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Marijuana Travel Coffee Mugs from CafePress are perfect for taking your hot drinks like coffee and tea or cold beverages with you on the go.

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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 9 Best Travel Coffee Mugs That Will Keep Your Coffee Safe and Perfectly Hot When You’re on the Move

For taking your caffeine on the go, a travel coffee mug is a better alternative to paper or Styrofoam cups—not only will it reduce your environmental impact, it can also prevent your coffee from losing its heat (or chill) while safeguarding against leaks and spills while you’re on the move.

Many insulated tumblers or mugs made from durable stainless steel will ensure that your coffee are as perfectly hot or cold as your first sip, even hours after it has been first poured—and to protect the contents of your mug (and your bag), consider one that is leakproof, or at the least spill-proof. Beyond that, you’ll also want to consider a coffee mug in a style and size that suits your preferences. Fortunately, there are many travel-friendly mugs to choose from, but to help you whittle down your choices, you’ll find nine of the best options below, including picks we use ourselves.

• 01 what to look for
• 02 best travel coffee mugs

Best travel coffee mugs, at a glance

• Best leakproof: Zojirushi, Stainless Mug SM-KHE36/48 , $28
• Best value: Oxo, Good Grips Travel Coffee Mug , $30
• Best versatile: Fellow, Carter 3-in-1 Sip System , $49
• Best handled: Hydro Flask, Mug , $28
• Best small capacity: Yeti, Stackable Cup , $20
• Best splurge: Ember, Travel Mug 2 , $200
• Best customizable: Frank Green, Ceramic Reusable Cup , $36
• Best with a straw: Brümate, Era ,$40
• Best for coffee and tea drinkers: Firebelly, Stop-Infusion Travel Mug , $40

What to look for in a travel coffee mug

Temperature retention.

When shopping for a travel coffee mug, look for options with double- or triple-wall vacuum insulation. Vacuum insulation helps keep drinks hot or cold for extended periods , making it ideal for those who want to savor their cup, or maintain its temperature while traveling to prevent hot coffee from going cold—or iced coffee from becoming tepid—before drinking it.

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Stainless steel construction

As you shop, you’ll also want to consider the material—and when it comes to travel coffee mugs, stainless steel is a popular option. Many people love stainless steel because, unlike glass or ceramic, it’s sturdy and can withstand a lot of abuse, and it holds temperature better than plastic and silicone.

Travel coffee mugs can have a variety of openings, including flip-cap lids, slider lids, twist-off lids, and lids with straws—and for the most part, selecting your ideal option will come down to your preference. If, for example, you want to prevent coffee from splashing out if knocked over, you might want to opt for a travel mug with a twist-off lid. If you want to drink from your mug on the move, you may prefer an option with a lid that you can open and close with one hand, like a flip-top lid, a slider lid, or a lid with straw. Many brands also sell lids separately, so you can opt to have a variety of options at your disposal.

Size and style

Travel coffee mugs also come in a wide range of sizes and styles. Their capacities range from eight ounces to well over 30 ounces, and many feature helpful designs, such as handles. If you plan to use your mug in the car, just be sure it fits in your vehicle’s cup holder. The manufacturer will usually indicate whether a mug is designed to fit in a cup holder, and customer reviews can offer additional insights as well.

Leakproof versus spill-proof

Finally, consider whether you want a leakproof or spill-proof travel coffee mug. A leakproof mug prevents any amount of liquid from spilling out. Spill-proof mugs only safeguard against any major splashes, but if knocked on its side or upside down, some liquid is likely to leak out.

Shop the best travel coffee mugs

Capacity: 12 ounces (also available in 16 ounces) | Available colors: 8

With the Zojirushi Stainless Mug, you won’t have to worry about spills—it’s as “leakproof” as they come. It has a leakproof lid with a locking mechanism, which keeps the lid from accidentally opening. As secure as it is, it’s easy to drink from—the lid pops open with a push, and its small opening keeps your brew from splashing out of the mug and on your face. The mug also helps drinks retain their temperature for up to six hours, thanks to its double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel construction, and more conveniently, it fits into most cup holders.

• Leakproof, push-button, flip-top lid
• Locking mechanism prevents lid from opening accidentally
• Keeps coffee hot (or cold) for up to six hours
• Fits most car cup holders
• Hand wash only

Capacity: 16 ounces (also available in 20 ounces) | Available colors: 5

If you want a budget-friendly travel mug, this option from Oxo offers many of the same qualities as its pricier counterparts at less cost. Made from double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, it promises to keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours—something Well+Good contributor Lesley Chen can attest. “Coffee stays piping hot for as long as you want it to,” Chen previously wrote. What’s more, it has a leakproof, twist-off lid, and its slender profile makes it cup holder compatible. It’s also one of the easiest picks on the list to clean, and you can place the entire mug in the dishwasher.

Read more about the Oxo Good Grips Travel Coffee Mug here.

