, or tumbler is best for you. And if you’re in need of a water bottle , I’ve got you covered there, too.

What we’re looking for

Most of these travel mugs come in various sizes, and obviously that’s an important feature to pay attention to when buying. Eight or 12 ounces is on the smaller side; both are good for standard cappuccinos or cortados or if you don’t consume all that much coffee or tea. Twenty ounces is pretty big, useful if you’ll be toting your drink around all day without the chance for refills. And then, of course, 16 ounces is somewhere in between.

The type of lid on your travel mug can make a fairly big difference in how you experience drinking. Some have bigger openings, some smaller. Some snap shut; others twist open and close. This can come down to personal preference — meaning the literal mouthfeel of each one. But it’s also important to consider when and how you’ll be using your travel mug, whether that’s commuting by train or car, sitting at a desk, or running errands around your neighborhood.

How to clean

Some travel mugs on this list are dishwasher safe; others need to be cleaned by hand. Take note if that’s an important factor for you.

Best travel mug overall

Volume: 12 to 20 ounces | Lid type: Flip lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe

The MiiR Travel Tumbler is my personal favorite travel mug. I own the smallest size (12 ounces) and love the compact build and sleek shape. I find the grip itself to be secure, too, and slim enough to fit in one hand. The whole lid screws on tight; I’ve never experienced any leaking. It’s especially easy and comfortable to sip from, thanks to the small piece on the lid that flips up and reveals a hole that allows a stream steady enough to get a good mouthful but not so wide open that it spills when I tilt the mug back. This is even the case with iced coffee; the cubes never obstruct the opening or cause uneven flow (though if you mainly drink it this way, one of the larger sizes might be a better choice).

The temperature retention is fantastic, too; I’ve had coffee stay hot — not just warm, but piping — for six hours. Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, explains that this is thanks to the double-walled interior, which also means it’s never too hot or too cold to hold on the outside. “It’s stainless steel, so it washes really easily,” Morrison says, “and doesn’t hold on to any flavors.” Will Pratt, founder and owner of Tandem Coffee Roasters in Portland, Maine, agrees that its material makes it a breeze to clean — and that if you have one, you can even just throw it in the dishwasher. “Coffee has sticky oils that leave residue, and there’s nothing worse than a mug that holds that flavor over time,” he says. The final bonus, as mentioned by Morisson, is that it fits into cup holders in both cars and bikes, which “is not always the case.”

Michael Philips, director of content and copy at Blue Bottle , recommends Miir’s standard tumbler . Like the travel model above, the body is made from the same material, slightly tapered towards the bottom, so it still feels good in the hand and fits in cup holders, Philips says. The clear lid “gives you a chance to see what you’re drinking,” he says, and “does a great job stopping sloshes from getting out and onto your hands.”

Best travel mug for cappuccinos

Volume: 12 and 16 ounces | Lid type: Flip lid | How to clean: Hand-wash only

KeepCup was also mentioned by many of our experts, and in my own testing, I liked it, too. The lid here functions pretty much the same as the MiiR, which means you can sip from the hole or take the whole thing off. Both make for comfortable sipping. But I will note: while there’s a small silicone tag that fits into the sip hole to seal it, it isn’t perfectly leak-proof, meaning this isn’t a mug I would casually throw in my bag. But it’s very nice for taking on walks or bringing coffee-shop brew home.

I was initially nervous the glass would be delicate, but it’s thick and feels sturdy, with a wide cork ring around the perimeter so I can grip without my fingers getting too hot. The glass body also means that there’s not as much heat retention going on as some of the others. (And for Ryan Fisher, director of coffee and roasting at GoodBoyBob Coffee in Santa Monica, California, that’s actually a benefit instead of a problem: The glass gets his coffee to the exact temperature he likes quickly.)

KeepCup was also praised by coffee pros who say its size and shape works well on their side of the counter, too. The small glass vessels were designed by two former baristas in Melbourne, Australia, making it easier for people like Joanna Lareau, coffee manager at Stumptown , and Samya Said, former barista training manager at Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea , to do their jobs. Both Lareau and Said say that having a wide mouth and inner slope allows baristas to pour amazing coffee art. Lareau also notes that the small size fits cortados and cappuccinos well. “Some reusable cups are so big they don’t fit into the espresso machine,” she says.

Best travel mug for iced coffee

Volume: 8, 12, and 16 ounces | Lid type: Twist-off lid | How to clean: Hand-wash only

Fellow is generally a favorite brand among industry folks (I’m a big fan of their electric kettle in particular). As with all their products, the travel mug has a streamlined look. Even though you can’t throw it in the dishwasher, Morrison says the stainless steel interior makes it easy to clean. And it retains hot and cold temperatures with the best of them. But the coolest feature of all? “There’s a small guard insert at the top,” Morrison says, “so if you’re drinking iced coffee, the cubes don’t fall back onto your face when you get towards the bottom.”

Best travel mug for commuting

Volume: 12 and 16 ounces | Lid type: Flip lid | How to clean: Hand-wash recommended

The Zojirushi, which was also a top pick for reusable water bottles , comes with a lot of the same perks as many others on this list — namely fantastic temperature control and a slim, sleek, and lightweight body. We’ve been recommending it since 2016 in large part because the water bottle keeps drinks at the same temperature as they were when you initially filled it. “One time, I made coffee early one winter morning and brought it to work in my Zojirushi. When I got to the office after walking through freezing temperatures and snow, the coffee was too hot,” wrote Laura Perciasepe in her review of this Japanese mug . “I put an ice cube in it like a philistine.”

But according to tea consultant Sara Shacket , its most impressive quality is that it’s completely airtight. “It really doesn’t leak,” she says. “I’ve used it during many commutes on the subway, thrown in my bag, and was never worried. Same if I was hiking on a trip. It could be upside-down and it wouldn’t leak.” Cookbook author and recipe developer Carla Lalli Music , who owns multiple Zojirushi models, echoes this sentiment, saying, “It has the most bustproof cap in the biz.” Ilana Glazer likes her so much, she brings it onstage, in large part because it’s “so sleek in its design and so quick to open and close.”

Best travel mug with a handle

Volume: 10 to 24 ounces | Lid type: Slide lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe

Steven Sadoff, founder of New York City’s Ground Support , has many travel mugs (including the MiiR and the Fellow above), but he turns to his Yeti when he wants a handle. He says he finds this feature particularly convenient when he’s driving because even though it doesn’t fit in a cup holder, he can easily grab it and sip with control. “It makes for a pretty comfortable drinking experience,” he says, “especially as you get close to the end of your coffee.” The same applies when he meets friends for a coffee outside because “you can gesticulate wildly without spilling.” Aside from the handle, he appreciates that the mug seals incredibly tightly, keeps liquid hot for hours, and is dishwasher safe. Rhiannon Giddens is another fan , saying that Yeti bottles keep liquid “hot or cold for a millennia.”

Best less expensive travel mug with a handle

Volume: 8 to 20 ounces | Lid type: Slide lid | How to clean: Hand-wash recommended

Recommended by multiple experts, MiiR also makes a sweet travel mug that mimics an actual handled mug. Em Orendorff, former manager at Intelligentsia Coffee , likes it because “it’s shaped just like the mugs we use in the café (short and wide with a great handle), so it’s a breeze for baristas to make your drink in it as well as easy to clean and to drink out of.” Caleb Chauncey, former barista at East Pole Coffee Co. in Atlanta, likes that its insulated interior keeps drinks warm or cold for long periods of time, and it keeps a consistent temperature on the outside too. “It won’t burn your hand if you have a hot beverage inside, and it won’t sweat when you have a cold one,” he says. To me, it seems like the perfect camping companion. It’s also worth noting that it comes in the largest range of sizes of any of the mugs we’ve listed.

Best travel mug with a replaceable lid

Volume: 12 to 20 ounces | Lid type: Twist-off lid or sip lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe

Hydro Flask is another go-to for water (in fact, it was named our best-overall bottle because so many people — including myself — sing its praises). The materials and build that keep liquid cold also keep liquid hot, as Strategist editor and avid coffee drinker Maxine Builder can attest to. She particularly likes the model with a Flex Sip lid. “It’s a lot easier to manipulate on the go and actually keeps the hot coffee in there,” she says. The other advantage of this lid is the addition of a hook, which means I can carry it with one finger while I walk my dog in the morning.” Best of all, if you already own a Hydro Flask, you can buy the new lid separately and just replace your old one. The company says it’s dishwasher safe, but hand washing is recommended — though both my boyfriend and I have been putting our own Hydro Flasks in the dishwasher for months now with no damage.

Best no-leak travel mug

Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa loves his Kinto Travel Tumbler because of its double-lid system, which prevents leaks. You take both off to fill the bottle, then twist in the first one that has a few holes around the perimeter to sip from, and then add the fully closed screw top over that. It stays extra-secure, Rellosa says, because there are no small flip-up or sliding parts that can open by accident. Once, he had to stuff it into his backpack while traveling and thought he was going to open it to find coffee stains on his clothes , but everything inside stayed clean and dry. Plus, “the actual lid where you drink from and makes contact with your lips never touches the exterior of your bag, or wherever you’re stashing it,” Rellosa says. Julia Shaw, director of marketing at NYC’s Devoción Coffee , is another fan. She says the bottle keeps liquid hot or cold for a long time and has an “elegant” aesthetic appeal.

Best travel mug with open hole lid

Volume: 12 ounces | Lid type: Sip lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe

Kinto’s To-Go Tumbler has a very small but always-open sip hole, which means it’s best suited for when you’re sitting at a desk or on a walk holding the tumbler in your hand. This means your drink will stay hot for about an hour and cold for several hours, but it’s not going to retain its temperature all day long. That said, it’s still a favorite of a couple of our experts. For Haley Boyd , a designer and sustainability enthusiast, this is mostly because of the aesthetic. “It’s an attractive, simple shape in a solid color without a huge logo, which is surprisingly hard to find,” she says. But for Noah McKeown, general manager at Go Get Em Tiger in Los Angeles, who uses his nearly every day, it’s more than just looks. “I like the small-hole sip lid,” he says. “I think the flow-out of it is really nice. It never spills, but you still get a lot of the coffee aromatics out of it.”

Best customizable travel mug

Volume: 12 and 16 ounces | Lid type: Button lid or straw lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe

Not only does this ceramic-lined mug hit the mark on functionality, but it allows you to customize way beyond size. You choose between a lid with a button-release or a built-in straw and then pick from a bunch of pretty, muted tones, either making it monochrome or designing it so that the body, lid, and button are all different colors.

It’s super effective, too. I tested a button-release version: While you unscrew the lid fully to fill the vessel, you press down on a circle flush with the top that opens another much smaller hole to sip from. This releases a slow and steady stream of liquid when you tip the mug back. Even when I was walking around with it, I never had to readjust how I was holding or maneuvering it, and no amount of turning it upside down or jostling led to any leaking. And the temperature retention (for both hot and cold drinks) is great — my coffee stays hot for about four hours, and last summer, I could hear ice clinking around after that same amount of time when I was out and about on a hot day.

Best glass travel mug for brewing tea

Volume: 7 ounces | Lid type: Twist-off lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe

Daniela Titiun, tea sommelier and author of Tea Cachai , tried many different glass tea mugs before landing on one she calls “the smartest system” for its game-changing tea-brewing mechanism. Normally, she explains, tumblers have a metal insert that’s filled with tea leaves and steeped in water. That means that once the appropriate amount of time has passed, you either have to remove the strainer — which can be impractical, if you’re on the go — or just leave the leaves inside, which can cause your drink to get bitter. The Oneisall, however, functions by dividing the vessel in half with a filter. One side houses the leaves; the other, the water. This allows you to turn the bottle upside down to infuse and then right side up when you’re ready to unscrew and sip. (There’s a helpful video on the product page.) While the glass means this mug is non-insulating, the double walls help retain heat for about an hour, and at only seven ounces, it should be easy to finish by then. Plus, as Titiun notes, you can easily re-brew for a second time with the same leaves.

Best stainless-steel travel mug for brewing tea

Volume: 16 ounces | Lid type: Sip lid | How to clean: Hand-wash recommended

Like the model above, this travel mug (which was gifted to me by the brand) brews tea without an infuser sitting in your water — but instead of the flip method, it has a more traditional tea press that you push down once the steep time is over (similar to a French press ). The grip is comfortable, so I often take it with me on late-afternoon walks, and the twist-off lid is extremely tight. It hasn’t ever spilled, even when jostled in my tote bag . There are small sip holes around the perimeter of the top of the infuser so you can drink from any angle, all while the flow of liquid is slow and controlled. Finally, because of the stainless-steel insulation, it stays at temperature for hours; when I brew it before I go upstairs for the evening, it’s still hot when I drink from it before bed.

Some more travel vessels we’ve written about

Our experts

• Haley Boyd , designer and sustainability enthusiast • Maxine Builder , Strategist editor • Caleb Chauncey, former barista at East Pole Coffee Co. • Ryan Fisher, director of coffee and roasting at GoodBoyBob Coffee • Joanna Lareau, coffee manager at Stumptown • Noah McKeown, general manager at Go Get Em Tiger • Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO of Sightglass Coffee • Carla Lalli Music , cookbook author and recipe developer • Em Orendorff, former manager at Intelligentsia Coffee • Michael Phillips, director of content and copy at Blue Bottle • Will Pratt, founder and owner of Tandem Coffee Roasters • Jeremy Rellosa , Strategist writer • Steven Sadoff, founder of New York City’s Ground Support • Samya Said, former barista training manager at Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea • Sara Shacket , tea consultant • Julia Shaw, director of marketing at Devoción Coffee • Daniela Titiun, tea sommelier and writer of Tea Cachai

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17 Best Travel Coffee Mugs for Hot and Cold Drinks

Commute with your coffee under control.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

For many of us, coffee is a constant companion — and that means you'll want a trusty travel mug as you head out the door. Whether you prefer a piping hot cup from your drip coffee maker or single-serve coffeemaker , a refill at Starbucks or a dose of joe from your cold brew coffee maker , your travel coffee mug should handle it all without leaking. Fortunately, there's tons of options out there, including stainless steel coffee thermoses to keep your beverages cool and ones with straws for easy sipping.

