Best Travel Mugs in the UK 2022 Buyer’s Guide
Now that we are allowed to do travelling after covid, finding the best quality insulated travel mug to join you on your commute is essential.
Not only are travel mugs a great way to keep your hot drink of choice warm for long hours, but the best reusable cups are also sustainable and far better for the environment.
You need coffee travel mugs to get your day going. If you’re travelling a lot, or you want to take coffee with you without spending money at the coffee shop, you want a travel mug.
You don’t just want a unit that can carry the liquid, though. You also want a mug that can keep hot drinks hot, or cold drinks cold, for an extended period of time.
On top of that, a good mug can be well-insulated, easy to clean, and spill-resistant. That puts it way ahead of traditional paper coffee cups.
When you’re on the go and in a rush, it’s easy to pick up a cheap coffee and chuck the cup away when you’re done. But while it might be convenient, it’s also two other things – bad for the environment and bad for your wallet – which is why you need one of the best travel mugs around.
For a start, if you choose wisely, they look great, can be used over and over again, are good for the environment and can even save you money. Even if you don’t make your drink at home and take it with you, many coffee shops now offer a discount if you bring your own travel cup.
With many of us actually getting back out in the world, there’s never been a better time to buy yourself a reusable coffee cup – and we’ve spent a lot of time brewing brews to try out our picks below.
What you’re looking for is a blend of quality and value. Here, we’ve rounded up the Top 10 coffee travel mugs on the UK market today.
1.
Sophie & Jasmine London Travel Mug
2.
Contigo West Loop Autoseal
3.
720°DGREE Travel Mug
4.
Stanley Classic Trigger Action
5.
Milu Thermo Mug
6.
Zojirushi SM-SC36 Stainless Steel Travel Mug
7.
Le Creuset Stainless Steel Travel Mug
8.
Thermos 185198 Direct Drink Flask
9.
Bodum Vacuum Travel Mug
10.
Beast Tumbler
What do you look for in a travel mug?
Thermal travel mugs are ideal travel companions, but not only! They suit almost any situation – in a car, during a bike trip, in the office… What kind of thermal mug should you choose to satisfy your needs? Check out our short guide on thermal mugs and enjoy your favourite warm beverage even longer!
Temperature Retention
How long do you want your coffee kept warm? Is it a case of the longer the better? Your travel mug should keep your drink hot for an average of about 4 to 6 hours. Cold drinks will stay cold for an average of 12 hours. The exact length of time for each mug, though, depends on how it’s made.
Virtually any travel coffee mug you come across will have some form of insulation. This is critical because those who are on the go will be carrying drinks with them for extended periods of time. You want your coffee or tea to still be hot after leaving it for a few hours.
Most mugs are capable of this, although the quality of insulation varies a bit.
Materials
Stainless steel is a common material for reusable travel cups. It’s great for temperature-sensitive liquids, it’s highly durable, and it’s one of the most recyclable materials for drinkware. Overall, stainless steel is the most sustainable and healthy choice.
Stainless steel maintains your liquid’s desired temperature for long hours. For example, a good quality stainless steel tumbler can keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 6 hours. Steel also won’t “sweat” or have condensation on the outside, so there’s no need for coasters or insulation. You don’t have to worry about a ring of water in your car or on your desk.
How Aesthetics it is:
You want a mug that looks nice, right? The good news is that there are some really stylish designs available now – it is not like the old days of knock-off army equipment!
Some coffee drinkers do not care about the design or look of the mug, while others specifically seek mugs with certain sayings or connections to their favourite shows or books.
You can find plain mugs in a solid colour. There are also mugs with interesting patterns, colourful designs, or whimsical phrases. You can even find coffee mugs shaped like different characters from popular movies and television shows.
Novelty mugs may be fun for drinking coffee in your kitchen. However, they may not always be suitable for use in the workplace, especially when they feature crude humour.
Capacity
Normally, the travel coffee mug size is around 8 – 10 oz as it is considered a good size for your favourite drink. However, the size can be smaller when you enjoy espresso. If you’re a true coffee addict and looking for a larger size, a cup with 11 – 15 oz size will be what you need.
15 – 20 oz travel mugs will allow you to enjoy your favourite drink at an ideal temperature, no matter where you at, In case you need extra stability, consider choosing a travel mug with a handle.
If you plan on using the mug at home, you may not need a large mug with a lid. However, these features may be essential when travelling with a hot cup of coffee in your car.
You should also consider the types of beverages that you prepare. If you tend to mix other ingredients into your coffee, you may need a tall mug to prevent the drink from spilling as you mix it.
The amount of coffee that you drink may also affect your decision. Some people consume entire pots of coffee. The typical 12-cup coffeemaker can make about 58 ounces of coffee while a single serving is considered 6 to 8 ounces.