• Keeps coffee hot for up to 12 hours or cold for up to 24 hours
• Leakproof lid prevents accidental spills
• Dishwasher safe
• Only 16 and 20-ounce capacity

Originally $57, now $49

Capacity: 16 ounces | Available colors: 3

What I love most about the Fellow Carter 3-in-1 Sip System is its versatility. The kit includes three interchangeable lids. It comes with a twist lid and a slider lid (both leakproof), along with a straw lid. I particularly like the slider lid, which is easy to open and close with one hand, and true to its promise, it doesn’t leak, even when full and bouncing around in my backpack. It’s made from double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel for optimal temperature retention to keep coffee hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24, while the ceramic-coated interior keeps your coffee’s flavor “free of odors, oil, and ‘old penny’ tasting notes,” per Fellow. I can attest that it does an excellent job retaining heat—my morning brew was still hot after sitting in the mug for over six hours. One tradeoff is that it only comes in one size and only three colors, but this is a small price for its versatility.

• Comes with three interchangeable lids
• Fits in most car cup holders
• Only 16-ounce capacity

Capacity: 12 ounces (also available in 6 and 24 ounces) | Available colors: 8

If you want something that has the look and feel of your at-home coffee mug, consider the Hydro Flask Mug. It closely resembles an everyday mug—handle and all—but is made from double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel for heat retention and durability. It also comes replete with a lid to keep its contents safe while on the move. The press-in lid fits snugly into the mug, while the sliding lever seamlessly glides open and closed. The opening is small enough to prevent splash-back, but not so small that I have to suck instead of sip the coffee from the mug, making fora pleasant drinking experience overall. Its lid is not leakproof—however, this offset by a wide base that is tougher to tip, making it more likely to remain in an upright position in the event you accidentally bump it, and it doesn’t hurt that the rounded handle also offers a comfortable grip on the mug. Unlike regular ceramic mugs, it holds heat plenty well, too—my coffee was perfectly hot, even hours after it had been poured.

• Comfortable handle
• Spill-proof lid
• Multiple sizes and many colors
• Not leakproof
• Body is hand wash only

Capacity: 8 ounces (also available in 16, 20, and 30 ounces) | Available colors: 7, plus 2 limited-edition colors

If you travel light, opt for Yeti’s Rambler Stackable Cup. At eight ounces, the double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel cup is one of the smallest options on the list. Well+Good food writer Maki Yazawa loves it for a quick caffeine hit. “After searching far and wide for the ultimate travel coffee cup, I’ve landed on my favorite, YETI’s Rambler 8-Ounce Stackable Cup,” she says. “The eight-ounce size fits in just about any car cup holder, and as per YETI’s description, it’s truly built for the at-home (or far from home) barista in mind. It fits underneath most espresso machines, is spill-proof (ideal for bumpy car rides), and, most importantly, stays hot (or cold) until the very last drop. Of course, if you need a little extra juice to get you going in the morning, the Rambler comes in larger sizes, and in a variety of colors to best suit your personality. My cup of tea (pun intended) at the moment is their limited-edition King Crab Orange and Agave Teal colorways. Chef’s kiss.”

Capacity: 12 ounces | Available colors: 2

The Ember Travel Mug 2 is expensive, but its unique design makes it wonderful to use. The Travel Mug 2 has a built-in heat source to regulate the temperature of your brew, much like Ember’s mug warmer . It pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth and uses a companion app, where you can control the temperature of your drink, and once you’ve made your selection, it will keep your coffee at your chosen temperature for up to three hours. When your phone isn’t within reach, you can also toggle between preset temperatures using the buttons on the mug itself. What’s more, the mug has an integrated screen to display the temperature and the amount of battery charge remaining, which greatly adds to its convenience factor. The push-button lid is leakproof and features a 360-degree sipping port that lets you drink from any and all sides of the mug, as well as a tapered base to fit snugly into standard car cup holders—all factors that make it ideal for travel. Its long-lasting battery life of up to three hours is a bonus, too. With that said, there’s no denying that $200 is a lot to spend on a mug, but it could be money well spent if you’re a coffee lover who wants a smart gadget.

• Controls coffee temperature using an app
• Keeps coffee at ideal temperature for up to three hours
• Leakproof lid

Capacity: 12 ounces (also available in 8, 10, and 16 ounces) | Available colors: 23

If you want a travel mug that you can customize to your precise liking, consider the Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Cup. In addition to offering four sizes, the Ceramic Reusable Cup lets you customize each part of the mug, including the base, the lid, and the button of the lid, in the color of your choice. It also comes with a push-button lid that is spill-proof, but you can swap it out for a straw lid (sold separately). Frank Green boasts that its stainless steel mugs are triple-walled to provide optimal temperature retention and have a ceramic-coated lining that is meant to preserve the true flavor of your brew, making this pick as fun as it is functional.