Over the years, the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab have tested 45 different travel mugs for hot and cold temperature retention, durability, resistance to leakage, ease of use and more. In our most recent tests, we called in samples of the latest travel mugs and used them both in the office and on our commutes to see how well they held up. We noted how they felt, how they traveled and, unavoidably, how they held up when dropped. Ahead, we rounded up the best travel coffee mugs based on picks that performed well during testing or come from brands that we trust.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Travel Coffee Mug

Zojirushi 16-ounce stainless steel mug.

Best Value Travel Coffee Mug

Juro stainless steel vacuum insulated tumbler.

Best No-Spill Travel Coffee Mug

Stanley classic trigger action travel mug.

Best Travel Coffee Mug for Espresso Drinks

Avana sedona stainless steel thermal tumbler.

Easiest to Clean Leak-Resistant Travel Coffee Mug

Oxo good grips 16-oz travel coffee mug with leakproof simplyclean lid.

Best Travel Coffee Mug with Carrying Strap

Hydro flask flex sip lid coffee flask.

Best Self-Heating Travel Coffee Mug

Smrtmugg heated coffee mug.

Best Wide-Mouthed Travel Coffee Mug

S'well stainless steel traveler.

Best Locking-Lid Travel Coffee Mug

Contigo luxe autoseal vacuum-insulated mug.

Best Travel Coffee Mug with Handle

Yeti rambler mug with lid.

Read on for more information on our testing process as well as for tips on what to look for when shopping for a travel coffee mug. For more ideas on what to fill your cup with, check out these coffee recipes to make at home .

Zojirushi's travel mug with a locking lid opens with the push of a button but won't leak or spill (even in a backpack). It will keep hot coffee hot — in fact, the brand is so confident that it offers a five-year warranty on heat retention. Iced coffee fans will appreciate that the mouth is large enough to handle big ice cubes for that extra chill.

Our tester noted that the vacuum-sealed lid keeps water cold all day: "I always grab it from my backpack and think, 'There's no way this could still possibly be cool anymore,' and I'm always pleasantly surprised." We also like the slim design, which is easy to grip and fits nicely into backpacks or totes. It comes in several colors and a 12-ounce version.

This stainless steel mug is a great affordable option, especially considering its large 20-ounce size. What's more, it claims to retain the temperature of your coffee for up to six hours. Online reviewers like that it fits easily into car holders and won't sweat when filled with ice. The tumbler includes two lids: The featured slider lid as well as a flip-style lid , so you can choose which you prefer for the beverage you're drinking. It also comes with a reusable straw and a straw cleaner, though we found the straw was short and inconvenient to use.

Stanley has been in the thermal carafe game since 1913. This travel coffee mug delivers the company's insulated design and also includes a push-button "trigger action" lid that keeps the mug sealed unless pushed. We liked that it means the spout stays closed when you're not hands-on . Our pros did note that it requires some level of strength and dexterity to hold the button while sipping. This mug is available in several colors (even camo!) and in a 20-ounce size.

This 10-ounce travel mug from Avana is perfectly sized for espresso-based drinks, but it's also available in 20-ounce and 30-ounce versions. Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou likes that the simple two-piece design is easy to clean because the lid is just one solid piece, unlike many other lids. This is particularly helpful if you like coffee drinks with foam, like latte beverages , that can gunk up lids over time. The contoured mouthpiece makes sipping easy, but it doesn't seal closed, so watch out for leaks. The double-walled insulated construction keeps drinks hot or cold and helps prevent condensation from collecting on the outside.

We love when kitchen gear comes apart for a thorough cleaning, but would rather skip the guesswork that can follow when it's time to reassemble. The OXO travel coffee mug with SimplyClean lid solves this pain point: The four-piece lid is color-coded, numbered and etched with assembly instructions . It's easy to take apart and clean by hand (or in the dishwasher), and simple to put back together for your next cup. Never mind, it's also comfortable to hold. The mug comes in four other colors as well as a 20-ounce size.

Hydro Flask has a huge following when it comes to water bottles — in fact, we named the brand our best stainless steel water bottle — and we're fans of its coffee mugs (called coffee flasks), too . GH Lab tests found that its stainless steel, vacuum-insulated body kept drinks hot and cold for hours, and it was quite leakproof. Hydro Flask also offers a separate wide-mouth lid , which can be handy for cold beverages. (The included lid twists to open and close.) But, be careful drinking hot beverages with a wide mouth as it can spill easily. It's available in a range of colors as well as 16- and 20-ounce sizes , and the little handle helps make it easier to transport.

This SmrtMugg travel mug — rated our best self-heating travel mug — has built-in heat technology to keep coffee hot. Its large battery on the bottom — the manufacturer claims a 10-hour battery life — kept coffee hot (above the target temp of 135˚F) for the full four hours of our Lab tests . Once you get the hang of the controls at the bottom of the mug, the clear digital readout is helpful in setting the temperature and turning off the mug. This travel mug also aced our leak tests. Our tester noted that while the push-button lid is easy to use, the edge of the button can bump your lip while drinking.

This sleek 16-ounce bottle has been redesigned to fit more comfortably in your hand. Though we have not tested this model in the Lab, our pros appreciate that i ts large size and wide mouth can easily fit ice cubes , which makes it a great choice for frequent iced coffee drinkers. We have also found other S'well products to be good at maintaining temperatures. It seals shut and is leakproof; plus, it will keep your drinks cold (or hot!) all day. The S'well comes in a ton of color options as well as 12-ounce and 20-ounce sizes.

This coffee mug from Contigo is super comfortable in your hands, and it has a unique locking feature that makes it leak- and spill-proof. When you want to sip (or chug) your coffee, just press the button to release the seal. During your commute, you can lock the button so you don't accidentally press it while on the go . It's also completely dishwasher-safe, even the lid. One tester did note that with hot beverages, the lid can feel too hot to handle.

This popular Yeti mug looks just like a traditional coffee mug, but it's designed to keep your drinks hot or cold and comes with a lid to prevent unnecessary spills. The sturdy and comfortable handle is large enough for even wide hands. It's available in a dozen different colors as well as sizes from 10- to 30 ounces. Another bonus is that when you buy from the Yeti site, you can customize your product with a short text, a monogram or a logo. Our tester found that the lid slides open easily but noted that it's not leakproof. The brand has also introduced the Rambler Stronghold lid , which screws on (rather than presses in), which we're actively testing in the Lab.

Fellow Carter Everywhere Travel Mug

This little cylinder makes a statement, with testers loving how compact it was. The sleek stainless steel shell contains a ceramic liner intended to keep your coffee free of metallic flavors. The screw top reveals a wide mouth that you can sip from any angle and is large enough for adding ice . It comes in seven additional colors as well as a smaller, 12-ounce size.

W&P Porter Ceramic Mug with Protective Silicone Sleeve

Papantoniou likes that the inside of this travel mug is easy-to-clean porcelain, which generally helps to prevent buildup over time that can negatively impart flavors . She also noted that it keeps coffee "nice and hot right off the bat." It includes a simple shape and a silicone sleeve for a comfortable non-slip grip. It comes in several colors and a couple of terrazzo prints . It's also available in a 16-ounce size.

Starbucks Classic Green & White Traveler Tumbler Coffee Mug

Starbucks fans will appreciate that they can purchase this mug online rather than solely in the stores. The ceramic mug is easy to use — the lid just pops into place and is surrounded by a rubber seal to help keep it (and the coffee) in place — and easy to clean . "It keeps coffee warm like a standard ceramic mug would, and the lid helps to keep things a little warmer for longer," our tester says. "I like that it's not scalding hot like in a metal mug, so I can enjoy my coffee without burning my mouth." The 12-oz size is perfect for refills of Starbucks tall drinks.

STOJO Collapsible Travel Cup with Straw

Stojo's collapsible coffee cup makes it possible to travel light while avoiding single-use plastics. The brand impressed our pros with its other collapsible offerings — the Collapsible Bowl won a 2021 Kitchen Gear Award . Similarly, this travel cup is well designed: The cup includes a heat sleeve that provides a structured grip for the squishy silicone cup, and the 16-ounce size includes a straw (which is great for iced coffee or if you prefer to bring your own cup to fountain machines). The collapsed cup is just two inches in size. It's both microwave and dishwasher safe, with 8-ounce , 12-ounce and 24-ounce sizes.

MiiR Flip Traveler

With a 4.8-rating on Amazon, this stainless steel thermos comes in a slim design and an easy-to-open lid. Though we have not tested this pick in the Lab, we like its focus on giving back: T he bottom of each travel mug is printed with a "Give Code" that you can enter at Mirr's website for details on the brand's corporate giving , which is funded through every purchase. The Flip Traveler is available in several colors and 12-ounce and 16-ounce sizes .

JOCO Glass Reusable Coffee Cup

This glass bodied Joco mug has a colorful silicone lid and a matching thermal sleeve. It's microwave (and dishwasher!) safe, which makes it a great option if you like to reheat your coffee throughout the day. Since the glass is clear, it's easy to see how much coffee you have left — and hit your preferred shade when you add your creamer. Take note that the lid does not seal shut, so while it might be handy for car commuting, this isn't one that's great for tossing in your bag.

Zoku Instant Iced Coffee Maker

For iced coffee fiends, this mug is for you. Get your cuppa in flash: Simply store the inner core of the mug in the freezer, then slip the frozen cup into the protective plastic sleeve and pour in hot coffee. Our tester found that the travel mug will chill your coffee rapidly without watering it down with ice cubes. (The brand actually uses the same concept for its ice cream maker .) Slide in the lid with the provided straw, and you're ready for undiluted iced coffee — though you can add ice if you prefer. One caveat is that the freezable core holds only 11 ounces, which some might find too small.

How we test travel coffee mugs

When the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab test travel coffee mugs, they use thermocouples to track the temperature of the liquid inside the mug over time. Many of the mugs on this list were tested at home over months (even over commutes) to assess their durability, ease of use and temperature retention.

Our pros also evaluate the mugs for stability, cleanability and comfort of both holding and drinking. They test whether the mug is easy to open and close, and they drop each mug to assess its durability. To test for leaking, our pros roll the mug around on its side as well as turn it upside down and shake it vigorously.

How to find the best travel coffee mug for you

✔️ Material : Many travel coffee mugs are stainless steel, though our list also includes porcelain, glass and silicone options. Double-walled construction is common with stainless steel mugs, and that can help keep your beverage hot or cold longer. Other materials may not be insulated. If you opt for a glass mug, consider borosilicate glass, which is tempered to prevent shattering with hot liquids and can be more durable if dropped. Porcelain mugs are generally easy to clean, and because the material is nonporous, the mug is unlikely to develop odd flavors. Silicone is a great lightweight option, but it can get warm if it does not have a heat sleeve.

✔️ Lid : Some lids are more spill-proof than others. Our Lab experts particularly love the locking feature on the Contigo Luxe Autoseal Vacuum-Insulated Travel Coffee Mug , which adds a level of safety if you plan to toss your mug in your bag. Lids that screw on are also often leak-resistant. Those who prefer a more traditional-style mug with a handle may find that slider lids are common; evaluate those for leaking, as some are prone to dribbles (or worse). Note that spill-proof lids often require more care to clean.

✔️ Washability : Check to see if the mug is dishwasher-safe. If it needs to be washed by hand, make sure you can thoroughly clean it with a sponge or bottle brush .

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Sarah Wharton is the Senior Editor and Analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute. She tested several of the newest additions to this list as well as led the recent test of heated mugs. She's written about all kinds of kitchen gear as well as coffee advice like how to make a cappuccino and how to make an iced latte .

Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou oversees all testing of kitchen gear, including products like coffee grinders , coffee makers , espresso machines and Nespresso machines . She has tested almost all of these travel mugs and is constantly rotating through an assortment in her daily travel mug use. She is also the lead judge in the Good Housekeeping Institute's forthcoming Coffee Awards .

Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor in the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).

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The Best Leak-Proof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot (and Cold) Drinks on the Go

By Kristi Kellogg and Meaghan Kenny

The 18 Best LeakProof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot Drinks on the Go

Whether you're embarking on your morning commute or headed on an East Coast road trip , you should have one of the best travel mugs in hand. Finding one you like means you can skip the routine stop at the coffee shop (or at least say no to the disposable cup), cut back on single-use plastics, and keep your drinks at an ideal temperature (with some, for hours and hours at a time). Ahead, we've rounded up Condé Nast Traveler editors' personal favorites—from brands like Hydro Flask, Yeti, Corksicle, Stanley, and more. With insulated, leak-proof, and easy-to-carry options in the mix, there's a mug in here ready for a spot in your cup holder or tote bag .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Hydro Flask All Around Tumbler

The 20-ounce version of Hydro Flask’s All Around Tumbler has been my go-to lately, both at home and on the commute to work. It keeps coffee warm for a few hours, so if I’m sipping slowly I don’t have to bother with reheating it, and does its job in keeping iced coffee cool, too. It has the type of lid that you can push back and forth to open or close, and the opening is wide enough to easily fit a reusable straw. I don’t drive, but the mug's size seems very cupholder-friendly, too! — Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

Stanley Classic Trigger Action travel mug

Stanley makes the best classic mugs (the company has been around since 1913 after all). The brand is known for its iconic insulated steel thermoses, which promise hours-long insulation for hot drinks and durability for wherever you’re taking your beverage— hiking , camping , thrown in the back of your car on a road trip , you name it. The original green color has a delightfully retro vibe as well. — Megan Spurrell, senior editor

Stojo collapsible travel cup, 16-ounce

The main reason I adore my collapsible Stojo cup is its clever design that makes it incredibly easy to carry around. I’m not kidding when I say that when folded down, my 16-ounce cup turns into a disc that fits into my jacket pocket. It’s also light enough to drop into a travel backpack or a sling bag when you go hiking. I use mine for everything from coffees and smoothies, and when dry, for snacks and berries. Don’t expect an insulated mug with this one: It keeps a beverage warm (or cool) for long enough for you to drink it, but isn’t a double-walled metal cup. However, it has helped me cut down on a ton of waste when traveling, and might I add is cute-looking, too. — Arati Menon, global digital director

Read a full review of the Stojo cup.

