The 13 greatest journey mugs

If you are an avid coffee drinker and are playing with the idea of ​​a lifestyle without waste (or less waste), you should first bring your own thermos or mug to your local Java location. Swap your daily take-away newspaper for a more environmentally friendly reusable mug isn't just about sustainability. Experts like Natalie Slavutsky from Brooklyn Diamond Coffee agree that coffee made from ceramic, glass or stainless steel actually tastes better than paper or plastic. "You only get a better cup of coffee than in a paper cup," says Slavutsky.

If that doesn't convince you to make a change, "many cafes reward customers who bring reusable drinks with a discount to make them more sustainable," said Allie Caran, education director at Partner & # 39; s Coffee. According to baristas, coffee entrepreneurs and an environmentally conscious former strategist editor, here are the best reusable cups and mugs you can bring to your local cafe.

KeepCup 12 oz. reusable coffee cup

KeepCup repeatedly appeared in our discussions more than any other brand. These small glass beakers were originally designed by two former baristas in Melbourne, Australia, to make work easier for people like Joanna Lareau, barista at Blue Bottle Coffee. "I like KeepCups because they are made for baristas so they are the easiest way for us to make latte art," says Lareau. She also notes that KeepCups are easier to use when making cortados or cappuccinos because of their small size. "Some reusable cups are so big that they don't fit in the espresso machine," she says. Ryan Fisher, operations manager and roaster at GoodBoyBob Coffee in Santa Monica, California, likes KeepCups because they are stylish and the glass quickly brings his coffee to the exact temperature he likes.

Almost all of the baristas we spoke to said that customers who bring less clean, reusable cups are their biggest annoyance with pets. So if you find one that is easy to rinse out, your barista will be happy and your latte will taste fresh. According to Samya Said, barista training manager for Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, KeepCups are as good as any other mug in this category. They also have an inner slope that, according to her, "baristas can give amazing art every time".

With 12 oz. Camp Cup insulated mug

Two of the coffee experts we spoke to gave this insulated stainless steel mug with a lid bill. Emily Orendorff, a barista at Intelligentsia Coffee, prefers the Miir Camp Cup because he explains: “It has the exact shape of the cups we use in the café (short and wide with a great grip) so that baristas can make it a breeze drink in it and easy to clean and drink from it. “While Caleb Chauncey, a barista at East Pole Coffee Co. in Atlanta, it likes that its insulated interior keeps drinks warm or cold for long periods of time – and keeps the outside temperature constant. "It won't burn your hand if you have a hot drink inside, and it won't sweat if you have a cold one," he says. Like Orendorff, Chauncey has referred to the mug handle as something that most travel mugs don't contain, and says he likes the matte black finish.

Kinto To Go Tumbler

Haley Boyd, a designer and sustainability lover, has tried more than just a fair share of reusable coffee cups in recent years. She likes this simple-form option from the Japanese brand Kinto, mostly because of the design. "This cup is my favorite. It's attractive and available in a solid color without a large logo, which is surprisingly difficult to find, ”she says.

Kinto travel mug

If you want to keep your coffee hot all day, Kinto is also an attractive mug. Chris and Lindsay Grodzki from the S&S Corner Shop in Springs, New York love these simple Japanese mugs. "These travel mugs keep your drinks hot or cold for hours," says Lindsay, who appreciates how easy it is to clean and reuse. "Our customers love them and we love them," she says.

Joco 16 oz. reusable glass coffee cup

"We have definitely seen a move to eliminate the growth of disposable drinkware in the coffee industry, especially last year," said Caran. According to her, it's best to use a cup for coffee, glass, or stainless steel, as it doesn't absorb strong flavors or flavors. "At Partners, we like the glass cups from Joco, an Australian brand that makes a beautiful and functional product line that is completely plastic-free," says Caran.

Frank Green travel coffee mug

Fisher says he has seen more and more customers with Frank Green travel mugs. Despite being made from a special thermoplastic that is BPA free and dishwasher safe (unlike ceramic, glass, or stainless steel), Fisher says these cups "keep drinks hot or cold for hours". He prefers customers to use reusable cups, mugs, or cups that are shaped like standard paper cups or ceramic cups, as he is used to pouring into them. This 12-ounce mug fits easily in your hand or in the cup holder of your car and, according to Fisher, "has an absolutely leak-proof lid".

With 12 oz. travel mug

For a thermo mug, Caran loves the minimal and functional design of this Miir tumbler. "It's super slim, stores heat (and cold) very well and never leaks," she says.

Hydro Flask 12 oz. Food Bottle

Former editor-in-chief of strategist Simone Kitchens uses this hydro flask for her daily dose of caffeine. “I drink lattes, which are very expensive if you add the almond milk and the top and maybe freeze them. I got this thermos-like container for my morning coffee. The stocky profile reminds me of the soup containers we all lugged around in elementary school. "

Otterbox Elevation 20 cups

Vivienne Weidmann from Blue Bottle reminds us how important a good lid design can be when choosing the best travel mug. “What I particularly like about the design of this lid is that the mouthpiece is large enough to sip the coffee without burning myself and that there is no place for milk or coffee or whatever I drink to dry out and to collect. "

Yeti Rambler 30 oz. stainless steel mug

As a former espresso slinger at Marlow & Sons in Brooklyn, Derek Van Heule of Sticks Coffee Roasting in Mariposa, California, had a while to refine his tumbler taste. His contact person is the Yeti Rambler. "It fits in my car cup holder – not many travel cups – and keeps my coffee hot for a long time. I like that it is simply designed and durable," he says.

Contigo Snapseal Byron travel mug made of stainless steel

For something that doesn't break the bank (or upset you if you lose it), Casey Roberts from Everyman Espresso is a fan of this snap-top thermos that doesn't spill or leak. "The Contigo brand is good, especially if you are looking for something that can be stowed in a bag."

Zojirushi 12 oz. stainless steel mug

Blue State Coffee's coffee director Gina Gerfao knows that it is important to encourage people to make real changes. "Part of our mission is to minimize our environmental impact through sustainable practices, so we try to motivate customers to bring their own cup by offering a 50 cent discount." Your choice, the insulated Zojirushi travel mug, has also been a strategist's favorite for years.

Ember mug Ceramic mug with temperature control

If, like Ryan Seacrest, you're a fan of drinking your coffee at the ideal temperature, you'll love the Ember travel mug. Seacrest has added the Ember Mug to its list of things it can't live without. "I have a very specific morning and I only get my first half cup of coffee before I have to get into the car," he says. “When I get in the car, I transfer it to this mug. You can program the temperature to stay hot throughout the morning, and I think this is a luxury. “The battery-operated thermos flask keeps every drink at the perfect temperature for as long as necessary. You can adjust the temperature by simply turning the bottom. However, if this is too much work, you can customize your mug via an app on your phone.

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