• Multiple sizes with option to customize the color of each part of the mug
• Triple-wall vacuum insulation to keep coffee hot or cold for hours

Capacity: 30 ounces (also available in 40 ounces) | Available colors: 11

If you like your coffee iced, the Brümate Era will fit the bill. It features a lid with an integrated straw and locking mechanism to make it fully leakproof, so whether you tip the mug on its side or upside down, it won’t spill a drop so long as it’s locked. The Era, made of durable stainless steel with double-walled vacuum insulation, is also capable of keeping drinks cold for up to 24 hours, and it can hold up to 30 ounces—or more, if you opt for the larger 40-ounce mug. Despite its large size, this mug still fits in most cup holders, and it’s easy to schlep around, thanks to its hefty handle—and unlike many of the other picks, it’s dishwasher safe.

• Leakproof straw lid
• Keeps coffee cold for over 24 hours
• Only 30- and 40-ounce capacity

Capacity: 16 ounces | Available colors: 6

Whether you want to drink coffee or tea, the Firebelly Stop-Infusion Travel Mug has you covered. It comes with an infuser to brew your own loose leaf teas, but you have the option to use it without the infuser as a standard coffee mug. What’s more, it has a leakproof lid, and thanks to its double-wall stainless steel interior, it can keep drinks hot or cold for hours so you can enjoy your brew for longer. Well+Good contributor Gina Vaynshetyn can attest to this: “I’ve made myself tea in the mug in the morning, and have absentmindedly sipped on it for hours—from home at my desk and in the car during a day trip,” she previously wrote. “It’s truly the only way I’ve discovered to conveniently brew tea that stays hot no matter where you take it.”

Read the full review of the Firebelly Stop-Infusion Travel Mug here.

• Features a removable tea infuser
• Keeps drinks hot or cold for up to six hours

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Matador Original Series

Coffee Travel Tools to Have Good Coffee No Matter Where You Go

P ortable coffee makers are a game-changer for travelers, allowing you to enjoy a great cup anywhere, anytime. When brewing coffee on the road, you need convenience, transportability, and quality. A variety of products are available to suit different preferences and budgets. Some coffee travel tools can brew espresso, while others are capable of making drip coffee, cold brew, or simply keep your beverage hot in a travel coffee mug. These products were designed with travelers in mind, offering an easy-breezy way to make your favorite cup, without compromising.

We hope you love the travel coffee makers we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Travel coffee press

Portable espresso maker, stovetop coffee maker, coffee press travel mug, travel coffee mug.

• Single cup travel coffee dripper

BruTrek OVRLNDR travel coffee French press

The BruTrek OVRLNDR travel coffee French press is a well-crafted, innovative product that delivers a great-tasting cup of coffee whether you’re at home or on an adventure. It has a sturdy design built to withstand the rigors of being knocked around in your backpack or luggage. It’s also compact enough for travel yet large enough to hold a substantial amount of coffee (24 oz). The press features Bru-Stop technology, which creates a barrier between the coffee grounds and the brewed coffee once fully pressed down. The feature prevents over-extraction and bitterness, ensuring a smooth, flavorful cup.

Price: $50.00

Aeropress coffee press kit

Photo: AeroPress

The Aeropress is a traveler’s best friend. Its compact, versatile, and easy-to-use design, coupled with its ability to produce high-quality coffee, makes it an ideal choice for coffee lovers on the go. In minutes, you can brew hot coffee, espresso, or cold brew. That means you can enjoy different styles without carrying separate devices.

There’s a reason why this kit continues to top the charts. It’s not just compact and lightweight. The Aeropress is durable, making it ideal for travel. The kit also comes with a filter cap, scoop, stirrer, and paper micro-filters, all essential components for brewing a delicious cup of coffee on the go.

Price: $39.95

Wacaco Nanopresso

Imagine the envy of your fellow campers when you pull out this hand-powered, pocket-sized espresso maker. The Nanopresso is the top product for those who love their espresso. It is ideal for the outdoors, but also if you’re staying in a hotel with poor coffee-making facilities. There’s no battery or power needed. The machine operates by a hand-powered piston pump that forces hot water through a compacted bed of ground coffee. And despite its compact size, the Nanopresso can brew a super tasty espresso with impressive crema.

Price: $69.90

GSI Outdoors espresso set

Another great option with rave reviews for reliability is the GSI MiniEspresso. This efficient stovetop espresso maker is ideal for those who prefer a morning cup small and strong. Ideal for campers carrying a portable stove, the nifty contraption can brew a double shot in just 90 seconds. It also comes with a handy double-wall stainless steel cup.

MiiR Moka Pot

MiiR isn’t reinventing the wheel with this Moka Pot. Rather, it’s perfecting it. The pot works seamlessly, and the brand behind it is representative of the new generation of climate-conscious shoppers. MiiR is certified Climate Neutral, a certified B Corporation, and a 1 percent for the Planet member. The pot is made with non-corrosive stainless steel and post-consumer recycled components and works well at home or when camping or #vanlifing. It heats up quickly on a JetBoil or other campstoves (or a campfire) and makes about four single-shot espresso servings, and due to its efficient percolation, you can make two rounds in less than 20 minutes at a campsite, once the flame is going. The pot comes apart and cleans easily, including getting the coffee grounds out. You can feel good about supporting this brand. And you should — a dollar spent with MiiR is a dollar going in the right direction.