Stanley Aerolight Transit bottle

The AeroLight Transit bottle has become my new favorite mug to use on my morning commute to work. My tea is still piping hot even after my hour-long train ride. I keep it in my tote bag—along with my laptop and phone—and it never leaks. I've flipped this one completely upside down and nothing spills out, making it a reliable option to travel with. It's one-third lighter than Stanley's typical stainless steel, so it doesn't feel heavy in my bag either. I also appreciate how slim the bottle is—it's so easy to carry around. — Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor

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Yeti Rambler stackable mug

When I'm traveling, the most essential ritual I preserve is my morning coffee. While I love nearly all of the Yeti drinkware options, this mug is perfect for coffee—both for its manageable 10-ounce size, as well as the side handle, which makes this especially easy when I'm on a road trip or a train. (This mug has come with me on camping trips in the Shenandoah Valley and Delaware Water Gap, on a road trip through the Appalachian Highlands, and a long drive between D.C. and New York City .) A fair word of warning though: The airtight lid and insulation work almost too well—coffee stays hot a long time, so I recommend you get it close to your ideal temperature before pouring it in. —Corina Quinn, former city guides director

Snow Peak Milk bottle

This is one of those gifts I have become deeply attached to—it was given to me about a year ago, when I was getting really into camping and the chic outdoor brand Snow Peak, and it’s since become a staple in my house. It has a beautifully minimalist design, is small enough to feel really portable (as in, it’s not a pain to have to tote home once it’s empty), and it never leaks. It’s no bargain, but given how much I use and love it, I think the math sort of works out in the end. — M.S .

Zojirushi stainless steel mug

“This mug is my favorite one ever because the lid has a lock feature that makes it completely leak-free. I can throw this in a travel tote and not worry about coffee dribbling all over. Plus the stainless steel interior keeps coffee extra hot for hours, but it doesn't burn your hands. In addition to my commute on the subway, I've taken this little wonder on train rides to upstate New York , and I've never spilled a drop.” —Jessica Puckett, senior editor, transportation and travel news

Hydro Flask 20 oz Coffee with Flex Sip Lid

Another option from Hydro Flask worth noting is the 20-ounce bottle with a Flex Slip lid. It's large enough that I can bring plenty of iced coffee with me on the go, but it's still cupholder-friendly—very important for road trips. The double-wall vaccum insulation keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12. The carry-handle makes it easy to hold on long walks and the leak-proof lid is easy to open and close. I love the color options, especially this new purple shade. —M.K.

Martina Thornhill Okay cup

It’s not hyperbole to state that I’ve tried the lion’s share of travel mugs on the market. I drink a ton of coffee and I travel and drive a lot. I hate the way metal mugs make coffee taste—it’s so much better out of a ceramic mug. The Okay Cup from Portland, Oregon –based ceramicist Marina Thornhill is gorgeous, doesn’t leak, and doesn’t make your coffee taste like mud. It’s pricey, but a better long-term deal than always dumping the coffee you put in another mug and don’t actually drink. It’s constantly selling out, so put your name on the pre-order list—it’s worth the wait. —Rebecca Misner, senior features editor

Kinto travel tumbler

If you’re a tea drinker like me or like your travel mugs to keep your hot drinks piping hot, be warned: this insulated mug gets me every time, keeping my teas at steaming, roof-of-mouth-burning temperatures for what feels like an impossibly long time. (And that’s a good thing in my book.) I prefer the matte exterior over the stainless steel for its added grip. I use it to commute with my tea (it doesn’t leak!) and on extra-long winter walks because I know it’ll stay warm the entire time. —Meredith Carey, former travel bookings editor

Yeti Rambler lowball

This mug is a thing in my house. My partner received one as a Christmas gift , only to find it missing every morning—truth be told, after I stole it once to use for hot coffee on my morning subway commute, I couldn’t go back to any other thermos. I personally love that this mug doesn’t have a handle, because it’s so insulated it never burns my hands, yet the coffee inside stays piping hot, and its shape is nice and easy to hold. When I’m done enjoying my hot drink on the go, it takes the least space possible in my bag , where it usually clangs around for the rest of the day until I make my way home (or back to wherever I’m staying). —M.S.

Corkcicle classic tumbler

This Corkcicle tumbler keeps my coffee hot on my subway commute, and is secure enough to sneak a couple of sips while standing on a crowded, moving train. There’s also something joyful about pouring my freshly brewed coffee into a pink vessel—how could I not be cheerful toting this cute mug around the office? Most often this mug has been my subway companion, though I have used it for road trips and early morning flights that require a caffeine boost before boarding. —Katie Henwood, former senior SEO manager

Miir Climate+ Tumbler

Lately when I want a compact option that won't take up much space in my backpack or tote after it's empty, I've been reaching for this sleek stainless steel tumbler from Miir. It's shatter proof, so I don't worry about dropping it or getting any dents. For an extra charge, you can even personalize it, making it a great gift for any traveler in your life. —M.K.

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Hydro Flask stainless steel travel mug

This Hydro Flask mug checks all the boxes: It's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, has a leak-proof lid, carrying handle, and no-sweat matte finish, and comes with a lifetime warranty. You can use it as a thermos, a water bottle , or a coffee cup. Hydro Flask also has matching slings that let you carry your travel tumbler hands-free, helpful when biking, hiking, or just dashing through the airport. — Kristi Kellogg, contributor

OtterBox Elevation wine tumbler

Technically this is a wine tumbler, but more often, I use it for iced coffee. It keeps my caffeine cold, fits the extra-large ice cube I put into the bottom, and doesn’t leave rings on tables when I set it down. Plus, like all things OtterBox, it’s sturdy—I don’t have to worry about dinging or denting it when I inevitably drop or knock it over. Its smaller size means it’s also carry-on and backpack friendly. —M.F.

Hay Sowden travel cup

I don’t think there’s a chicer travel mug than this colorful one from Hay, which comes in pink, green, or gray, all with contrasting, two-toned lids. It puts all other thermoses to shame when it comes to design—but it’s also totally functional, with an insulated stainless steel exterior that keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for an impressive 24 hours. —M.C.

W&P Porter mug

This mug hits all the right marks: The silicone sleeve makes it easy to grip and quiet when placed down on a surface; the mouthpiece on the lid is easy to slide open and close; and it’s safe to put in the dishwasher and microwave. Plus, it just looks nicer than the rest of my logo-clad travel mugs. Most often I use it to sip coffee on my morning commute, but I have also brought it on longer train rides to D.C. and on flights as a vessel for oatmeal. —M.F.

Simple Modern travel coffee mug

One of my favorite reusable water bottles is from Simple Modern, so I had high hopes for its travel mug and it certainly did not disappoint. This stainless steel mug keeps my hot beverages hot for four hours and my iced coffee cold for up to 16 hours, so it's great for day trips and using at the office. It's dishwasher safe and the handle makes sipping on the go easy. The under $20 price tag is nice, too. —M.K.

Coffee & Tea

I Tested 15 Travel Mugs to Find the Best Ones for Coffee and Tea

My top picks from Zojirushi, Fellow, and Kinto are hot, hot, hot.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Serious Eats / Irvin Lin

The Winners, at a Glance

What we learned, the criteria: what to look for in a travel mug, our favorite travel mugs, the competition.

Why We're the Experts

Straight to the Point

Our favorite travel mug is from Zojirushi . It keeps coffee and hot beverages warm for a remarkably long time and has a locking flip lid. For coffee and tea enthusiasts, the Fellow Carter Move Mug has a thinner-edged lip that offers a better drinking experience.

After working at a coffee shop right out of college, I stopped drinking caffeine. It was the inevitable result of having way too much of it (post-college, I did not understand moderation) and coming home with my hair, skin, and clothes smelling of it chronically. But years later, after getting married to a coffee enthusiast (some would say snob), I came back to my love of coffee.

Though I now work from home and can savor my coffee slowly out of a mug, my husband often needs to bring his second cup of coffee on the go. Coupled with the extensive camping and road-tripping we do, travel mugs of all sorts have started to accumulate in our kitchen cabinets.

This is all to say: A review of travel mugs is right up my alley. I set out to test 15 of them to see which ones retained heat and cold best, were comfortable and easy to use, didn’t leak, and offered the best drinking experience.

The Best Overall Travel Mug

Zojirushi sm-sc48hm stainless steel vacuum insulated mug.

This travel mug is deceptively lightweight, yet still holds 16 fluid ounces of coffee or tea. It retains heat for a remarkably long time (longer than any other mug I tested). The lid not only opens up with a simple click of a button but also locks shut with a side switch, so you don’t have to worry about it accidentally opening.

The Best Travel Mug for Coffee and Tea Enthusiasts

Fellow carter move mug.

Courtesy of Fellow

The Fellow Carter Move Mug is designed with coffee enthusiasts in mind. Its heat and cold retention was second only to the Zojirushi and the inner chamber of the mug is ceramic-lined for a neutral flavor. The thin lip of the mug made drinking coffee out of it a pleasure.

Another Good Travel Mug

Kinto day off tumbler.

The Kinto Day Off Tumber is another excellent option for coffee and tea lovers. The top has a looped handle that makes it easy to carry around and the inner lid has a built-in splash guard. It also retains heat and cold for an exceptionally long time.

Note: If a temperature-controlled travel mug is what you're interested in (where you can set and hold the temperature for a prolonged period of time), then the Ember is the one to get. We tested temperature control mugs separately .

Heat Retention Test One (without Lid): I filled each travel mug with 212°F boiling water, then left the lid off. I inserted a ChefAlarm 's probe (our favorite probe thermometer ) and set the alarm to 140°F to see how long it took for the temperature to drop.
Heat Retention Test Two (with Lid): I filled each travel mug with 212°F boiling water, and then placed the lid on. I took temperature readings each hour to see how long it took for it to drop to 140°F.
Cold Retention with Lid: I filled each travel mug with 36°F cold water, and then put the lid back on. I placed the mugs in an oven with the light on, monitoring the temperature of the oven to keep it within 80 to 85°F, to simulate a warm day. I took temperature readings each hour to see how long it took for the water to reach 60°F.
Leak Test: I filled each travel mug with water and placed the lid back on. I vigorously shook the travel mug upside down to see how much it would leak.
Drinking Test: I filled each mug with 12 ounces of freshly brewed coffee , carrying it around the apartment and outside on walks and drinking from it to see how the user experience was.
Cleaning Test: After each test, I thoroughly cleaned the mugs and lids.

Screw Tops Didn’t Leak Like Pop Tops

The travel mugs I tested had two types of lids. One style screwed onto the mug’s body and the other popped on and had a rubber gasket that held the lid in place. The latter were easier to put on, as all you needed to do was push the lid onto the body. However, these mugs all leaked...some worse than others.

Conversely, most of the screw-on lids I tested did not leak much, if at all as long as they were put on properly. The bottom line: Get a travel mug with a screw-on lid and double-check that the lid is properly aligned and seated to avoid leakage.

Drink Buttons Were Annoying

Some lids, like the Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel and Stanley Classic Trigger , require pressing a button to drink from the mug. In theory, this seems like a great idea, as it only requires one hand and could prevent leakage. However, continually pressing a button for extended periods causes hand fatigue, especially if you have mobility or strength issues. This was especially noticeable with the Stanley mug, which had a stronger spring that required more pressure and strength to press.

Lid Design and Drinking Experience

Some lids (like the Camelbak , Yeti Rambler Tumbler , and Yeti Rambler Mug ) featured thick plastic lids with drink holes set slightly back from the edge. Drinking from them felt bulky and cumbersome. Other lids, like the Simple Modern Kona Collection , had a latch right near the opening, hitting my bottom lip as I sipped. My favorite travel mugs had thinner lid edges (like the Zojirushi and Fellow ) or rounder-edged lids (like the Kinto ), which felt more natural and pleasant to drink from. Both the Fellow and the Kinto also allowed you to drink from the mug in any direction.

Heat and Cold Retention

The travel mugs that had the best heat retention also, unsurprisingly, kept liquids cold longer as well. The Zojirushi blew every other mug away on both accounts, taking over 14 hours to drop from 212°F to 140°F and nearly 20 hours for 38°F water to warm up to 60°F. The second-best mug in these tests, the Fellow , took a respectable 10 hours to drop from 212°F to 140°F and 6 hours to go from 38°F to 60°F. The Kinto mug also took 10 hours to drop down to 140°F and 13 hours to get to 60°F. With these three mugs, you could carry around your coffee or tea and it'll stay hot or cold nearly all day.

On the flip side, some of the worse performing mugs, like the Hydro Flask and Corkcicle , dropped temperature alarmingly fast, from 212°F boiling to 140°F in just three hours and 38°F to 60°F in about eight hours. Most folks drink their coffee and tea within a few hours of brewing it, but if you prefer your coffee piping hot or you have a long commute, it’s nice to have a mug that'll go the distance.

Look for a travel mug that has a double-walled, vacuum-sealed body for the best heat and cold retention. Select a travel mug that has a screw-on lid. Pop-on lids are more convenient but leaked. Pick a travel mug that has a rounded or thinner lip for the most pleasant drinking experience.

And, finally, get a travel mug that's suitable for your lifestyle. If you are constantly on the road, look for a mug that's lightweight, easily opens up with just one hand, and fits in your car's cup holder. If you're a long-distance commuter on public transit, find a mug that retains heat exceptionally well and can be safely tossed into a bag.

What we liked : The Zojirushi retained heat and cold for a remarkably long time, longer than any mug I tested. The 212°F boiling water took a little over 14 hours to cool down to 140°F, while cold 36°F water took over 20 hours to warm up to 60°F. The flip-top was easy to use, with a simple button that popped it open. There’s a secondary latch that locks the lid, too.

The mug has a thin plastic lip and the lid comes apart into two pieces, which makes it easier to clean. The inside features a nonstick coating, preventing stains. Best of all, this slim travel mug is incredibly lightweight.

What we didn’t like: The heat retention of the mug is one of its best features. But it also means freshly brewed coffee takes a while to cool down to a drinkable temperature. If you plan on drinking the coffee from the travel mug immediately, make sure to let the coffee cool before pouring it in. Otherwise, you might scald your tongue with each sip.

Also, the opening of this travel mug is narrower than other models. This made it more challenging to clean. (You’ll want a bottle brush for the task.)

Material: Stainless steel with nonstick coating and BPA-free plastic
Dimensions: 2.625 inches diameter; 8.5 inches tall
Dishwasher-safe: No
Stated capacity: 16 fluid ounces
Fits in a car’s cup holder: Yes
Weight: 7 ounces

What we liked : The Fellow Carter Move Mug is great if you prioritize the coffee or tea-drinking experience. The interior chamber of the travel mug is ceramic lined, to help prevent any metallic taste that a cheaper stainless steel model might impart to your coffee or tea. The thin metal edge of the mug feels great on your lips and allows you to drink in whatever direction you pick the mug up from.

