What are the best travel coffee mugs? I found myself asking the same question.
Travel coffee mugs are big business. People take their travel mug choices as seriously as they do what kind of coffee is in their cup. I have 4-5 in the cupboard right now. Some I use for hot coffee, and some are for cold brew.
You have thousands of options, so it can be confusing to pick just one. How long can your travel coffee mug keep your coffee hot or cold? How much does that matter? Do you really need to want your travel mug to keep your coffee hot for 18 hours?
Travel coffee mugs can also be investments. They range from $5 to $150.
Do you want a travel mug that has a handle, or are you looking for one that can accommodate cold and hot coffee drinks?
So many questions play into which travel coffee mugs are best.
In this post, I answer these questions and offer my list of the 6 best travel coffee mugs.
What Makes a Great Travel Coffee Mug?
3 factors make a great travel coffee mug:
- How’s the lid?
- How’s the insulation?
- How easy is the mug to clean?
These 3 factors hold equal weight when I’m choosing a travel coffee mug.
Also, you get what you pay for.
When I was first getting into homebrewed coffee, I just bought whatever was cheapest at Target.
I was disappointed, obviously.
Travel Coffee Mug Lids
The main point of a travel coffee mug is that you take it with you. If the lid leaks or sloshes hot coffee all over you or your car’s cup holder, you might as well be using a regular coffee mug.
Spilling piping hot coffee on yourself is a horrible way to start the day.
Some travel coffee mugs will leak more than others because of the mug’s design style. Most coffee travel mugs are leak-resistant or leak-proof these days.
A thermos travel mug is your best bet if you’re looking for a spill-proof lid. Others vary from a slider lid (my personal favorite) to a click locking lid.
Regardless, you want to make sure the manufacturer talks about their lid in the literature.
Travel Coffee Mug Insulation
How many times have you poured yourself a hot cup of coffee in your travel mug, and by the time you got to your destination, it’s only lukewarm?
That’s unpleasant and puts a kink in your day.
And, since Yeti hit the scene with their tumblers and coffee travel mugs, we’ve come to expect coffee travel mugs to keep our coffee hot longer than ever.
Most well-insulated coffee mugs have a vacuumed insulation built into the bottle or mug. Most are double-walled.
Here’s a diagram that explains how the vacuum insulation works:
Any travel coffee mug (or bottle) worth buying will have this type of insulation.
If you’re a coffee drinker who likes hot and cold coffee, make sure the mug is going to meet both your needs.
This is something I look for in my travel coffee mugs. The travel mugs I like the most usually come with a lid and metal straw that can accommodate cold and hot coffee.
Ease of Cleaning Travel Coffee Mugs
Moms do a lot of the household chores. And If you’re like me, you want everything to be dishwasher safe. I have plenty of dishes already, especially since we’re eating at home more than ever.
The last thing I want is a batch of travel coffee mugs to hand wash.
The travel mug usually comes with washing instructions. My husband, the disc golf player, doesn’t drink coffee.
But he has a monthly disc gold subscription box. He got a travel mug that holds about 11 oz. and can be used as a drink koozie. So, he asked me if I wanted it.
I was so excited when it arrived. It had the brand’s logo across the sides, and it was really nice. It was reminiscent of the Yeti Rambler that so many of our friends have. I was looking it over and noticed the dreaded “Hand Wash Only” on the bottom. That was an immediate turn-off. I have used it a couple of times, but I don’t want to add more things to wash by hand.
I read a lot about why so many insulated coffee travel mugs aren’t dishwasher safe. They can’t be run in a load of dishes because it compromises the insulation of the travel coffee mug. When heated to the temperatures that the dishwashers get it weakens the seal of the vacuum insulation in the mug.
Maybe I’ll change my opinion of hand wash only travel coffee mugs when our daughter is done with bottles and potty trained. Maybe not.
What are your thoughts on hand wash only insulated travel mugs?