Tim Wenger Matador Network, Transactional Content Editor

Price: $59.95

Bialetti Moka Espress

Photo: Bialetti

I’ve been a die-hard fan of Bialetti for over a decade. And that’s how long I’ve used my Moka Espress on a daily basis. I don’t leave home without it and even keep a second at my parent’s house to save me from instant coffee hell. Bialetti is famed for durability and Italian craftsmanship. The design is simple. It has three main components: the bottom chamber for water, the middle chamber for ground coffee, and the top chamber where the brewed coffee ends up. The only small drawback for travel is that you need to clean it out properly to avoid any residue coffee dripping into your luggage.

Price: $38.28

MSR WindBurner windproof camping and backpacking stove system

The MSR WindBurner is a versatile, efficient, and reliable stove system ideal for those who like to pack light and want to brew coffee in the great outdoors. As a boiler, you can also use it for whipping up quick meals. The key feature of the MSR WindBurner is its windproof radiant burner and pressure regulator. These components allow the stove to maintain performance even in windy and cold weather, resulting in faster boil times and more efficient fuel usage than conventional stoves. Overall, the MSR WindBurner is a great all-rounder. My fiancé and I have used ours in very challenging weather conditions in Scotland, and it’s never let us down.

Price: $139.92

Trinity Zero portable coffee press

The Trinity Zero is a fantastic portable coffee press. It’s not only a beautifully designed piece of equipment, but it delivers on its promise of a delicious, rich cup of coffee. It uses a unique pressure method to extract flavor from the coffee grounds. While it may take a bit of practice to perfect your brew, and the price point is slightly high, the end result is well worth it. And it looks neat, too.

Price: $49.95

GSI insulated French press travel coffee mug

As a frequent camper, I’m a huge fan of the ultralight French Press from GSI Outdoors.

I actually don’t mind instant coffee — but if I can have something better, I’ll take it. And the GSI makes great coffee; I’ve even used it at home when our power goes out. It’s also ideal for couples or groups camping together when you don’t want to make each cup of coffee individually, especially as that can require carrying quite a few individual packets. And since it only weighs 10 ounces (just over half a pound), it doesn’t add much to your bag weight, especially since you only need one for the whole group.

Another big perk to the French press is the insulated cover. It keeps your coffee warm for quite some time after it’s made, which comes in handy when you have friends waking up and crawling out of their tents at different times. It also means you aren’t constantly boiling water one cup at a time.

Of course, the most obvious perk is that you don’t have to settle for pre-packaged coffee. You can bring your own preferred beans from home (just make sure to grind them ahead of time), ensuring you can have on the trail the same high-end coffee you’d make at home. And for coffee snobs, that can be the difference between a good morning or a great morning out on the trail.

For under $40, I genuinely think the GSI French Press is a great gift for any coffee-loving campers — or just anyone who doesn’t want to settle for cold, watered-down instant coffee when they wake up in the great outdoors.

Suzie Dundas Matador Network, Outdoor and Assigning Editor

ESPRO P0 Ultralight

Photo: ESPRO

This is an everyday press suitable for all kinds of travel, especially commutes and road trips. The P0 Ultralight is vacuum-insulated and made from stainless steel, so it keeps beverages hot for long periods. It can make up to 12 oz of coffee and holds 16 oz when the filters are removed. There are seven color combinations to choose from including a stylish matte black, brushed stainless steel, and cranberry.

Yeti coffee travel mug

Photo: Suzie Dundas

Whenever I travel, I always carry a reusable travel mug, and the Yeti travel coffee mug (sometimes called a tumbler) is a great pick. I always carry it on camping trips as I like my coffee quite hot, and there’s not exactly a microwave in the backcountry if your coffee gets cold. It also is wide enough to work as a bowl for oatmeal or other meals. I generally am big into counting ounces when I backpack, but the Yeti travel coffee mug is worth the wait.

Importantly, it’s also great for travel, especially considering how quickly those cardboard coffee cups they leave in hotel rooms can make your coffee room temperature. I like the tumbler size as it’s small enough to fit under a hotel room coffee maker (taller ones sometimes aren’t), and it’s extremely easy to clean. Many of the mugs have a magnetic slider to open and close the opening (which comes in fun colors ), and since it’s magnetic, it’s easy to pop on and off and clean on a daily basis in a hotel sink. I’ve used taller mugs with more complicated opening mechanisms and after a few days, coffee junk can build up, requiring intense scrubbing. Not so with the Yeti mugs.