The mug features a removable “splash guard” insert that looks a bit like a sink drain. This prevents hot liquid from splashing outwards. The double-walled, vacuum-sealed body retained heat, taking over 10 hours to drop from 212°F to 140°F and 16 hours to rise from 36°F to 60°F.

What we didn’t like: The mug's lid requires you to unscrew it and you need two hands to do so. This also means you have a lid that you need to carry (or put down) when you're drinking. That said, Fellow does sell an optional slide lid (which I did not test).

Material: Stainless steel with ceramic interior coating
Dimensions: 3 inches diameter; 7.25 inches tall
Weight: 12.5 ounces

What we liked : The Kinto is a well-constructed, lightweight mug that retained heat and cold for fairly long, taking nearly 10 hours to cool 212°F boiling water down to 140°F and 13 hours for 36°F water to warm up to 60°F. The mug itself features a two-part top, one that screws onto the body and acts as a splash shield, and one that's a sealing lid with a looped handle.

The first splash shield offers a tapered lip and allows you to drink from all sides of the mug. Like the Fellow, this makes it a pleasure to drink from. The handle on top of the sealing lid is nice for carrying, too.

What we didn’t like: Because the Kinto mug has two parts to the lid that screws onto the body, there is twice the chance of user error where you can misalign the threads and not properly screw on the lid. Like the Fellow, the Kinto lid screws on, which means it requires two hands to remove it. Unlike the Fellow, though, the lid does have a handle, so it's easier to wrap your fingers around it and hold on to it, allowing you to drink with one hand.

Material: 18-8 Stainless steel powder coated, with polypropylene and silicone
Dimensions: 2.75 inches diameter; 9 inches tall
Stated capacity: 16.9 fluid ounces
Weight: 10.5 ounces
Contigo Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug : Contigo makes reasonably priced travel mugs and this one does a good job retaining heat and cold. But the shape of the lid and its small opening meant coffee pooled on top of the lid between sips, which caused dribbling and spilling.
Hydro Flask All-Around Stainless Steel Tumbler with Lid : The Hydro Flask travel mug lost heat the quickest of all the mugs I tested, and the pop-on lid leaked.
Yeti Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler : This Yeti Rambler had a pop-on lid that leaked and didn’t retain heat or cold very well.
MiiR Flip Traveler: This solidly constructed, lightweight mug was easy to use and retained heat and cold better than most of the mugs I tested. Unfortunately, it leaked a bit, no matter how much I tightened or screwed on the lid.
Yeti Rambler 20-Ounce Travel Mug: Unlike the Yeti tumbler we tested, this Yeti mug had a screw-on lid that didn’t leak. It also retained heat and cold for a respectable amount of time. But the thick plastic lid made drinking out of the mug less pleasant than our winners.
Contigo West Loop Stainless Steel Vacuum-Insulated Travel Mug : This Contigo mug did a decent job with retaining heat and cold, but having to hold down a button to drink was tedious.
Simple Modern Travel Coffee Mug : This mug lost heat and cold relatively quickly.
Corkcicle Commuter Cup : Unfortunately, this mug lost heat extremely quickly (in just over three hours).
W&P Porter Insulated Tumbler : I loved the feel of this tumbler and its colorful design. But the insulated tumbler lost heat relatively quickly and leaked terribly when turned upside down.
CamelBak Horizon Tumbler : The Camelbak tumbler did a poor job of retaining heat and cold. It also had a snap-on lid that leaked.
Stanley Classic Trigger Action Travel Mug : The rugged and durable mug felt like what your grandfather probably drank from as he backcountry hiked his way across the Rocky Mountains. It’s built to last a lifetime (and is backed with a lifetime warranty as well). And it did a good job retaining heat and cold. But it's slightly annoying to drink from since you have to push a button to sip. And when you did, the coffee flowed out very slowly.
Simple Modern Insulated Thermo s: This travel mug did a great job retaining heat and cold. But the small lid had a flip-top with a locking latch that protruded fairly high, bumping into my bottom lip.

How do you clean coffee or tea stains off of a stainless steel travel mug?

Sprinkle some baking soda (about one to two teaspoons) into the mug and add water to form a paste. Gently scrub with a damp cloth, soft sponge, or bottle brush. The mildly abrasive baking soda should remove the stains.

How do you maximize the heat and cold retention of a travel mug?

For hot beverages, warm up the inside of the travel mug by pouring hot water (it can from the tap) into the mug, letting it sit for a couple of minutes, and empty the mug. Then, add your coffee or hot beverage. For cold drinks, cool the inside by pouring in water and adding a few ice cubes, swirling the cubes around, then drain it and add the cold beverage.

What size travel mug is best?

For most folks, a 12- or 16-ounce travel mug is sufficient. If you're a hardcore coffee drinker or you travel a longer distance for work, a larger 20-ounce mug might be a better fit.

How do you clean a travel mug lid?

If your travel mug's lid disassembles, take it apart. Then soak the lid in warm, soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and thoroughly rinse.

What is the best travel mug?

After testing, the Zojirushi travel mug came out on top, with a convenient flip-top and excellent insulation. But if you prioritize the coffee-drinking experience, the Fellow Carter Move Mug and Kinto Day-Off Tumbler are also excellent.

What travel mug won't leak?

All of our favorite travel mugs (from Zojirushi, Fellow, and Kinto) are leak-proof. The Zojirushi features a flip-cap that locks, while the other two have screw-on lids that prevent accidental spills.

Why We're the Experts

Irvin Lin is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food writer, photographer, and ceramicist.
He wrote the cookbook Marbled, Swirled, and Layered , which was picked by the New York Times as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2016.
He runs a blog called Eat the Love , where he’s developed, photographed, and written recipes since 2010. Eat the Love was nominated twice for best food blog by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) in 2016 and 2022.
He has served as a judge for the 2021 IACP Cookbook Awards and served on the executive committee for the 2022 IACP Cookbook Awards. He currently serves on the 2024 Book Awards Committee for the James Beard Foundation.
He’s tested and reviewed hundreds of kitchen items including stand mixers and indoor herb gardens .
For this review, Irvin tested 15 travel mugs, evaluating their insulation, usability, and more to find the best ones.

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Our editors carefully select every product we recommend. We may earn a commission from these links. Learn more

Tested: The Best Travel Mugs For Hot & Cold Drinks On The Go

By: Ethan Brehm Published: Feb 15, 2024

By: Ethan Brehm and Cameron Cardwell Published: Feb 15, 2024

Contributors

There are a lot of travel mugs and commuter cups that claim to be “thermal,” but most of them are just cheap imitators that can’t keep a cup of coffee at the ideal temperature that the true drinker demands. Don’t get ripped off by any second-rate piece of plastic with a styrofoam insulator that claims it will keep your hot beverages hot and your cold beverages cool for long drives and long days at the office. Go with one of our picks from our guide to the best travel mugs, which we’ve tested and reviewed so you don’t have to.

Best Travel Mugs Breakdown

Best Budget Travel Mug

RTIC Travel Mug

Best Outdoor Mug

Yeti Rambler Mug

Best Hot Coffee Mug

KeepCup Travel Mug

Best Mug for Commuting

MiiR Flip Traveler

Best Mug Overall

Hydro Flask Coffee with Flex Sip Lid

Best Mug for the Car

Contigo Travel Mug

JeoVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug F 2 24 4

Best Coffee Mug for Instant Sipping

JoeVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug

Best Large Mug

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler

Article Overview

How We Tested

What makes a good travel mug, travel mug comparison chart, why use a travel mug, single-wall vs. double-wall vs. triple-wall, honorable mentions, the best insulated water bottles.

Let’s be honest: There are a LOT of travel mug options out there, with new ones making their way into the space each year. With that, we had to distill that list down to a select few. To do so, we used our years’ worth of expertise and experience using these vessels to help us out. We also looked at who were the major players in the game, the feisty newcomers, and the trendy outliers. From there, we came up with a short list, looking at materials, aesthetics, claimed performance (prior to testing), features, and lid function, and sourced samples for testing.

Testing took several days and consisted of actually using these mugs for both hot and cold beverages, depending on their intended purposes. For starters, we filled up each mug halfway with ice and halfway with water. Then we checked the temperatures initially and came back to them 15 hours later to see how much the temperature rose (or dropped in one instance). We only did this for the mugs that were intended for all-day drinking and cold temperature retention. In other words, the few mugs that were specifically for hot water only got tested for hot water. However, we performed the hot water test for all 8 mugs. In a similar way to the cold water test, we checked the temperature at the start and revisited each mug after 6 hours (mugs can’t hold hot water for as long as cold). Another thing we did after filling each mug was turn it upside down and shake it somewhat vigorously to see how much water, if any, leaked out. While almost all of these claim to be spill-proof when sealed properly, not all of them are leak -proof. So we’ve presented our findings as a distinction between the two terms. All of our results and findings are detailed down below.

Travel mugs are generally best for coffee, tea, or any other hot (or cold) beverage you need on the go, making them ideal for commuting, traveling, and camping. It’s a better choice than disposable options from an environmental standpoint, but also from a health standpoint because you decide what’s going in there.

Size: 12oz to 24oz is the average range for most travel mugs (with 8oz – 12oz options available for smaller beverages like cappuccinos) and should be sufficient unless you can’t make frequent drink trips or consume entire pots of coffee. For those of you who do need more volume, there are options that get into the 32oz or 40oz territory.

Lid: Lids can vary slightly (and not so slightly) from mug to mug; they can twist open, flip open, snap shut, and even include a straw sometimes. Commuters might want something with a sturdy no-nonsense lid, and those who WFH may go for something with a flip top or a straw. Decide which lid works best with your lifestyle and feels best, and go for that one.

Material: Firstly, make sure whatever you buy is BPA-free, then decide if you want a tempered glass, plastic, or stainless steel mug . Stainless steel retains temperatures better, but glass is more sustainable and can be put in the dishwasher. Plastic is probably the worst of these choices, but there are some solid options out there.

Finish: While you might want a powder-coated finish to keep standard water bottles from slipping out of your hands, mugs often come with handles instead. However, many of the picks below will have some sort of extra grip, whether or not a handle is included.

Temperature Retention: Stainless steel options will often be vacuum-insulated (an added layer that keeps heat from getting in or out) and keep your drinks either hot or cold for a while. Since heat rises, going for mugs with smaller lids/lid openings will help with heat retention.

Maintenance: Most stainless steel mugs need to be washed by hand, as opposed to putting them in the dishwasher (which you can do with most glass and ceramic mugs).

Leak-Proof/Spill-Proof: As we mentioned up above, most travel mugs advertise themselves as spill-proof, but what does that really mean? Most of them won’t deluge water if toppled over, however, they might still leak if upside down or sideways for any amount of time. It’s important to distinguish the difference, especially if you’re planning on carrying these in your bag.

Really good temp retention
Sleek design
Handle not super ergonomic
Lid screws on so sipper opening is too close to handle

Best Budget Travel Mug: RTIC is a legendary name in drinkware, and in less than a decade. Known for offering unrivaled outdoor-ready gear at affordable price points, this 20-ounce option is not only incredibly cheap but looks like a travel mug that’s twice the price, especially considering the size (there’s also a 16oz size available). Compared a lot to YETI, RTIC still gets the job done with double-wall stainless steel insulation for temperature retention, a no-sweat exterior to eliminate condensation, and a splash-proof flip-top lid with an air-tight seal. Also, it’s dishwasher-safe!

If you’re looking for something simple for transporting your drink to and from work or school, or simply want a desktop vessel that can keep your coffee warm for a while, the RTIC Travel Mug will do the trick, and with a price tag much lower than the competition. Aesthetic-wise, it’s simple and sleek enough that nothing about it looks cheap, and it feels durable in your hand. Despite the plastic lid, which helps you see how much of your beverage you have left, the mug had some of the best temperature retention, only gaining 3.6ºF in 15 hours.

My biggest gripe is the lid itself. Aside from being difficult to open upon first use (also there’s a lip on one side that almost implies it’s a seal-on rather than twist-on), the flip-top always lands too close to the handle when twisted all the way. I suppose if you really wanted to force it, you could make it so the sipper was in a better position, but no one should have to use a vice-grip in order to drink from a lid properly. Also, the handle design is pretty uncomfortable with its thin, sharper edges. Surprisingly enough, the RTIC Travel Mug was actually one of the least prone to leaking on this list. Even without clamping the lid all the way on, not a single drop came out of it when shaken upside down. This can be attributed to the actual effectiveness of the flip-top plug, which is pretty deep, despite being fairly easy to snap on and off.

Verdict: The lid design doesn’t make sense with its twist-on function –– not to mention, it restricts which hand you can grab it with –– but RTIC still makes the best budget travel mug around and has some incredible leak resistance and temperature retention.

Size: 20oz Material: 18/8 stainless steel Cap: Flip-Top Finish: N/A Temperature Gain (15hrs): 3.6ºF Temperature Loss (6hrs): 54.2ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Leak-Proof?: Yes

Secure sipper closure
Nice-sized sipper opening
Surprisingly leak-proof
Won’t fit in many cupholders
Difficult to open without spilling

Best Outdoor Mug: Since 2006, YETI has been making products (starting with coolers) that stand up to tough conditions and don’t leave you hanging like the mass-produced retail options. Since then, the brand has garnered a lot of popularity among outdoor enthusiasts and people who just appreciate good build quality. And the label’s Rambler Mug is a shining example of this quality, made with double-wall vacuum insulation that’ll keep drinks (and food) as hot and cold as you’d like. This is a great choice for the campsite, and can even be thrown in the dishwasher, unlike most other stainless steel mugs. Plus, it’s stackable, which makes it easier for packing if you have more than one. We tested the 14oz mug, but there are 10oz and 24oz versions too.

We all know YETI’s prowess when it comes to vacuum-sealed water bottles, but the brand is also superb when it comes to other drinking vessels. The smaller size of this 14-ounce Rambler makes it better for sipping hot beverages, as does its sipping lid. The clear top allows you to see how much you have left inside, or you can remove the lid altogether to let your drink cool down a bit faster. After all, the stainless steel construction will keep this hot for much longer than you probably intend it to. Despite the diminutive stature, the Rambler is deceptively capacitious. Aside from the satisfying action of operating the sliding cover over the sipper, the slider itself feels firm when both opened and closed. Other versions of this on other mugs seem flimsy and more prone to leaking. However, after being jostled around a bit, I couldn’t find much leaking coming from the lid or its sipper cover –– only minimal moisture collecting around parts of the edges.