Lid Type
Lids are also different on coffee travel mugs. Some twist on to help seal in the liquid, while others snap on and off for easy removal. Be prepared for a slightly daunting cleaning experience with some lid designs.
The lid is an important detail if you plan to take the mug outside of your house. Most lids are made from plastic and should be washed after each use.
There are also different types of plastic lids. For example, you can find plastic lids that are see-through. There are also lids that provide a spot for inserting a straw.
Some lids have an opening that slides open, while others have a tab that flips open. The tabs are more prone to accidental spills, especially when the tab becomes worn. Lids with a sliding tab tend to provide a little more protection against spills.
You may also want to determine whether the lid screws or snaps on. A snap-on lid may pop off. However, a screw lid should remain secure, even if you drop the coffee cup.
Handle or No Handle
As well as the dimensions of the mug, the inclusion of a handle will also determine whether a mug fits in the cup holder of your car. A handle will usually prevent a cup from sliding into the holder. If you’re looking for a cup that you can take to work or on a walk or use while camping or having a picnic, a handle might be convenient.
If you’re using the cup while driving, a handle is unlikely to be a good choice, ignoring the fact that a mug without a handle isn’t really a mug.
Is it Leak Proof
Travel mugs often leak because they do not come with a vacuum-insulated lid that seals the top of the cup. This means that although the travel mug looks closed when you travel it can leak liquid which becomes very annoying.
Another reason they can leak is due to cracks appearing in the plastic if the material isn’t very durable. With Greens Steel leakproof travel mugs you will be drinking from a tritan plastic shatterproof lid that is extremely durable so the plastic won’t crack and cause your drink to leak all over you.
If you find that your travel mug is having these kinds of leak issues, it’s recommended to get a new one ASAP. Leaky travel mugs can even be quite dangerous if you’re using one whilst driving and find that it is leaking coffee all over you.
Is it Easy to Clean
Read the label of your travel mug “Hand wash only” or “Dishwasher Safe”
Manual washing may be more convenient for travel mugs as you can clean those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies that a conventional dishwasher cannot reach. Especially the lid of the mug which is a haven for microorganisms.
The best way to manually wash your travel mug is to rinse the mug under hot water straight after drinking to dislodge any stains. First, soak the lid in a mix of hot water and wash up the liquid to loosen any dried liquid. Whilst the lid is soaking clean the travel mug with dish soap and a scrubbing brush.
Make sure to remove any residue from the beverage at the bottom. Then a minute of rinsing will remove all the soapy residue from the lid and the mug itself. Allow the mug and lid to dry separately before screwing the lid back on. If you screw the lid on straight away the lid can hold water, allowing contaminants to lie in the crevices around the inside of the mug.
If you are not sure that all the remaining coffee or tea is removed through routine cleaning, distilled white vinegar and baking powder can be used for a deeper seamless clean. Baking soda is an excellent natural cleaning ingredient. It is a mild abrasive which neutralises odours and causes dirt to dissolve, without damaging the travel mug.
For a deeper clean, first, mix 1 teaspoon of baking powder with 120ml of vinegar. Let the mixture foam in the mug until it subsides. Screw the lid on your travel mug tightly and shake the mixture vigorously. Make sure the cleaning solution coats the inside of the mug. Pour the mixture out and rinse the mug and lid with warm water. Then follow the same instructions for a routine clean and soak the mug in washing-up liquid and warm water. Rinse off the soapy residue and leave the mug and lid to dry separately overnight. Following these tips will leave your travel mug sparkling!
Mouthpiece of the Mug
Another feature that is important to a container being called a mug is that it must be possible to drink directly from it in contrast to a flask which is more often used to hold a drink but to be poured into another container. The mouthpiece of a travel mug is important. It should be sealed when not in use, preventing spills, but it should be easy enough to open and convenient to drink out of. Some are designed to be opened and closed with your thumb, which means that they offer one-handed use. Others are more complicated and might require the use of two hands to open the mouthpiece.
Final Thought
How do you choose the right coffee mug? This depends on your personal needs. If you want a mug for drinking your morning coffee while you get ready for work, consider getting a standard coffee mug made from ceramics. If you need a mug for your commute, ensure that it has a lid and durable material, such as stainless steel.
Besides the features discussed, you may occasionally find extra features. There are coffee mugs that you can plug into a USB port or car charger to keep your beverage hot.
There are also coffee mugs with designs that use batteries to keep your coffee at the same temperature all day. These are more expensive than your average travel cup but if your a purest or plan to be you may want to check it out.
In the end, you may spend hours trying to find the perfect mug. Luckily, you do not need to purchase just one mug. Having a variety of options ensures that you never run out of clean coffee cups and provides you with extras in case one of your mugs breaks.