Other things I like about the mug are that it’s small enough to fit in most purses or bags once you’ve finished your coffee, it comes in a ton of fun colors (and can be customized), is available with a handle, is priced starting at a very reasonable $20 for the handleless Yeti travel mug , and is dishwasher safe. Oh, and it keeps coffee hot for a good four to six hours. Yeti also has a Rambler buy back program to help keep your old gear out of landfills, which makes me feel better about supporting the generally pretty eco-conscious brand.

Price: $25.00

Single-cup travel coffee dripper

Miir pourigami single-cup travel coffee dripper.

The award-winning MiiR Pourigami is hailed as the world’s smallest, most durable, portable travel coffee dripper, capable of fitting in your back pocket. It is constructed from three stainless steel interlocking panels, which are easy to assemble and disassemble. The dripper can brew a 10 oz cup of coffee at a time, making it ideal for personal use and ensuring a fresh cup each time. It’s also super easy to clean and includes a case for easy storage.

Price: $29.95

Hario V60 metal coffee dripper

Photo: Hario

The Hario V60 Metal Coffee Dripper is a cone pour-over brewer that has been meticulously designed to control the flow, timing, and temperature of the water during coffee brewing. This results in a balanced extraction of the coffee flavors. It’s made of lightweight material, which offers excellent thermal conductivity. This feature allows for a quick and efficient warm-up during the brewing process, ensuring that your coffee is brewed at the optimal temperature. This is an excellent selling point considering many other products in this bracket cannot keep the beverage hot enough, especially if you add cream.

Price: $28.50

Sea to Summit X-Brew collapsible camping coffee dripper

The most striking feature of this coffee dripper is its collapsible design. It folds down flat, making it incredibly convenient for backpacking or traveling. Despite its lightweight and compact nature, the X-Brew does not compromise on the brewing capacity. It can brew up to two cups of coffee at a time, which is enough for most camping situations.

Price: $19.95

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BEST TRAVEL COFFEE MUG TO RELY ON DURING YOUR FUN TRIPS

• Author: Julia Bobak
• Edited By: Jovana Durovic
• Last Updated: April 6, 2024

Fact Checked

• Why Trust Homegrounds?

Julia Bobak

Julia is a west coast canada-based professional coffee specialist who has spent nearly a decade immersed in the world of coffee research and professional brewing. she loves trail running, rock climbing, coffee, food, and her tiny dog — and writing about all of them. she starts every morning with a fresh americano from her home espresso machine, or she doesn’t start it at all., best travel coffee mug to rely on during your fun trips.

The best travel coffee mug should have excellent insulation, a spill-proof lid, and a comfortable grip.

A great travel mug is a must for any coffee drinker on the go. There’s nothing worse than brewing a perfect cup only to spill it during the morning commute or find it’s gone cold before your first sip.

At A Glance:

• TOP PICK: Zojirushi Travel Mug
• BEST INSULATED COFFEE MUG: Stanley Travel Mug
• BEST FOR THE CAR: Hydro Flask Insulated Tumbler

I’ve tried and tested dozens of travel mugs for my coffee, and these are my top picks.

The 8 Best Travel Mugs Of 2024

Here’s an overview of my favorite travel mugs this year, from heavy-duty models that mimic thermoses to barista-friendly takeaway cups.  Overwhelmed by options? I’ve included a helpful guide below with some tips to help you find the best travel mug for your needs. If you prefer to savor your morning brew at home, check out my picks for the best coffee mugs .

1. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

• Lid type: Leak-proof flip-open lid with safety lock
• Available sizes: 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 6 hours
• Dishwasher safe: No

The Zojirushi insulated travel mug is a good all-rounder that will satisfy the most discerning users. I use mine for everything. It’s equally at home in the cup holder of my car, tossed in my backpack, or strapped to my bike.

The Zojirushi is my top pick because of how well it combines usability with heat retention – two things that don’t always go hand in hand.

The double-wall vacuum insulation and lockable leak-proof lid keep my coffee toasty warm right from morning brewing to mid-afternoon break, while the flip-top lid makes it operable with one hand.

Let’s talk more about that awesome lid. It consists of two parts that can be easily dissembled for deep cleaning. When you flip the lid to drink, there is a small opening, perfect for careful sipping and keeping heat inside. But if you unscrew the lid, you’re left with a wide opening for easy cleaning and adding ice cubes, making this my pick as the best travel mug for iced coffee too. I’ve enjoyed cold coffee a full 24 hours after brewing!

The Zojirushi mug is available in three sizes and a variety of fun colors ( 1 ). I particularly appreciate the 12-ounce option, as many competitor brands don’t offer anything that small. Its durable build is backed by a 5-year warranty.

2. Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Mug

• Lid type: Leak-proof trigger-action lid
• Available sizes: 16 oz, 20 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 8 – 10 hours
• Dishwasher safe: Yes

I took this Stanley One-Hand Mug when I went camping last June. The Stanley brand heavily markets in the outdoor space, so this seemed like an appropriate test for their best-selling travel mug. Overall, I was impressed with its quality and durability, earning it a place on this list ( 2 ).

The Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug resembles the larger Stanley Classic thermoses. While it can’t quite match its big brothers for heat retention, it’s far more practical for backcountry travel. 

It’s easy to operate one-handed, so I could drink on the go without losing pace. And its stainless steel build is surprisingly lightweight, so I never felt burdened on long hikes. The leakproof lid means no messy spills, even when it jostled around in my pack.

Most importantly, the Stanley coffee travel mug kept my drink hot all day – literally. I brewed a cup in the morning, drove to the trailhead, hiked in and set up camp, and then enjoyed a still-warm cup about 9 hours later. I found it really helped to preheat the mug with boiling water to maximize heat retention.

It’s a great option if you don’t feel like packing in a camp stove but still want to end the day with a hot drink. A cozy tea or hot chocolate would be equally wonderful.

3. Hydro Flask Travel Mug

• Lid type: Closeable press-In lid
• Available sizes: 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz, 28 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 4 hours

I’m a big fan of my Hydro Flask water bottle, so it comes as no surprise that their basic coffee tumbler is just as well-made and enjoyable to use. There is nothing fancy here, just a functional insulated mug from a great brand at a reasonable price.

The Hydro Flask Coffee Tumbler is a perfect option for car commuters. It comes in four sizes, from a modest 12 ounces to a behemoth 28 ounces of coffee for those folks who need a half pot to get moving, and all four are shaped to fit most car cup holders.

The lid is snug but not entirely leakproof, which is another reason I prefer it for the car. It won’t make a mess if you hit a rogue pothole, but don’t toss it in your bag unless you want coffee-scented everything. 

If you’re looking for a Hydro Flask for a more rough-and-tumble adventure, pair any of their wide mouth bottles with the watertight flex sip lid.

You lose heat a little faster than with the thermos-style mugs on this list, but you still have plenty of insulation to get you through the morning commute and then some. In our tests, it kept coffee warm for about 4 hours, while cold drinks stayed cold as long as 10 hours when packed with ice.

The Hydro Flask comes in a huge assortment of colors, so it’s a great way to express your style. The exterior powder coating is super durable. I’ve been running my bottle through the dishwasher for years without a scratch. 

• Lid type: Splashproof press fit lid
• Available sizes: 6 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 30 minutes

The KeepCup is unique on this list as the only glass travel mug and the only non-insulated mug. It’s not designed to keep your drink hot for hours or survive an off-road adventure. Rather, these glass cups were created as an environmentally friendly alternative to the ubiquitous paper, plastic, and styrofoam to-go cups ( 3 ).

KeepCup users divert millions of disposable cups from landfill every day, and through their actions inspire others to do the same.

The target demographic is people who regularly get their caffeine fix from a café. It’s a barista standard coffee cup designed to fit under the group head of most commercial espresso machines, and its four sizes correspond with traditional coffee shop cups – x-small (6 oz), small (8 oz), medium (12 oz), and large (16 oz).

The KeepCup is made from durable tempered glass, a splash-proof BPA-free plastic lid, and a heat-proof cork or silicone grip. The single layer of glass won’t keep your coffee hot for hours, though it is a step up from a paper takeaway cup. Mine stays warm for about 30 minutes, depending on the temperature outside.

The most fun thing about KeepCups is that if you buy directly from the company, you can create your own personalized coffee travel mug. The design is totally modular, and you can choose from dozens of fun colors for the lid, stopper, and band. That same modular design means that if you lose or break a part of your cup, you can replace it without buying a brand-new one.

5. Yeti Rambler Mug

• Lid type: Spill-proof MagSlider press-on lid
• Available sizes: 14 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 5 hours

I test and review many coffee mugs for this job. Many are excellent and some are terrible, but rarely does a mug truly surprise me. The Yeti Rambler has the first magnet-operated lid I’ve ever encountered, and that alone was enough to make me sit up and take notice.

Yeti needs no introduction in the insulated gear space. The brand is renowned for fantastic coolers, thermoses, and mugs. 

This Yeti coffee travel mug comes in several shapes and sizes – not to mention about 20 different colors – but I’m particularly partial to the wide-mouthed 14-ounce mug. 

It’s a practical size and weight for travel, and when I’m out camping, it easily doubles as an insulated bowl for oatmeal or ramen noodles.

The handle is great for maintaining a comfortable grip, especially with my smaller hands. But an overlooked benefit is that a mug with a handle is easy to clip to the outside of my hiking pack with a carabiner. Just keep in mind that makes it unsuited to most cup holders. You might prefer the Yeti Rambler Travel Tumbler if you’re a car commuter.

The patented MagSlider lid is very effective at preventing spills, but it’s not 100% leakproof, so don’t stow it in your pack if it’s full of coffee. That lack of seal limits the insulation efficiency of this mug a little, but I still get about 5 hours of hot coffee from mine.

