Best Travel Coffee Mug (Review) in 2022

For many of us, our coffee or tea is a non-negotiable part of our morning routine. We may even have a refill (or three) before the day is over. During the most rushed mornings, it’s nice to know that our morning brew can come with us when we hit the road. We also can’t imagine taking a road trip without a trusty travel coffee mug to keep us going.

Don’t trust your coffee—or your car’s interior—to flimsy paper take-out cups, and don’t bother with normal ceramic mugs that spill more than they hold and crack every time you hit a pothole. Invest in a quality travel coffee mug, and you’ll get your money’s worth. You might even wonder how you ever lived without one. Check out the top options below.

Best Overall

Thermos Stainless King 16 Ounce Travel Mug

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Best Value

Copco Acadia

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Honorable Mention

S'well Stainless Steel Travel Mug

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Benefits of Travel Coffee Mugs

Boost morale. On cold winter commutes and hours-long road trips, a little warmth and a little caffeine (or a lot) can go a long way in making rush hour traffic and long stretches of open road bearable, or even enjoyable. Being able to pack along a little bit of paradise can be an incredible morale boost no matter where the road leads.
Convenient. Travel mugs are incredibly convenient to keep on hand. Everyone hates drive-through drink holders, and when circumstances permit, a mug can be a drink’s one and only home on the road.
Healthy and eco-friendly. Travel mugs make for a healthier environment and a healthier you. Unlike their disposable paper cousins from the coffee shop, mugs are almost always BPA-free, and they don’t have to end up in a landfill.

Types of Travel Coffee Mugs

Vacuum-Insulated

Most travel coffee mugs available today are vacuum-insulated, and whether made of metal or plastic, they do a great job of temperature preservation. These mugs require a special manufacturing process that is designed to remove most or all of the air between the mug’s interior walls. A full vacuum seal will cost more to accomplish, but the end product will have an incredible ability to retain a drink’s temperature. Unfortunately, the stresses of a dishwasher can sometimes break the vacuum’s seal, and since air conducts heat much better than nothing, the insulation’s effectiveness will be significantly reduced.

Single-Walled

While quite a bit more uncommon than vacuum-insulated mugs, single-walled mugs do exist. These travel mugs usually consist of ceramic which is virtually incapable of allowing the creation of a vacuum. While these mugs may not retain heat nearly as long as their competitors and usually are quite fragile, their cozy factor is through the roof, making them a favorite for coffee and tea drinkers looking to take a little taste of home on the road with them.

Top Brands

Bubba

Bubba Brands was launched in 1997 to provide drinkware for people on the go, starting with the original Bubba Keg. Since then, the Chicago-based company has expanded to producing mugs, tumblers, bottles, and more in a wide variety of colors and styles.

Contigo

Contigo was started in Chicago with a focus on providing beverageware for average, everyday people. Today, Contigo maintains a U.S. headquarters in High Point, N.C., and creates water bottles, travel mugs, and more while introducing innovative ways to improve the performance of these everyday products.

Ello

Chicago-based Ello specializes in creating drinkware, food storage containers, and related accessories for on-the-go, eco-conscious consumers. Ello uses a variety of different materials, many from natural sources, to eliminate consumer reliance on single-use products in their everyday lives.

S’well

S’well was founded in 2010 by Sarah Kauss with the goal of eliminating single-use plastic bottles. Today, this New York-based company provides consumers with reusable food and drink containers designed to make the world a better place.

Stanley

In 1913, William Stanley, Jr. created the first vacuum-insulated steel bottle, a staple in today’s world. Whether outdoors or at the office, Stanley products are everywhere, as this Seattle-based manufacturer now produces mugs, flasks, food storage containers, coolers, and even camp cookware in addition to Mr. Stanley’s original invention.

Swig Life

Swig Life has been a different kind of bottle maker since its inception in 2017. Tracee Mathes launched this line of bottles in her native Richmond, Va., with the goal of creating a female-friendly insulated bottle option. Swig’s line of bottles, mugs, tumblers, and more was designed with “the busy mom, girl on the go, or boss lady” in mind.

Thermos

Thermos has been producing vacuum-insulated flasks and more since 1907 when William B. Walker saw the potential for the European glass-in-steel thermos design. While originally founded in Brooklyn, N.Y., Thermos now resides in Schaumburg, Ill., yet the company still produces countless vacuum-insulated products to keep Americans fed and hydrated.

Yeti

Based in Austin, TX, Yeti Coolers has been in the business of temperature-preserving containers since 2006. The original Yeti cooler was designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor adventurers and everyday users. Since the first cooler came out, Yeti has expanded its line of tough, durable products to include coolers, drinkware, bags, and other gear for outdoor enthusiasts.

Travel Coffee Mug Pricing

Under $20: Mugs in this price range are great starter options and will do a great job on the morning commute. They are usually leak-resistant but not leak-proof.
$20 and Above: These mugs usually will keep beverages hot (or cold) for much longer periods of time and may include some incredibly convenient or ingenious features, such as spill-proof lids.

Key Features

Construction Materials

Travel mugs can be constructed from a variety of materials. Stainless steel mugs usually strike a good balance between a light weight, durability, and insulation, but they are prone to denting and can create a metallic taste in hot beverages. Plastic is lightweight and insulates fairly well, but not as well as vacuum-insulated stainless steel. Ceramic mugs are fragile and comparatively poor insulators, but unlike the others, they cannot impart any undesirable flavors.

Spill and Leak Resistance

Lid design is a key feature of any travel mug. Inexpensive mugs are leak-resistant and splash-proof, but most are not truly leak-proof. While eradicating spills may not be entirely possible, more expensive mugs often have a lid that eliminates normal leaks and spills. In addition to a seal between the cup and the lid itself, these lids usually have a rubber or silicone seal integrated into the drinking spout cover as well.

Other Considerations

Intended Use. When purchasing a travel coffee mug, make sure to know its intended use. Imagine starting a 12-hour road trip with a coffee mug that retains heat for only an hour or two. While such a mug might be perfect for the morning commute, it certainly won’t hack it on the road. Road trip-friendly mugs may be a bit more expensive, but four hours down the road, they more than earn their keep.

Best Travel Coffee Mug Reviews & Recommendations 2021

Tips

To increase heat conservation, preheat mugs before filling them. Pour hot or boiling water into the mug and seal it for at least five minutes. Then, replace the water with hot coffee or tea.

FAQs

Q. What is the best travel mug for coffee?

A: The best travel coffee mugs are usually stainless steel with vacuum insulation; however, these work best when they have been preheated. To do this, fill the mug with hot water and seal it closed, then wait at least five minutes before replacing it with coffee or tea.

Q. Which travel mug keeps coffee hot the longest?

A: Stainless steel travel mugs with vacuum insulation usually conserve heat extremely well, but for the ultimate insulating mug, look for one with an insulated lid and a true vacuum seal. These can be difficult to find and expensive, but they are impossible to beat.

Q. Can I take a coffee mug on an airplane?

A: Believe it or not, coffee mugs are allowed on airplanes with one caveat: they must be empty before passing through TSA security checkpoints. Once past security, feel free to fill up with a cup of joe. Just make sure not to spill any on your seatmate to avoid any unpleasantries.

Final Thoughts

Coffee and tea enthusiasts looking for a sturdy mug for that morning commute will find a great option in the Thermos Stainless King 16 Ounce Travel Mug. For those looking for a less expensive option with a coffee shop vibe, it’s impossible to go wrong with the Copco Acadia.