It’s also important to note that the nature of the sealed cap makes it pretty difficult to open up. Sure, this helps prevent leaking but the fact that you’ll have to tilt this at an angle and use force makes it virtually impossible to open when liquid is already inside. Say you just want to top off your coffee or tea –– forcing the lid open when the mug is half full will undoubtedly lead to spillage. The handle feels good in hand and will fit about three fingers when held. Also, the non-twist lid lets you position the sipper hole where you want in relation to the handle for more ergonomic comfort.

Verdict: High on durability, yet relatively lightweight, the YETI Rambler is a fantastic option for drinking coffee and tea on camping trips. Despite being difficult to open with liquid inside, the lid has a sipper hole that isn’t too small, which is great for not burning your tongue on hotter beverages, while the slide opener prevents leaks pretty well.

Size: 14oz Material: 18/8 stainless steel Cap: Open mouth with slide sipper Finish: N/A Temperature Gain (15hrs): N/A Temperature Loss (6hrs): 78.1ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Leak-Proof?: No

Unique design
Can fit under coffee machines
Glass is really tough
Technically breakable
Sipper plug comes off too easily

Best Hot Coffee Mug: After two Melbourne baristas saw how much waste was involved with coffee making and drinking, they decided to make the KeepCup, a reusable mug, that hit the land down under in 2009. Now the KeepCup is beloved worldwide, thanks to the mug’s coffee-friendly design made with tempered glass, a cork band, and a splashproof lid. It even fits under most espresso and coffee machines, so you can get your favorite local coffee to go while preserving its flavor and temperature. It comes in four different sizes: 6oz, 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz, although we only reviewed the 12oz version.

The first thing you’ll notice with the KeepCup is its unique design. While the cork band is mostly for aesthetic purposes, it can also help provide an extra bumper if this thing happens to fall or bang against another item or surface. On the other hand, it doesn’t help much with the grip, yet adds an extra layer of thickness that makes it more difficult to hold in your hand. I wouldn’t complain if KeepCup made a version of its flagship model with a handle. Although it’s made of glass, the mug is one of the most durable-feeling glass mugs we’ve used; I can’t imagine it breaking easily. With a lower hot liquid temperature retention time, the glass wall will also be favorable for those who hate steel mugs that make it difficult to drink hot coffee quickly.

For sipping, the lid opening is triangular shaped and is large enough that sipping isn’t unproductive; this isn’t a Starbucks lid. In the center of the lid is a piece that swivels so that you can cover the opening when you’re not drinking or be turned when you want to leave it open. Even though the plug doesn’t quite “snap” into place like I expected, it also didn’t allow leakage when I turned it upside down and shook it. Likewise, the entire lid itself feels like it’s not incredibly secure. I kept thinking it wasn’t on all the way. However, even when I tossed it onto the ground and let it tumble a bit, only a few drops presented themselves around the sipping hole (which, technically, means it’s not entirely leak-proof, but this is still impressive). I was taken aback when the sipper hole cover piece came off the lid, exposing a giant hole in the center of the lid. Then I figured this would make it easier for cleaning . I just wish it didn’t come off so unintentionally; it was much too easy to over-twist this swivel piece.

Verdict: Overall, it’s a lot of fun to use the KeepCup and it will certainly add a stylish element to your desktop space. We don’t recommend putting this in your backpack with liquid inside but it won’t spill if you’re traveling with it in a car. Glass is an attractive option for quicker coffee drinkers who don’t want to wait for the cool-down times of steel mugs. Even though the lid on this model feels a bit flimsy and cheap compared to other options, the company has the right idea.

Size: 12oz Material: Tempered glass and cork Cap: Flip-top Finish: N/A Temperature Gain (15hrs): N/A Temperature Loss (6hrs): 103.3ºF Dishwasher Safe?: No Leak-Proof?: No

Really sleek design
Pretty leak-proof
Good for tossing into backpack or bag
Sipping is a challenge; flip-top gets in the way

Best Mug for Commuting: The independently owned label MiiR is a certified B Corporation with a Climate Neutral certification, and a mission to craft products that benefit not just the user, but the environment. MiiR’s Flip Traveler is a sleek, simple, and effective travel mug that’s perfect for your commute in that it is leak-proof for carrying in a bag , fits easily into your cupholder, and sports an easy one-handed flip top. It’s made with vacuum-insulated stainless steel to keep your drinks at the perfect temp, and even features an insulated spill-proof lid. Additionally, it’s coated in the label’s Hardshell Powder Coat, making it more durable. We took a look at the 16oz model (12oz and 20oz versions are also available).

As we’ve seen with its other models, such as its Insulated Water Bottle, MiiR really knows how to bring subtle design changes to traditional vessels without losing their recognizability as that object. Case in point is this minimal travel mug, which sports a sleek body and an angular design up top. Easy to open for filling compared to other mugs and bottles, the Flip Traveler sports a lid with a flip-top sipper design that snaps into place to prevent leaking. This proved to be almost true upon shaking the bottle upside down, although some drops did come out. Likewise, there’s no equivocality in whether the top is opened or closed thanks to the effort it takes to snap it shut. This is great if you’re carrying the mug inside your backpack or gym bag (although there are certainly better gym options out there). In the way of our testing, the MiiR had the best heat retention numbers and second-best coldness retention numbers.

In terms of a practical drinking vessel, the Flip Traveler may prove to be more impractical than most. The flip-top doesn’t open far enough and bumps into your nose when drinking, preventing you from doing so comfortably. Likewise, if you’re looking for a single-hand mug, the MiiR will be troublesome due to how difficult it is to open its flip-top. It’s almost impossible to do this without two hands, and closing it requires a bit of extra force. This isn’t an issue if you’re leaving it open for a car ride . However, if you forget to close it or merely think it’s closed all the way, you could have a messy situation. Despite the claim that the outer wall was powder-coated, it was highly slippery in my hand.

Verdict: Stylish and fairly leak-proof, the MiiR will give you some issues when it comes to actually sipping your beverage with a flip-top that simply gets in the way and can’t be opened or closed single-handedly. Nevertheless, the Flip Traveler is a solid commuter option for those who don’t want a giant bottle taking up space and adding weight to their work bag. Plus it has the best heat retention and second-best cold retention of the vessels we tested.

Size: 16oz Material: 18/8 Stainless Steel Cap: Flip-top Finish: Powder-coated Temperature Gain (15hrs): 2.9ºF Temperature Loss (6hrs): 42.1ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Lid only (top rack) Leak-Proof?: No

Multiple lid options
Great construction
Feels good in hand
Silicone handle is useful
Lifetime warranty
Can be tricky to use while driving

Best Mug Overall: If you don’t already have a Hydro Flask (or somehow have never seen one), then you’re missing out on the Oregon-based label’s outdoor-friendly and durable products. Since they’ve taken the world by storm, Hydro Flasks began receiving new iterations, like this insulated mug here that’s part of the company’s coffee-focused lineup , which is backed by a lifetime warranty. Holding 16oz of liquid (12oz and 20oz options available too), it gives you 12 hours of hot drinks and 24 hours of cold drinks, with a leakproof Flex Sip lid that provides a simple way to drink without spilling.

In terms of hitting all the marks well, this Hydro Flask Coffee is a winner. It’s easy to carry with a comfortable silicone strap attached to the lid and it minimizes spillage when turned upside down. The cap is easy to take on and off, and you can tighten it pretty well if you try. While the powder-coating could be more aggressive like some of the brand’s other options, it has a nice in-hand feel and has solid temperature retention without being too heavy. Perhaps the best part about Hydro Flask aside from its tried-and-true quality is its lid options. Aside from this sip lid, there’s the chug cap, sport cap, and straw cap. However, if you’re really looking for a travel mug, especially for drinks like coffee, the sip lid is the way to go. It might not be as pleasant to physically sip from as others on this list in terms of the flow of the liquid, but it’s better for hot beverages and seems to slow down liquid on its way to your mouth.

The biggest downside of the Hydro Flask Coffee is how difficult it is to open while driving. The twisting operation of the sip lid requires two hands and has a good deal of resistance even then. However, this can be remedied if you simply leave the cap open on your car ride. Plus, if you forget to close it back up, the depth of the lid will minimize most incidental spillage. On the other hand, when closed properly, this bottle proved to be leak-proof when shaken upside down. Some users have noted that if the silicone strap breaks, you have to replace the entire lid. But the sturdiness of the strap makes it hard to imagine it getting damaged in the first place.

Verdict: Benefitting from top-to-bottom construction excellence, the Hydro Flask Coffee has decent temperature retention, a stylish aesthetic, and multiple lid options. It’s difficult to open and close single-handedly, but the advantages of this vessel far outweigh its drawbacks.

Size: 16oz Material: 18/8 Stainless Steel Cap: Twist-top sipper Finish: Powder-coated Temperature Gain (15hrs): 6.7ºF Temperature Loss (6hrs): 49.9ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Leak-Proof?: Yes

Fits in cupholder despite holding a lot
Autoseal button closes sipping hole when not in use
Leak proof when Autoseal is locked
Not leak proof when Autosal is unlocked
Below average temp retention, but still not terrible

Best Mug for the Car: It’s ideal for the commuter thanks to the simple, one-handed flip design. The brand’s patented Autoseal technology allows the sipper to open up when you need it with the push of a button, but even more, it closes automatically so you can’t accidentally forget. It is guaranteed to be completely leakproof whether you are shaking it, rocking it, or rattling it. Stands up to the worst you can throw at it for those times when you just need a little caffeine after you roll your car. Works for both righties and lefties with equal ease. Large enough for even the hardiest coffee fiend and simple to use at 24 oz (16oz and 20oz options available too). If you need style and substance without dropping a lot of dough, the Contigo has you covered. Comes with a lifetime warranty against defects and provides up to 5 hours of hot drinks and 12 hours of cold drinks.

Car mugs are hit or miss, and many of them are great in one regard but terrible in another. However, the Contigo Travel Mug doesn’t have a lot of flaws, at least not where driving and (non-alcoholic) drinking is concerned. The Autoseal is a great feature that allows this mug to be spill-proof while also making it fun to use. You literally just press the Autoseal button firmly and sip from a hole on the other side. Also, the flow of the liquid was pleasantly paced. This is one attribute that can’t get controlled a whole lot with simple openings in a lid. However, the canal shape required of this particular contraption allows it to have a unique drinking experience.

While it’s spill-proof, it’s not technically leak-proof when the Autoseal is unlocked. Shaken upside down, quite a few drops still came out, but this shouldn’t be much of an issue if the bottle just topples over on the table. On the other hand, if you use the Autoseal lock, this mug is about as leak-proof as they come, just like the brand claims. I do wish, however, that the Autoseal lock were easier to press. It often got stuck when wet and I had to use two fingers to push. While the 8.3ºF temperature gain over 15 hours isn’t bad, it’s still the worst of the ones tested. I was honestly surprised it did so badly considering the density of the lid. But upon further inspection, it makes sense because the seal itself isn’t terribly wide.

Verdict: Not many 24-ounce travel mugs can fit inside cupholders as well as the Contigo Travel Mug. Add to that the ability to seal the drinking spout automatically when not in use and you have yourself the ultimate car ride sipper. Priced fairly, this mug really doesn’t have a lot of flaws outside of below-average temperature retention. However, it will still serve most people’s needs just fine.

Size: 24oz Material: 18/8 Stainless Steel Cap: Push-button flip-top Finish: Metallic Temperature Gain (15hrs): 8.3ºF Temperature Loss (6hrs): 52.7ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Lid only (top rack) Leak-Proof?: No

JeoVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug F 2 24 1

Reduces hot temp to drinkable temp in 3min
Nice aesthetic
Silicone grip feels good in hand
Lid’s lip is too large

Best Coffee Mug for Instant Sipping: A big issue with travel mugs when it comes to coffee or other hot drinks is the inability to drink right away. In a standard coffee mug, the liquid cools down instantly and most people drink it fast enough that it can retain a level of warmness the entire time. But if you need coffee on the go, the temperature retention of most steel vessels prevents you from sipping for hours unless you pour it into a separate mug for drinking. However, this Temperfect from JoeVeo uses an innovative system that brings the temperature down to a drinkable level in just 3 minutes AND keeps it at that drinkable level for hours.

JeoVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug F 2 24 2

Obviously, when a product makes a claim such as the JoeVeo, it’s natural to try and see if it can follow through. As such, to test this specific mug, we checked the temperature right as the coffee was poured and then again 3 minutes later (with the lid on). In that short amount of time, the coffee went from 162ºF to 146ºF –– pretty impressive. I wanted to see how much it would drop after 5 more minutes, this time with the lid open. Lo and behold, the temperature stayed relatively the same, this time hovering around 144.5ºF. If you’re someone who likes to drink coffee quickly, this might still be too hot, compounded even more by the fact that it’s being held at that temperature indefinitely, more or less. On the other hand, coffee sippers will love how drinkable their beverage is in such a short amount of time.

JeoVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug F 2 24 3

As far as the drinking experience, the anti-slosh sipper shutter isn’t terribly reliable when it comes to leakage. It’s essentially the same effect as if you were to use your finger to cover the opening –– although the brand acknowledges this in the product description online. Likewise, the lip of the lid is just slightly too deep for sipping comfortably. From an aesthetic standpoint, the JoeVeo has an attractive design language, with a silicone sleeve that provides a firm grip in your hand. I also like the silicone base, which eliminates noisy set-downs on your desk. However, as someone with a caffeine addiction, 16oz is a bit small for me (I drink around 64oz of coffee per day ) so I would have loved it if there were a larger size option.

Verdict: Poor lid execution aside, the JoeVeo sports an attractive design and stays put in your hand with a silicone grip. It will definitely leak and is difficult to sip from but the mug follows through on its promise to deliver drinkable hot coffee in just three minutes.