6. Fellow Carter Move Mug

• Lid type: Leak-proof screw-on lid
• Available sizes: 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 12 hours

The Fellow Carter is a mug with a cult following among coffee nerds, and having tested it myself, I understand why. Its high price tag won’t appeal to all users, but if you take coffee seriously and spend good money on specialty beans, this mug was designed with you in mind.

Most travel mugs prioritize insulation and durability. While these are worthwhile goals, this focus means that coffee quality and an enjoyable drinking experience are often overlooked. Not so at Fellow.

The Carter Move Mug has a ceramic interior to avoid any off flavors from metal or plastic as it ages. And they tapered the double-wall design towards the lip to make drinking more comfortable.

That doesn’t mean they overlooked everything else. This mug doesn’t leak and keeps coffee hot the longest of any mug I tested , provided you don’t open it. If kept sealed, your coffee will still be warm 12 hours later. But because you need to completely remove the top of the mug to drink, your coffee will cool much faster if you’re constantly sipping.

Fellow addressed this complaint by designing new lids, which you have the option to buy separately. The slide-lock lid is fully leakproof but can be operated one-handed for drinking. This modular design is becoming increasingly popular, and I love it. It expands the versatility of your mug without forcing you to buy more than one.

Fellow gear is reliably beautiful, and the Carter Move Mug is no exception. It’s available in a variety of lovely matte colors, and you can even customize it with a bespoke personal engraving. Its slim frame fits nicely in most cup holders.

7. Espro P1 Travel Press

• Lid type: Screw-on leak-proof lid
• Available sizes: 12 oz
• Coffee stays hot for: 4 – 6 hours

If I’m being entirely honest, I have mixed feelings about French press travel mugs. They have an inescapable design flaw. The ground coffee and hot water stay in contact the entire time you’re drinking – as opposed to the typical 3 to 5 minutes for brewing coffee. Every coffee press mug eventually produces over-extracted coffee.

However, I appreciate their convenience. A French press mug is likely the easiest and least messy way to brew on the go, so I definitely wanted to include one on this list. While somewhat pricey, the Espro P1 is by far the best of any I tried.

The dual micro-mesh filters and silicone seal around the plunger do an above-average job of avoiding over-extraction and the resulting bitter coffee. You can even add a paper filter between the two mesh filters for a cleaner cup.

The Espro P1 Coffee Travel Press can keep your coffee hot for 4 to 6 hours, but I’d recommend enjoying your brew within the first 2 hours for the most delicious cups. This is a big step up from cheaper French press mugs I’ve tried, which start tasting bitter after about 15 minutes.

It’s also worth mentioning the Espro’s sleek modern design, available in four finishes: brushed stainless steel, matte white, matte black, and matte grey. It doesn’t have the bulky look of many coffee press travel mugs. In fact, you’d never guess it was a brewer just by looking at it.

8. Contigo West Loop Mug

• Lid type: Leak-proof auto-lock with push button
• Dishwasher safe: Lid only

The Contigo Autoseal West Loop is the perfect basic stainless steel travel mug for coffee. It has a sleek design, affordable price tag, and leak-proof seal. 

The insulation doesn’t quite match more premium options like the Zojirushi, but it keeps my coffee warm for about 5 hours – plenty of time to survive rush-hour traffic and power me through until my morning coffee break.

The best feature of this Contigo Coffee Travel Mug is the Autoseal lid, especially if you’re the klutzy type prone to spilling coffee on your keyboard (speaking from experience). You have to press the button to drink; the default mode is closed. So there is no way to accidentally spill. 

Plus, the button can be locked so it won’t leak if you accidentally press it tossing it in a bag. It’s a clever system for such a bargain-priced cup!

The West Loop travel mug is sized to fit car cup holders, and the one-handed operation makes it an obvious choice for drivers. But with its durable steel build and leakproof design, there’s really nowhere this mug can’t go. 

I only wish they would offer it in a smaller 12-ounce size. It always flusters the barista when I ask for a small coffee in a large mug.

How To Choose The Best Coffee Mug For Travel

A good coffee mug can really brighten up your day. It’s a small luxury to brew coffee just the way you like and enjoy it on the go. It’s also a lot more affordable than regularly getting takeaway and considerably better for the environment.

What is the best insulated travel mug? That depends on exactly how you plan to use it. Here are the most important things to consider.

Insulation And Heat Retention Are Crucial

Good insulation is a key asset in a travel coffee mug if you don’t plan to drink your coffee right away. Many good travel coffee mugs use the same working principles as coffee thermoses, relying on vacuum insulation ( 4 ).

A stainless steel vacuum-insulated travel mug or tumbler has two walls with a layer of vacuum between them. Since a vacuum does not conduct heat, there is no path for the heat to escape (or for cold drinks to warm up). Mugs with this design are more expensive but will keep your drink hot for up to 12 hours.

Not everyone needs extremely high heat retention. If you just want a travel cup to enjoy hot and cold drinks on a short commute, there’s no reason to invest in an expensive double-walled thermos for coffee .