If you live in a home without a dishwasher, this is a moot point for you. Suppose you’re not rushed to get out the door. I include some travel coffee mugs that are hand wash only for readers who don’t mind handwashing mugs.
None of the travel coffee mugs in this list are in order of preference because I wanted to give you an array of mugs that will fit each of your needs.
It’s hard to have too many travel mugs or coffee flasks.
Kinto Day Off Tumbler
Kinto is a Japanese brand that gives users a line of beautifully designed travel drink mugs. The muted colors are pleasing to the eye.
The Kinto Day Off Tumbler is really a water bottle but doubles as a killer coffee travel mug. It holds 17 oz. of hot coffee. The stainless steel vacuum insulation ensures your coffee will stay hot for your commute. Even though this advertised as a water bottle, the ergonomic mouth spout will ensure you can regulate your coffee-sipping without scalding your tongue,
The lid has a handle, making it easy to carry and pull from your bag or purse. The lid is also guaranteed to be spill-proof. Some reviewers gave a lower rating. They were frustrated with the bottle leaking because they mis-threaded the seal, though
This is not a dishwasher safe mug. I still have it in my arsenal of mugs because of its look, heat effectiveness, and quality.
Both Good Housekeeping and Epicurious have this travel coffee mug in their top lists. This tumbler is the most expensive on the list but sells out fast. You can buy the Kinto Day Off Tumbler with free shipping if you’re a Prime member.
Zojirushi SM-KC48 Stainless Mug
Zojirushi is known for its impeccable design and temperature retention. The slim thermos will fit in almost and car cup holder. The Zojirushi SM-KC28 travel coffee mug will also fit easily in a pack for outdoor adventures or in your work bag for easy transport. The leak-proof lid is secure and dependable.
This travel coffee mug has a 5-year warranty on its temperature retention. That’s a big selling point in my book. The Zojirushi also claims to keep your hot coffee at 187 degrees for 1 hour and154 degrees for 6 hours. It also guarantees your cold brew or iced coffee to stay cold at 48 degrees for 6 hours. This travel mug is versatile and nice to look at.
The stainless steel construction gives this coffee mug durability and strength to meet your needs. Good Housekeeping and a few other sites have this mug rated as their favorite. It’s dishwasher safe, has an easy flip spout, and is in the affordable range considering its quality.
The only drawback is the California Prop 65 rating that is attached to the paperwork included in the packaging. I did some digging and it appears there is nickel in the spring mechanism on the lid. Nickle is considered hazardous but doesn’t come in contact with our coffee. I wasn’t worried about it.
You can buy the Zojirushi SM-KC48 Stainless 16 oz. Travel Coffee Mug at Amazon for $26.99 with free shipping if you’re a Prime member.
Corkcicle 16 oz. Coffee Mug
This coffee travel mug is from Corkickle. The traditionally styled mug offers the option to hold it by the handle and around the mug. The Corkcicle 16 oz. Coffee Mug is triple wall insulated with a shatter-proof lid. This mug will keep your coffee hot for up to 3 hours. Because of the triple insulation, this travel coffee mug isn’t dishwasher safe.
The Corkcicle travel mug comes in an array of colors. The patented flat sides ensure a firm grip on your travel mug if your hiking or sipping your coffee in bed.
I’ve found it difficult to fit travel coffee mugs in the cup holder in my SUV. This one is designed to do just that. I’ve always strayed away from coffee travel mugs that have handles until I received this one from my in-laws.
This coffee mug has an added bonus that I don’t see in a lot of other mugs. The mug has a silicon non-slip bottom that will ensure your drink won’t spill while driving. The lid also is easy to use, clean, and fits most reusable straws –0 so you can enjoy a cold brew or iced coffee.
Corkcicle is an established brand so expect to pay more for this travel coffee mug. You can buy the Corkcicle 16 oz. Coffee Mug at Amazon. I really like mine in Snowdrift. They also have a wood print that would be great for men or the outdoorsy person in your life.