Size: 16oz Material: Stainless Steel Cap: Anti-slosh sipper shutter Finish: Brushed and electropolished with silicone sleeve Temperature Gain (15hrs): N/A Temperature Loss (6hrs): 59.9ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Lid only Leak-Proof?: No

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler F 2 24 1

Holds 40oz inside your cupholder
Straw or sipping options
Comfortable handle
Negative temperature retention
Dual drinking options aren’t entirely practical
Difficult to switch drinking modes
Not spill-proof

Best Large Mug: This is probably the cup your dad used (and still uses) whenever you went camping as a kid. However, we’ve all seen how trendy Stanley Tumblers have become with the younger crowd in today’s viral society. But don’t let the trends fool you; Stanley is a heritage brand through and through, around since 1913, when the founder brought vacuum insulation and steel together to create a rugged cup that can stay hot. You can also trust that the historical quality of this brand translates to its insulated travel mug. It’s made with recycled materials, and the label’s FlowState lid, which offers a full cover top, a drink opening, and an opening for the included straw so it doesn’t spill while using it. Additionally, it’s dishwasher safe and comes with a lifetime warranty. For those who drink a lot during the day and want minimal refills, this 40-ounce option is a great pick, although it’s available in several sizes from 14oz to 30oz.

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler F 2 24 2

It’s easy to deride a product that’s become a fad but Stanley’s Tumbler makes it so difficult. For starters, the sheer design that intuitively allows for 40oz of liquid to be held in your car’s cupholder is brilliant. The tapered bottom half has made this mug desirable in and of itself. I also liked how comfortable the handle felt in my hand. Wisely, it’s a different, softer material than the steel mug, which is a crucial element with a thermos this size because it can get quite heavy. As for the cold temperature retention, this mug actually lost degrees over 15 hours and was the only one that still had ice left inside.

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler F 2 24 3

As nice as it is to have options between a sipper and a straw, the actual application of this feature is a bit gimmicky. The triple-function lid does not open and close very easily, which can be an issue when you have a full mug of coffee on a bumpy car ride. It almost always requires two hands to operate. Likewise, if you’re out for the day and have decided to switch from the straw to the sipper, you’ll have to find a place for the straw in the meantime. A remedy for this requires you to make the executive decision of sipper-versus-straw before you leave the house. Likewise, the sipper opening is a bit too close to the handle, just like the RTIC above. However, it doesn’t disable you from sipping outright, and at least you’re able to drink this while holding it with your right hand (the cupholder side). Another important thing to note is that the Stanley is in no way spill-proof, let alone leak-proof, and was the only one in this guide where lots of spillage occurred when it was tilted upside down. It was pouring out water even lying on its side. The lid loosens far too easily, which can be a major issue for a lot of people.

Verdict: Stanley’s Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler may be the most trendy on this list but it definitely delivers in a lot of ways. The unique design lets you easily travel with 40oz of your beverage of choice and the phenomenal cold temperature retention is a big plus. Not to mention, the handle is comfortable to hold despite the heavier weight of the tumbler. We didn’t love the lid necessarily, which isn’t spill-proof, but this might not be an issue if you love everything else this mug can do.

Size: 40z Material: Recycled Stainless Steel Cap: Rotating lid with straw and sipper Finish: N/A Temperature Gain (15hrs): -2.9ºF Temperature Loss (6hrs): 45.3ºF Dishwasher Safe?: Yes Leak-Proof?: No

With the myriad options of insulated water bottles these days, one might wonder why a travel mug is a preferable option. Well, for one, mugs are better for hot liquids for their ability to sip rather than chug. Smaller holes on top give you the ability to nurse your coffee or tea rather than meet a daily goal, like you would with water. Likewise, mugs are usually much smaller, which is also better for beverages you don’t want a lot of. On the other hand, you wouldn’t be blamed if you wanted to bring along an insulated water bottle AND a travel mug –– in fact, a lot of people do it.

While a vast majority of stainless steel bottles and mugs are double-wall insulated, you’ll come across single- or triple-wall options every so often. If you’re wondering what double-wall means, it essentially refers to the two layers of stainless steel that have had the air between them vacuumed out in order to limit heat transfer. On the contrary, triple-wall insulation doesn’t mean a third wall of steel but actually a layer of copper between the two steel walls, which helps further insulation. Although the jury is still out on if this is actually necessary or just a marketing ploy. As for single-wall insulation mugs, these may be appealing to those who don’t care as much about temperature retention and want something a bit lighter in weight.

One popular budget option is Zojirushi’s Stainless Steel Mug , a cupholder-friendly flip-top thermos with interesting tech that includes partial vacuum construction which allows for some air between the two walls. The Contigo is similarly priced and has some better features, but the Zojirushi is a popular choice as well.

While the Carter Wide Mug from Fellow has a great design and construction, we preferred the similar YETI Mug above. It’s a popular choice for its aesthetic and performance but lacks a handle and can’t fit in most cupholders.

BruMate’s NAV 22oz is a great choice with its extra capacity thanks to the contoured shape. The company always comes to the party with innovation and originality. However, their products always seem to get discontinued quickly, which prevented its inclusion here.

Despite its design-forward silhouette, the Kinto Travel Tumbler narrowly missed the cut because it lacked a lot of desirable “travel” features, such as a handle and an actual sipping lid, meaning you have to remove the entire lid to sip from it — not ideal.

Another option that’s more form than function is the Hitch Bottle & Cup Kit , which sports a cool industrial minimalism but feels impractical for actual traveling.

While we love travel mugs for our coffee and tea on the go, we need much more capacity for our hydration needs. Take a look at our best water bottles guide for H20-specific solutions.

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Best Insulated Travel Mugs

Top cups that keep coffee hot, won’t leak or spill, and are easy to clean

An insulated travel mug lets you take your favorite drink, hot or cold, anywhere you go. And a good one feels like it was designed with your routine, and even you, in mind. It slips effortlessly into a cup holder and opens easily so that you can sip safely while keeping your eyes on the road. You arrive with a drink that’s still hot and appealing.

Unless you don’t. An insulated travel mug can also feel like a piece of over-engineered junk that leaks tepid coffee onto your lap and clutters your cupboards, collecting dust.

“One of the most interesting findings in our testing was that some of the really well-known brands, including Yeti and Starbucks, fell short of the competition,” says Bernie Deitrick, CR’s test engineer in charge of evaluating travel mugs. “In certain cases, we’d find that the mug would be beautifully designed and styled but would have something like a flimsy plastic lid that would allow the heat to escape, or liquid to spill.”

We run our tests to give you data-based comparisons. And with something like an insulated travel mug—which will live in your grip day after day—we realize that only you can decide what makes it great, whether that’s a leakproof design or one that fits in the slimmest of cup holders. Know that every mug here keeps drinks hot for at least a few hours; we sincerely hope that’s plenty long enough for your commute.

Read on for ratings and reviews of the 10 mugs we tested from Bubba, Contigo, Ello, Starbucks, S’well, Takeya, Thermos, Yeti, and Zojirushi. They’re listed below in order of their temperature retention score—how long they keep liquids hot.

You’ll also find details on how CR tests insulated travel mugs .

CR’s take: This slim mug is in a league of its own in terms of pure performance. It keeps drinks hot for an astonishing 13½ hours—6 hours longer than the closest competitor, earning a top rating of Excellent for temperature retention. The screw-on cap is easy to clean, with two removable gaskets. Our testers found the mug easy to open with one hand: Simply press a button on the side and the lid pops up so that you can drink out of the plastic spout. You can also lock the lid, a nice feature if you have young kids who are the type to tinker with a mug filled with scalding hot coffee. The slender design of the mug means it fits in cup holders in a variety of cars.

Specs: 16-ounce capacity, leakproof, cup holder-friendly, plastic interior, smooth lip, replaceable lid and gaskets, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Amazon , Target , Zojirushi

Specs: 16-ounce capacity, leakproof, cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior, replaceable lid and gaskets, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Amazon , Bed Bath & Beyond , Home Depot , Kohl’s , Thermos , Walmart

Specs: 17-ounce capacity, leakproof, cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior, smooth lip on cup, replaceable lid and gaskets, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Amazon , Bed Bath & Beyond , Best Buy , Takeya USA , Target

Specs: 16-ounce capacity, leakproof, not cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior, replaceable lid, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Amazon , Bed Bath & Beyond , Swell.com

Specs: 20-ounce capacity, leakproof, cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Amazon

Specs: 16-ounce capacity, leakproof, cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior, smooth lip on cup, one-handed opening.

Specs: 20-ounce capacity, leakproof, cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior.

Buy at: Amazon , Bed Bath & Beyond , Best Buy , Target , Walmart

Specs: 16-ounce capacity, leakproof, requires large cup holder, stainless steel interior, smooth lip on cup, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Ello , Macy’s , Walmart

Specs: 20-ounce capacity, cup holder-friendly, stainless steel interior, smooth lip on cup, replaceable lid and gaskets, one-handed opening.

Buy at: Ace Hardware , Amazon , Dick’s Sporting Goods , Lowe’s , Yeti

Specs: 52-ounce capacity, plastic interior.

Buy at: Amazon , Bed Bath & Beyond , Sears , Walmart

How CR Tests Insulated Travel Mugs

We test how well insulated travel mugs keep drinks hot or cold, whether they resist spilling and leaking, and how easy they are to clean. We also grade mugs on convenience, including whether they fit in cup holders in a variety of cars and whether you can open the sipping mechanism with just one hand, which is crucial when you’re driving.

For the temperature retention test, we filled each mug with boiling water (212° F) and immediately screwed or pressed each lid back on. Then our testers opened each mug at set intervals to take the temperature of the water inside until it dropped to 140° F—better known as lukewarm.

We also tested each mug to see whether it could keep cold drinks cold as well as hot drinks hot. “We found that mugs that were well-insulated did a great job with keeping liquids either hot or cold,” Deitrick says.

For our leakproof test, we filled each with water and shook each mug from multiple angles, noting whether any liquid escaped.

To rate how easy mugs are to clean, we filled each mug with a mixture of hot coffee and creamer, and sloshed the contents to saturate the inside of the lid. We drained and opened the mugs, and then let them dry overnight. Then we cleaned each one as directed, assigning points to those that were easy to clean and subtracting from those that had hard-to-clean nooks or gaskets in their lids that retained soils even after a thorough scrubbing. All except the Yeti Rambler and Bubba Classic required using a bottle brush.

Each mug in our test had at least one silicone gasket, and some had as many as three. Over time, they can wear out, and many harbor foul odors. So we removed each gasket that could be removed—some can’t—to see how easy it would be to clean beneath it, and then replaced it. We also noted whether a manufacturer offered replacement gaskets or lids, which will, on occasion, spare you the need to replace an entire mug. After all, our aim is to help you find a product that lasts, and that keeps you happy.

Paul Hope is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.

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The Complete Guide to Non-Toxic Coffee Mugs in 2023

Written by: Hendrik

Category: Health , Zero Waste Kitchen

Updated on: 18/10/2023

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Quick Links

Coffee is the most popular beverage in the world. It’s a drink that has been around for centuries, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. The average American drinks just over 3 cups daily , according to the National Coffee Association.

It’s no secret that drinking coffee is a morning ritual for many people. But what about the mugs we drink coffee from? They can leach lead and other chemicals from plastic into our favorite drink.

There are many different kinds of cups, from glass to ceramic mugs , and my current favorite is the stainless steel mug. You can watch my review of the stainless steel Keep Cup below.

The Best Barista Cup in the World - Keep Cup 2.0 Review

Your go-to mug for coffee should be lead-free and should not leach chemicals into your drink, aka made of plastic. Your takeaway cup from the coffee stand is lined with a thin layer of plastic, making it essentially a plastic cup even though it may be made from paper.

I wrote an article about why plastic ruined my morning coffee here .

But if you are in the market for some great non-toxic coffee mugs, we’ve found twelve great mugs that fit the bill and will keep your coffee warm for hours.

Take a look at our best-rated, non-toxic coffee mugs and choose the one that’s perfect for you.

Quick Links:

2. hydro flask flex sip coffee mug, 3. yeti rambler, 4. mexican handmade chocolate mug from verve culture, 5. joco glass eco-friendly travel mug, 6. united by blue ceramic mug, 7. zojirushi stainless steel coffee mug, 8. klean kanteen insulated coffee mug, 9. frank green, 10. funkrin cup, how can you tell if a mug has lead or cadmium in it.

The easiest way to test if your cups contain lead or cadmium is by purchasing a lead test kit. Clean your cup with distilled water and dry it thoroughly. Use the swipe from the test kit and run your test.

Did you know that coffee is actually acidic so it makes the mug leach lead or cadmium faster.

Alternatively, if the mug has designs inside, the paint’s likelihood of it containing a high lead amount is extremely high. If you feel a raise in the design, you can probably skip getting the test kit and use those cups as a pencil holder or for some nuts and bolts in your workshop.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Non-Toxic Coffee Mug?

Before discussing the best eco-friendly mugs to take on as your new daily companion, it’s essential to understand what makes a product eco-friendly.

Products manufactured with very little negative influence on the environment are considered eco-friendly.

They could be made from recyclable or biodegradable materials like bamboo or glass. The production of items is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturers and designers.

First , you’ll be reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals. The average American consumes about 70.000 microplastic particles each year , this is because plastic is everywhere today and sadly we find it in our food too.

Learn how to avoid eating plastic and be more healthy !

Second , you’ll be helping the environment by reducing the amount of plastic waste produced each year. Americans throw away 50 billion coffee cups each year.

And third , you’ll be supporting companies committed to producing sustainable products.

What Are the Things to Look for When Choosing a Non-Toxic Coffee Mug?

The first is material . Ensure the mug is made from safe materials, like stainless steel or glass, ceramic or borosilicate glass. BPA-free plastic is usually just another way of saying we used a different chemical we don’t need to proclaim here. I would say stay away.

The second thing to look for is the ease of cleaning . Some mugs are dishwasher-safe, while others need to be hand-washed. If you’re not a fan of dishwashing, then go for a dishwasher-safe mug.

And finally, consider the design . Do you want a basic mug or one with a fun design? There’s no wrong answer, but choosing something you’ll enjoy using every day is important.

Here are some of the Best Non-Toxic Coffee Mugs on the Market.

Product Dimensions:

From 6oz/177ml all the way to 16oz/454ml

Product Features:

Comes in recycled plastic, tempered glass or stainless steel.

The finger band comes in recovered cork, recovered wood, silicone, or recovered corn from agricultural waste.

Take apart for easy clean hand wash the ring.

KeepCup is the first reusable cup that meets barista standards and my favorite non-toxic coffee mug. Their selection of coffee cups is virtually unlimited; you could choose from glass, plastic (don’t), or stainless steel. They come in various bright colors too, or you can even create your own.