Lids: Spill Proof Vs. Leak Proof

Let’s talk about lids. Every travel mug has a lid. I would argue that’s what distinguishes it from a standard coffee mug. But the type of lid can vary, and the right style for you depends on where you want to take your coffee.

A leak-proof lid is completely secure. You can toss your mug in your backpack or flip it upside down without making a mess. They’re great for camping and adventures as they also tend to have longer-lasting heat retention due to their better seal. 

In comparison, a mug with a spill-proof or splash-proof lid should be kept upright. It closes to prevent spills, but it isn’t watertight. These mugs are great for car commuting or sipping at your desk.

Another consideration is how the lid operates. If you plan to sip a piping hot beverage during your morning commute by car or bike, something you can operate one-handed is the best bet. You don’t want to be driving your car with your knees while using two hands to unscrew your coffee mug!

How Much Coffee Do You Drink?

It’s important to size your coffee mug to your needs. If you like to brew a whole pot of coffee to guzzle down before noon, you’ll probably be frustrated with a tiny travel cup – even if it’s more convenient to carry. On the other hand, there’s no need to lug around a big, heavy, and expensive thermos if you like sipping more modest amounts of coffee and tea. 

Find the right travel mug size that balances being comfortable to carry and meeting your caffeination needs.

Cleaning And Longevity

Travel mugs are relatively affordable compared to a lot of coffee gear, but you still want something that’s going to last. Again, the way you plan to use your mug should dictate your choice.

Keeping your mug clean will extend its lifetime, so if you’re not a fan of handwashing, opt for a dishwasher-safe design. Personally, I prefer a dishwasher-safe mug for drinking coffee with milk, when a thorough cleaning is more crucial. For black coffee, I’ll just rinse my mug with hot water, then give it a more thorough clean once a week to avoid coffee stains.

The durability of your mug is crucial if you plan to use it for rougher travel – like backcountry adventures – or if you’re just clumsy. Opt for stainless steel if you need a mug that can take a beating. On the other hand, a glass, glass-lined, or ceramic-lined mug is perfectly fine for car commuting ( 5 ). 

Ceramic drinking vessels are very popular…They also have no impact on the flavor of the liquid within, which makes them ideal for coffee.

Some people prefer to avoid mugs with stainless steel interiors because they will eventually degrade with exposure to coffee acids, giving their brew a noticeable metallic taste. In my experience, this takes many years of use.

The Verdict

All of the travel mugs included on this list are solid options, and you should make your final choice based on your personal preferences and needs. My pick for the absolute best travel mug for coffee this year is the Zojirushi Travel Mug. This all-arounder keeps my drinks hot for at least half a day, and I love its one-handed operation, leak-proof design, and sleek style.

What is the difference between a travel mug and a thermos?

The difference between a travel mug and a thermos is that a thermos is always insulated and leakproof. It usually keeps hot or cold drinks at the right temperature for longer than a travel mug. However, there is plenty of crossover between the two categories. Many of the best coffee travel mugs are essentially just small thermoses for coffee or tea.

What is the best mug to keep coffee hot?

The best mug to keep drinks hot is one with double-wall vacuum insulation and a leak-proof screw-on lid ( 6 ). These designs prevent nearly all heat transfer, which keeps the heat in your coffee from flowing into the surroundings. Of the mugs we tested, the Fellow Carter Move is the travel mug that keeps drinks hot the longest. Alternatively, you can buy a heated coffee travel mug like the Ember Travel Mug, but I think it offers poor value for money.

What is the best material for a coffee mug?

The best material for a coffee mug depends on your preferences. Ceramic and glass are ideal for home use, with good thermal properties and no unwanted odors or tastes. Double-wall stainless steel is the best choice for travel mugs thanks to its excellent insulation and durability.

• Doorn, G., Dianne Wuillemin, & Charles Spence. (2014, November 25). Does the colour of the mug influence the taste of the coffee? Retrieved from https://flavourjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2044-7248-3-10
• ABC News. (2023, November 20). Woman’s Stanley tumbler survived a car fire – Now the company is giving her free cups and a new ride. Retrieved from https://abc7.com/stanley-cup-fire-tumblers-viral-tiktok-videos/14082972/
• Sprudge Staff. (2020, September 11). Seed To Cup Podcast: Abigail Forsyth of KeepCup. Retrieved from https://sprudge.com/seed-to-cup-podcast-abigail-forsyth-of-keepcup-169533.html
• Andal, J. (2019, January 09). How a Thermos Works – Physics of Heat Transfer. Retrieved from https://futurism.com/physics-thermos-heat-transfer
• Kanniah, JC. (2020, August 25). Do Different Materials Affect The Flavour Of Your Coffee? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/08/do-different-materials-affect-the-flavour-of-your-coffee/
• Does a double walled glass mug really keep the liquid warm? (2012, October 17). Retrieved from https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/27868/does-a-double-walled-glass-mug-really-keep-the-liquid-warm

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The Best Travel Mug

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).

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.

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.

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.

Further reading

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.

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.

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!

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.