Artic 20z. Travel Tumbler
The Arctic 20 oz. Travel Tumbler might be my favorite coffee mug. It’s affordable comes in a lot of colors, and it’s versatile. It holds a lot of coffee, 20 ounces to be exact. When I make a cold brew or iced coffee at home I usually go for a bigger cup. I want room for ice, cold coffee, and my almond milk creamer. A bigger travel coffee mug is just a requirement for me.
The Artic travel tumbler also includes a metal straw (eco-friendly!) and a reusable cleaner to keep your straw sanitized. This is especially handy if you prefer your cold coffee via straw as I do. The size and the straw are the perfect matches for me when looking for a cold coffee travel mug.
Don’t like cold coffee?
No worries.
This travel mug will also meet your heat retention needs as well. The company claims hot coffee will stay hot for 8 hours, and your cold coffee will stay cold for 16 hours. Those temp times are more than sufficient for almost any coffee drinker’s needs.
This mug is most likely not dishwasher safe, but I’ve been putting mine in the dishwasher on the top rack for 2 years now. Apparently, I like to live on the edge.
The biggest selling point for me on this travel mug is the price. You can buy the Arctic 20 oz. Travel Tumbler.
Ello Cole with Slider Lid
The Ello Cole is a multipurpose travel coffee mug. The slim bottle easily holds 16 oz. of hot or cold coffee. This is a big travel coffee mug. It’s pretty too, which always scored points with me. I like my coffee accessories to be nice to look at.
When I unpackaged this one, the first thing that caught my eye was the cork bottom. A cork bottom is something I haven’t seen in a travel mug before. I was skeptical because the Elle Cole is touted as being dishwasher safe even though it has the coveted insulation we are all looking for in our travel coffee cups. The cork has held up through multiple washes and keeps it from sloshing around in my car’s cup holder.
This mug keeps your hot coffee at temp for 5 hours and cold coffee cold for 10 hours. For me, that’s plenty of insulation in my coffee mug.
So, what else could this wonder coffee travel mug give us?
There’s more, believe it or not.
The patented spill-proof slider lid is going to ensure your coffee stays at your preferred temperature and doesn’t leak or spill in transport. The mug can be thrown in your bag knowing your coffee isn’t going to leak. This travel coffee mug is one of the best you can buy.
You can get the Ello Cole with Slider Lid at Amazon. It comes in 4 colors with varying prices. I gave the black one to my dad for his coveted Japanese cold brew. He doesn’t leave home without it, and neither should you.
Joco 16 oz. Glass Reusable Coffee Travel Mug
Joco is taking a different approach to their insulated coffee travel mugs. They use double-walled glass instead of the usual stainless steel. The mug is made of hand-blown borosilicate glass. This travel mug is not only sustainable, it’s a looker.
The silicone sleeve and lid add to the insulation to keep your coffee warm. The mug doesn’t have any plastic or BPA products, so if you’re looking for a sustainable alternative to single-use coffee mugs, this is the one for you.
The mugs come in a range of sizes from 4 oz. (think an espresso shot) all the way up to a 16 oz. option. The colors offered and muted and simplistic. All parts of the Joco 16 oz. Glass Mug are dishwasher safe and durable.
The glass is designed to be shatter-proof. My toddler has knocked mine off the counter and it bounced without breaking. One drawback is that the lid isn’t spill-proof. The ergonomic lid eases sloshing in transport a bit but you won’t be able to throw this travel coffee mug in a bag and go.
The cup fits in most car cup holders. The Australian company goes into great detail on their site about how much a single Joco cup does to divert trash from landfills. You can buy the Joco 16 oz. Glass Reusable Coffee Mug from Amazon for $24.00.
Conclusion
I hope that you have some new travel coffee mugs on your wishlist. I think having a traveling companion to hold your coffee (hot or cold) is pivotal to a good day. Nothing is more frustrating than getting to your destination, and your coffee being either cold or all over your car’s cup holder.