If you have been following me, you know that my go-to coffee mug is the KeepCup. If you haven’t not been following me, now is a good time to sign up for our newsletter and get some good news into your inbox.

A lifetime warranty backs every KeepCup since the company is aware that an environmentally friendly mug that leaks or is left unused contributes to the problem of global warming.

They also invest in a responsible supply chain, as well as local production, and they practice strict quality control. KeepCup is B-Corp certified and 1% of all sales revenue is given to protect the environment.

From 6oz/177ml all the way to 24oz/680ml

TempShield insulation keeps your drink cold or hot for hours.

This product is not dishwasher or microwave safe.

Wash with hot water or soapy water.

From $ 22.95

This is one of the top eco-friendly travel mugs listed on our here since it is synonymous with durable, temperature-controlled drinkware.

The Flex Sip Non-toxic Coffee Mug is ideal for any commuter or tourist seeking a reputable and well-known brand. The mug holds 12 ounces of your preferred beverage and is available in 8 distinct colors.

Although it is made for hot drinks, you can use it for any beverage you like. Because the Flex Sip mug’s lid is leakproof, you won’t have to worry about scalding yourself with hot water or coffee.

From 10oz all the way to 30oz

Double vacuum-insulated, non-toxic coffee mug mug.

Very customizable mug with a slider that comes in many different colors.

Not spill or leakproof.

Completely dishwasher safe

From $ 25 on

The YETI Rambler is a great alternative for specialized drinks or daily water because it comes in sizes to meet any demand. Yeti has been in the game for a long time, mainly making some of the sturdiest cooler boxes.

You may know I take my Yeti bottle everywhere I go. It’s a strong build and does a great job at keeping my drink hot or cold.

Each mug is appx 4’’ tall with 4″ diameter

Handmade in Mexico from red clay

These hot chocolate mugs get better with time and care.

From $ 20 for a set of two

Crafted with care and clay, these stunning handmade mugs add artisanal flair to your morning coffee routine. Skilled artisans meticulously shape each mug from natural terracotta clay in a small Mexican workshop, using traditional techniques passed down through generations.

The rich red hue of the raw clay provides an earthy, organic look. Simple yet elegant, these non-toxic coffee mugs have a classic tapered silhouette perfect for cradling in your hands.

As you enjoy daily cups of coffee or tea, the untreated clay naturally absorbs flavors and develops a unique patina over time. Like a favorite pair of jeans, the mugs become infused with memories.

And since they arrive in zero-waste packaging, you can feel good about their eco-friendly origins. Ready to be put to use or given as a thoughtful gift, these timeless mugs lend singular style to your shelves. Let heated water awaken the natural clay each morning, and savor artisanal craftsmanship with every soothing sip.

4oz to 16oz

Made from borosilicate glass. The Joco Glass is another classic coffee mug coming from Australia and it is loved by many.

Dishwasher safe

From $ 23.95

Joco’s glass non-toxic coffee mug is made from borosilicate glass like its competitor, KeepCup. The main difference is the design; and instead of using cork, recycled woodchips or even corn, Joco uses 100% food-grade silicon.

They are available in both Classic and Utility varieties, with the latter having a top with a straw and sipping options.

Both mugs are available in 6, 12, and 16 ounces. In comparison, the Classic reusable mug also comes in sizes of 4 and 8 ounces.

Joco glass mugs are completely devoid of plastic, non-toxic, resist stains and odors, and are antibacterial.

6. United By Blue Mugs

3.75″H x 3.75″W

Glazed ceramic stoneware mug

All glazes are lead-free and food safe

The appearance of color glaze unevenness varies in each item

Hand wash only

Do not use abrasive cleaners or steel wool

United by Blue makes beautifully designed ceramic mugs responsibly made in China. They use food-grade glaze and lead-free ceramic, and for each mug purchased, they remove a pound of trash from our oceans and waterways.

The mug comes in eco-friendly packaging, and the company is a B corp.

12oz – 16oz

2.75″W x 9.13″H

Vacuum stainless steel insulation keeps beverages hot or cold for hours.

Durable and sanitary 18/8 stainless steel interior.

Wide mouth for large ice cubes.

This is an excellent stainless steel non-toxic coffee mug for drinkers with a history of spills and leaks because their vacuum bottles prevent them.

There are more alternatives for mix-and-matching than one can count, so you’re likely to find a look that suits you.

Highly loved on Amazon. We just had to add it to this list. It also comes with a 5-year warranty.

8oz – 16oz wide mouth insulated coffee mug.

Made from certified 90% post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel

You can choose between leak- proof Café Cap with an easy-carry swivel loop

From $ 13.95

Another well-known brand of insulated mug on the market is Klean Kanteen. Klean Kanteen mugs are renowned for their long and narrow shape, making them certain to fit in your hand and any accessible cup holder.

These insulated mugs, which come in sizes ranging from 8 to 32 ounces, are perfect for all your favorite hot beverages and cold drinks.

Many stainless steel cup options are created from recycled materials, making them an even better option for individuals who seek to protect the environment.

There are two lid types for cold and hot drinks, and these non-toxic coffee mugs are available in a selection of vivid or subtle hues.

CeramicReusableCupLifestyle1 c4f8a314 b6ec 4bd0 a1af

10oz – 16oz

Tripple insulated. Ceramic lined. Spill-proof.

It comes with different bases to choose from. The ceramic base is not dishwasher-safe or microwave-safe. All other parts are.

From $ 34.95

If you like great design and functionality, Frank Green has got you. These reusable cups are stylish and triple-wall insulated. What I like is that they have coated the inside with ceramic to prevent any flavor change due to steel. (Not that I have ever noticed this on mine, but some people might).

Award-winning design and a one-press lid that prevents your coffee or tea from spilling all over you.

Another beautiful coffee-on-the-go mug from Australia. There are no limits to customizing your mug and

10. Funkrin

22 oz, 2.4″W x 8.6″H

Double Wall Best Ceramic Thermos Mug. BPA-free lid, Non-slip silicone bottom, Screw on lid.

Do not freeze or put in the Microwave

From $ 22.99

Introducing the Funkrin-insulated non-toxic coffee mug, the superior choice for beverage enthusiasts. With its exceptional design, this mug promises to preserve the true taste of your beverages, thanks to its ceramic interior powder coating that prevents metallic taste and flavor absorption.

Experience hours of unchanged beverage temperature, as our mug’s double-wall vacuum insulation can keep drinks hot or cold for up to 4 hours. Its transport-friendly features, including the leakproof design and handle, ensure secure and easy transportation.

Reward yourself with a superior drink experience. Grab your Funkrin Insulated Coffee Mug now and say hello to flavor-rich, temperature-consistent beverages at your convenience.

I feel a lot of people are worried about the taste of stainless steel in their coffee, and I have to say that it is a personal preference. I drink a lot of coffee, and I love using my stainless steel mug. I do not feel like it makes my coffee taste like metal.

Why does coffee taste better in a ceramic mug?

Ceramic is a natural material that does not absorb any flavors and leaves your coffee tasting as smooth as coffee should.

Stainless steel can take on the flavor, making your coffee change taste over time. It is safe to put your hot coffee into stainless steel mugs; make sure to clean them out properly once in a while.

Final thoughts

It seems strange that we have to go and hunt for lead-free coffee mugs in today’s day and age. If you didn’t know about this, like me, before I started my research, you would have continued sipping your favorite beverage while slowly poisoning your kids and yourself.

I am very happy with my daily KeepCup routine, and I didn’t even know this was an all-over, healthier way to consume this hot liquid. So, I hope this list gave you an idea of a way to enjoy a non-toxic coffee or tea. If you prefer a cold drink in your mug or tumbler, why not check out this article about reusable ice cubes?

If you have a favorite I didn’t mention here, I would love to learn about it, so shoot me a message or leave a comment below.

Hendrik Kaiser

I've studied biology and lived for 3 years on an off-grid permaculture farm. I love kitesurfing and keeping my body healthy and fit. Hence, I care so much about keeping our environment clean and being as zero waste as possible. Being a zerowasteman is a superpower everyone has inside of themselves, and I want to teach you how you can unleash it.

6 thoughts on “The Complete Guide to Non-Toxic Coffee Mugs in 2023”

ARE THERE ANY DISPOSABLE CUPS THAT DO NOT EMIT MACROPLASTICS INTO MY BODY WHEN HEATED ? I DRINK COFFEE EVERY DAY. I HAVE A DISABILITY THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO HOLD A CUP (I HAVE BROKEN MANY CUPS & MUGS, EVEN BOROSILICATE GLASS). I ALSO LIKE MY COFFEE HOT AND STEEL CANNOT GO INTO THE MICROWAVE FOR REHEATING. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUGGESTIONS. THANK YOU

Hi, that’s a tricky one. I think your best bet is a steel cup like the one from KeepCup, and for reheating, you would have to transfer it into a glass or microwave-safe ceramic jug. That, to me, seems the only unbreakable option. Plus, if you use the KeepCup with the lid, your coffee stays hot for quite a while. Hope that helps.

Hi, great article, found it very useful to get information on actual brands. Would be great to receive some advice on the best non-toxic water bottles, too! 🙂

Hi, I am glad it could help. I have an article about alternatives to plastic bottles . And thanks for the input. I guess it’s back to work, then. 🙂

I don’t see any list of selected mugs here….

Are you on mobile or laptop? Everything seems to be working fine on my end.

Best Coffee Mugs Not Made In China

Real coffee drinkers want a mug that is fun to look at, but great at holding your favorite beverage as well. This vital instrument can be found all over the world. But, some of the best coffee mugs are not made in China, but rather in the United States of America. With excellent quality, sensation detail, and stellar craftsmanship, the best coffee mugs have a lot to offer. Check out a few of them below.

Product #1 – American Pottery Ceramic Coffee Mugs

If you are a fan of bistro-style mugs, then you will love this first option. This type of mug is made with thick walls and unbelievable color schemes. As a bistro-style mug, you will have a great solution for drinking coffee.

Due to its great insulation, your coffee will stay warm for hours without needing to be re-heated.

This particular offer comes in a 4-pack that holds 14 ounces of coffee at a time.

A smooth finish is what you will notice every time you drink coffee and look at your wonderful mug.

Product #2 – Anchor Hocking Cafe Coffee Mugs

The next mug brand comes from Anchor Hocking is made in the great state of Ohio.

They make premium dishes that are known for their impressive finishings and that are extra durable. With thick glass, you can expect these mugs to hold up day after day when you fill them up with coffee.

These wide base mugs provide for great stability. Additionally, you can see through them clearly and completely. The mugs might seem to be oversized for some, but for the die hard caffeine lovers this is a great choice as they hold close to 16 ounces of caffeinated liquidation.

Since they are dishwasher and microwave safe, you will be able to use them in a variety of capacities. Also, if you order a certain dollar amount from Anchor Hocking, they will ship your phenomenal mugs all for free. How nice is that!

Product #3 – Libbey Irish Coffee Mugs

The next mug is one of elegance and prestige. If you know anything about Irish coffee mugs, there is an allure that stands out for all people to see.

With the Libbey Irish mugs, you will get a solid tempered glass mug that has a pristine crystal clear look.

Each mug that you buy from Libbey will allow you to drink 10.5 ounces of coffee at a time.

Also, there should be no concern over these mugs breaking as they are made super tough because of a special procedure process that has been patented by Libbey. Even temperature shocks will not impact this amazing glass.

As a weighty mug, you will love the thickness, as you snuggle up with your coffee and a good book. However, just know that this mug has no color options. It is all about the clear glass.

Product #4 – Louisville Pottery Collection 14-ounce Mug

A unique mug option comes to us from Louisville Pottery.

As one of the longest-running stoneware company, Louisville Pottery is front and center with this next product. The professional appeal that you get from this mug is second to none in the stoneware market.

You will love 14-ounces of space for your liquid coffee to awake you from the depths of a morning. One great attribute of Louisville Pottery is the thickness in every mug. In your hand, you will feel the stability and security with every sip that you take of your coffee.

Louisville Pottery has done their homework as well because the handle stays cool, as you sip your brimming hot coffee. Great quality is something else you can expect from Louisville Pottery because the glazing on each mug is a design like none other. Enjoy the smooth touch of each of Louisville Pottery’s mugs.

Product #5 – Emerson Creek Pottery Ceramic Mugs

Are you looking for an eco-friendly mug to help the environment across the world? Then, you will love this next mug from Emerson Creek.

Emerson Creek Pottery Ceramic is known for its classic mug that looks like it comes straight out of planet Earth. As a thick mug, the craftmanship comes from Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Of course, people love this love the earthy brown tone, but they also love how much coffee can be held in the mug.

With an elongated handle, you will be able to simply sip your coffee no matter if you are at the kitchen table or out on the front porch. When you are done using this ceramic mug, it will be time to clean up.

Luckily for you, Emerson Creek mugs are easy to wash up after. You can wash the mug by hand or place it in the dishwasher.

Lastly, Emerson Creek mugs are so convenient, you can throw them in the microwave or the oven. This proves is durability in a variety of capacities. As one of the top mugs to have in your life, you can take it to the office or keep it safe at home.

With the top-5 mugs for you to consider now at your disposal, it is time for you to make a decision. Sure, this might not be an easy task, but you have the best options of the bunch. Ultimately, you want to pick a mug that will last for you every day that you are waking up wanting a cup of Joe to help fuel your day.

So, go out there and find what is best for you. This way, you will get to enjoy mornings the way they should be enjoyed: with a mug of coffee by your side. Best of luck finding the best coffee mug for you and your lifestyle this year.

The coffee thermos designed by Zojirushi

travel mug that cannot retain heat shouldn’t be called a travel mug. While these mugs are designed to keep all beverages hot (or cold) for extended periods of time, not all of them actually do so. Only top-notch models like Zojirushi are capable due to their unique design, keeping any liquid as hot as when you first poured it in!

The reason why we're singing praises for Zojirushi’s SM-KHE48AG Stainless Steel Mug, is that we tested this small coffee thermos out for a few months to see how it holds up with everyday use. And like the Zojirushi Coffee Maker, it doesn't disappoint. Read on for our detailed assessment of its six key parameters: material, design, insulation, performance, cleaning, and cost.

If you don’t want to read the entire article, go through our “In A Nutshell” section for a quick review.

Check it out on Amazon here

Material: dual layered stainless steel construction.

Like Zojirushi coffee maker, this small coffee thermos is made primarily of 18/8 stainless steel. It's the most flexible austenitic form of stainless steel. The lid and other parts are made of BPA free plastic, which is non-toxic and hygienic.

Due to this reason, the mug is very lightweight. Weighing only 9 ounces. Which is considerably lighter than its competitors. It houses a dual-layer of stainless steel. Meaning, the heat from your hot coffee stays trapped inside the inner chamber and won’t quickly dissipate to the outer layer. At the same time, it prevents the mug from getting too hot.

Design: Thoughtful and Clever

While it looks a lot like other travel mugs in the market, it has a few noteworthy design features that make it more useful. It's tall, compact, and comfortable to hold like other travel mugs. What seems like a basic design from the outside, turns out not so basic when you consider its superior engineering.

Made in Thailand

Zojirushi has a flip-top cover that opens like magic. Apart from covering the top, it serves a few other purposes you won't get in most thermos mugs. Not only does it prevent spills and leaks, but also keeps the mouthpiece sanitary and hygienic by covering it entirely when not in use.

A unique feature of the cover is its lock. While testing, we found out that keeping the top locked down is very useful to prevent any leaks. The lock and lid can be easily operated with only one hand – another plus for on the go coffee sippers.

The lock of this model is designed in a way that prevents any errant condensation drops from dispersing when the lid is open. Therefore if you're concerned about coffee stains, you'll definitely appreciate this feature!

While testing, the only design flaw we noticed was the sheer number of parts. Apart from the mug itself, it has at least half a dozen smaller pieces. Which can sometimes be a little too much to handle. For example, the lid has a removable sipping mouthpiece, rubber stoppers, multi-piece plastic hinge, and a metal spring.

This design works reasonably well in a day to day setting. For regular office or home use, you won’t have any issues with cracking or breakage.

Insulation: Better Than Expected

We started out filling this small coffee thermos with coffee at 5:00 PM, and checking it periodically to notice how much heat is retained. With the lid tightly closed the entire time, the coffee was still too hot to drink by 7:45 PM. At this point, we uncovered the top and left it open. We checked the state of the coffee at 10:15 PM again. To our surprise, the coffee was still hot. Instead of calling it a day, we put the lid back on and left it overnight. At 8:30 AM the next morning, the coffee was still warm enough to enjoy every sip!

On the contrary, how long can it keep a beverage cool? A highlight feature of this mug is its wider opening. Big enough to fit full-sized ice cubes. We filled the cup with ice and water at 9:30 AM. The mug kept frozen throughout the day and night. The next morning at exactly the same time, we uncovered the water to find it still cold. Expectations exceeded yet again.

Cleaning: Not Dishwasher Safe

Unlike the Zojirushi Coffee Maker, their coffee mug is somewhat of a hassle to clean. It's not dishwasher safe, and the manufacturer even advises against using a cleaning brush. Hand washing it is required after use. Cleaning and maintenance is similar to a blender.

Price: Affordable Quality

This small coffee thermos comes at a very market competitive price. You get great quality for a reasonable price. Although the price is a little more than your usual "made in china" travel mug, you get what you pay for. Considering the fantastic features and top-notch quality, its price is very fair.

Other Features

Because of its compact design, it fits in most car and motorcycle cup holders. Also, this product comes with a five year limited warranty on the body.

Lastly, it's available in seven different color options.

In A Nutshell

Read on below for quick bullet points

• Dual-layered stainless steel construction that maintains the state of beverages

• Compact and easy to hold design

• Thoughtful design with a functional and helpful lock feature

• Exceptional performance in terms of insulation

• Fits well in most car cup holders

• Available in multiple colors to go with your style

• Available in two different sizes

• 5 year limited warranty

• Not dishwasher safe

• Parts need to be removed for a thorough clean up.

Final Thoughts

All said and done, this small coffee thermos is a winner just like the tried and tested Zojirushi Coffee Maker. Their travel mug passed all of our tests with flying colors. While too many parts may be a bit cumbersome to clean, its performance has won us over. With its dual-layered stainless steel construction, stellar insulation and reasonable price point, it is a must-have coffee mug for any frequent traveler!

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This Clever Reusable Cup Will Fit in Your Pocket

It folds up to the size of a small wallet.

Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living. She holds a degree in English Literature and History from the University of Toronto.

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"Bring your own coffee cup" is one of the first pieces of advice you'll see in articles on zero waste living. It's good advice, but it does not address the challenge of carrying around a reusable coffee mug, especially if you're doing it the "green" way on foot or by bicycle, and have a bunch of other things to carry as well. More often than not, the coffee mug gets left behind, sacrificed to make room for other stuff.

But what if you didn't have to make that choice? What if a reusable coffee mug existed that was a no-brainer to carry? The good news is, it does! It's called the Hunu cup and it collapses to a height of just 0.75 inches (2 centimeters), despite a respectable 9-ounce (265 mL) capacity. This collapsed disc is roughly the size of a small wallet and can fit easily into a pocket or small purse, even the back pocket of jeans. The Hunu is so compact that it qualifies as a letter when mailed in the United Kingdom.

The Hunu cup has a clever practical design. When folded up, it's held together by a wide elastic band with a plug that goes into the sipping hole; this prevents any leaks from happening when you stash the cup after finishing your beverage. That same band doubles as a thermal sleeve when the cup is in use, giving an extra layer of protection from the heat.

It's made from food-grade silicone that is BPA-free and has a hard plastic lid made from bamboo fiber and resin. Cup and lid can go in the dishwasher, and the cup on its own can be put in the microwave and freezer.

Single-use coffee cup waste is a huge problem, with roughly 165 million cups ending up in landfill every day. Prior to the pandemic, Starbucks alone distributed around 4 billion cups a year , requiring pulp from more than 1 million trees. And because these cups have a thin plastic layer on the inside to prevent them from getting soggy, they are difficult and impractical to recycle.

If a person isn't willing to sit down in-house and drink their coffee in a ceramic mug (" Italian-style ," I've called it in the past), or maybe isn't even allowed to due to current restrictions, then carrying one's own cup – and possibly even fresh coffee – from home is the greenest and most responsible thing to do. Having a lightweight, compact reusable cup like the Hunu makes this easier than ever.

Who knew? Check out all the available colors here .

Starbucks. " Starbucks and Closed Loop Partners to develop recyclable, compostable cup solution. " Stories.Starbucks.Com , 2020.

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Does your mug make a statement? Express yourself with unique and affordable Coffee Mugs and Not Made In China Travel Mugs from CafePress. Our diverse selection has something for everyone. We carry 11 oz ceramic mugs, 15 oz ceramic mugs, 20 oz ceramic mugs. Our ceramic Not Made In China Travel Mugs are microwave safe, top shelf dishwasher safe, and have easy to hold grip handles. While we don’t carry porcelain coffee mugs, our ceramic Not Made In China Travel Mugs are an excellent substitution to your kitchen for sipping a hot drink of coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate in the morning or winter evenings.

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5 Best Travel Mugs
Looking for the Best Travel Mugs on the Market? Read Our In-Depth Guide Now. Our Research Has Helped Over 200 Million Users Find the Best Products
Best Coffee Mugs Not Made in China
It's also top-rack dishwasher safe. It's a classy way to start the morning. 5. Anchor Hocking 16-oz Cafe Glass Coffee Mugs. Here's a set of glass coffee mugs made in the USA by Anchor Hocking. Anchor Hocking began in 1905 in Lancaster, Ohio and to this day continues to manufacture all their products in the USA.
The 10 Best Travel Mugs of 2024, Tested & Reviewed
The S'well Stainless Steel Traveler Mug is inarguably one of the best-designed travel mugs on the market today. Thanks to S'well's high-end, triple-wall technology, you can rest assured that your drinks will maintain their ideal temperature for hours on end. It performed exceedingly well when we tested it.
The 2 Best Travel Mugs of 2024
The 16-ounce Zojirushi SM-SF Stainless Steel Mug is the best travel mug for keeping drinks hot for long periods of time. This mug also comes in a 20-ounce size. (The SM-SF is the current model ...
The best travel coffee mugs in 2024, tried and tested
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug. Best travel coffee mug. Amazon. This stainless steel travel mug was the best at insulating hot drinks for long periods and showed the least wear and tear on our ...
Best travel coffee mugs in 2024
3. Hydro Flask Coffee with Flex Sip Lid. Hydro Flask is one of the most popular brands for travel mugs and cups for a very good reason. Available in multiple sizes, from 12 to 40 ounces, and in 11 ...
10 Best Travel Coffee Mugs (2024): Insulated, Steel, Thermal
Other colors come in a more durable-seeming pebbled coating. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug for $29: Zojirushi's classic 16-ounce travel mug is a favorite around these parts. The stainless-steel ...
12 Best Travel Mugs 2024
Best travel mug overall. MiiR Flip Traveler. $28. Volume: 12 to 20 ounces | Lid type: Flip lid | How to clean: Dishwasher safe. The MiiR Travel Tumbler is my personal favorite travel mug. I own ...
17 Best Travel Mugs of 2023, Tested & Reviewed
This SmrtMugg travel mug — rated our best self-heating travel mug — has built-in heat technology to keep coffee hot. Its large battery on the bottom — the manufacturer claims a 10-hour ...
The 18 Best Leak-Proof Travel Mugs for Taking Hot (and Cold) Drinks on
Hydro Flask stainless steel travel mug. This Hydro Flask mug checks all the boxes: It's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, has a leak-proof lid, carrying handle, and no-sweat matte finish, and comes ...
The 3 Best Travel Mugs of 2024, Tested & Reviewed
The Zojirushi blew every other mug away on both accounts, taking over 14 hours to drop from 212°F to 140°F and nearly 20 hours for 38°F water to warm up to 60°F. The second-best mug in these tests, the Fellow, took a respectable 10 hours to drop from 212°F to 140°F and 6 hours to go from 38°F to 60°F.
Tested: The Best Travel Mugs For Hot & Cold Drinks On The Go
Best Budget Travel Mug: RTIC is a legendary name in drinkware, and in less than a decade. Known for offering unrivaled outdoor-ready gear at affordable price points, this 20-ounce option is not only incredibly cheap but looks like a travel mug that's twice the price, especially considering the size (there's also a 16oz size available). Compared a lot to YETI, RTIC still gets the job done ...
Best Insulated Travel Mugs
Read on for ratings and reviews of the 10 mugs we tested from Bubba, Contigo, Ello, Starbucks, S'well, Takeya, Thermos, Yeti, and Zojirushi. They're listed below in order of their temperature ...
The Best Travel Mugs for Coffee and Tea 2023
Travel Mug: Corkcicle 16-Ounce Classic Tumbler. Heat retention: 3.5 (111ºF after four hours) Ease of use: 4. Price: 4 ($32.95) Overall: 4. Corkcicle's Classic Tumbler was on par with the S'well in terms of heat retention (the coffee clocked in at 130ºF after two hours).
The 10 Best Non-Toxic Coffee Mugs For Peace Of Mind
Cost: From $ 23.95. Joco's glass non-toxic coffee mug is made from borosilicate glass like its competitor, KeepCup. The main difference is the design; and instead of using cork, recycled woodchips or even corn, Joco uses 100% food-grade silicon.
Non Toxic Travel Mugs
Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Non Toxic Travel Mugs - Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Interior: 18/8 stainless steel interior, electropolished which is a safe and non-toxic process which helps with cleaning and won't retain or impart flavors. Wall: Double Wall Vacuum Insulation.
Best Coffee Mugs Not Made In China
CHECK PRICE. Libbey Irish Coffee Mug. - Made in the U.S.A. - Made of Clear Glass - (12) 8 1/2-ounce clear glass mugs. 9.1/10. CHECK PRICE. Emerson Creek Stoneware 16 Oz Latte Mugs. - Made in the U.S.A. - Ceramic, handmade and hand painted in Americad - Lead free, dishwasher and microwave safe, ovenproof. 9.5/10. CHECK PRICE.
Travel Mug Not Made In China
1. Even though eco-friendly travel mugs have a lot of benefits, there are some drawbacks to consider when it comes to this type of product. 2. Firstly, eco-friendly travel mugs tend to be more expensive than their Chinese counterparts. The cost of buying an eco-friendly travel mug can be two or three times the cost of a standard mug made in China.
The coffee thermos designed by Zojirushi
Like Zojirushi coffee maker, this small coffee thermos is made primarily of 18/8 stainless steel. It's the most flexible austenitic form of stainless steel. The lid and other parts are made of BPA free plastic, which is non-toxic and hygienic. Due to this reason, the mug is very lightweight. Weighing only 9 ounces.
Ceramic Travel Mug Not Made In China
Ceramic travel mugs are becoming more and more popular and not made in China become the trend. Benefits of them include: 1. are more resilient than their paper and plastic counterparts; 2. more versatile and have the capability to hold from 8oz up to 16oz of liquids; 3. are environmentally friendly and can be reused up to a lifetime and ...
This Clever Reusable Cup Will Fit in Any Pocket
The good news is, it does! It's called the Hunu cup and it collapses to a height of just 0.75 inches (2 centimeters), despite a respectable 9-ounce (265 mL) capacity. This collapsed disc is ...
Coffee Cups Not Made in China
Check out our coffee cups not made in china selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our mugs shops. ... Travel, Made in China (58) Sale Price $43.20 $ 43.20 $ 54.00 Original Price $54.00 ... Fine Bone China, Coffee Mug, Tea Mug, Made in UK, Handcrafted in Staffordshire, Queen Elizabeth II
Not Made In China Travel Mugs
The Best in the World Best CEO Mugs. $9.99 $14.99. Boycott Red China Buy Made in Mug. $9.99 $14.99. Boulder Colorado Mug. $9.99 $14.99. MADE IN AMERICA WITH FINNISH Large Mug . $14.99 $22.99. ... Whether you want to express your funny side with humorous Not Made In China Travel Mugs, share your love of a favorite movie or tv show with a pop ...
Mugs That Are Not Made in China
Dunoon TIffany adapted Iris Mug, Crown Trent China Lavender Mug, Royal Garden Forget Me Nots Mug, Fine Bone China. (1.8k) $12.00. Selection of Dunoon Fine bone china and stoneware mugs with pair of birds, or pig, cat or chicken family. Made in England or Scotland. (759)