If you’re like me and enjoy drinking your morning coffee while commuting to work, you’ll already know the value of a good travel coffee mug.
It’s always worth spending just that little bit more money to get a quality mug or you’ll end up with coffee all through your bag – or arguably worse, cold before you can drink it (eww)
The choice of which mug to buy can be overwhelming, and depending on your type of commute, your travel mug needs will differ.
For example, train and bus commuters carry their mugs inside or attached to their bag, so its extra important the mug seals properly to avoid spillage.
On the other hand, car commuters have the luxury of cup holders, so a mug which fits inside a cup holder and is easy to grip when driving will be important.
What should you consider when searching for the best travel coffee mug:
For me, I look for the following features when buying my travel mugs:
- Vacuum insulated: Your mug needs to keep your hot beverages hot and your cold beverages cold – it’s that simple.
- Vacuum sealed: Proper vacuum seals prevent spillage, no leaking through the lid.
- Leak-proof lid: A low quality lid will allow liquid to leak out when the mug is moved around.
- Washable: Some mugs can be a complete pain when it comes to washing them. Others scratch easily.
- Quality materials: Avoid travel mugs where the lining scratches off, dropping into your drink. It has to be safe (look for BPA-free in particular – see below for further information).
Below I’ve selected 10 of the best travel coffee mugs currently available that conform to my personal commuter requirements.
1. Thermos Stainless King 16-Ounce Travel Tumbler
All-round travel mug
The Thermos Stainless King is a solid all-round travel coffe mug, suitable for carrying in your bag on trains and buses, or in a car’s cup-holders.
A good sized mug size combining vacuum sealing and insulation, it’s a great travel coffee mug if you’re not sure where to start.
Tea-drinkers will love the internal teabag hook also!
- Vacuum sealed to be 100% leak proof
- Vacuum insulation will keep drinks either hot or cold
- Stainless steel interior and exterior in a variety of colors
- Internal teabag hook
- Will stay cool to touch with a hot beveridge
- 16 oz
- Prone to scratching
- Can be difficult to clean around the lid
- No lip on the lid to drink from can make it a tad difficult to find the spout without looking (ie while driving)
2. YETI Rambler 20 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler
One-finger operation
The YETI Rambler travel mug is perfect for the car commuter with its magslider lid which let’s you open and close it with the flick of a finger.
Double insulated and dishwasher safe, it’s constructed from kitchen-grade stainless steel in a large range of stylish colors.
The sweat-free design and tough duracoating prevents both scratching and the mug slipping from your grip. As the lid is not designed to be leak free, I wouldn’t recommend this mug for train commuters unless holding it upright.
- Kitchen grade stainless steel design
- Double wall vacuum insulation
- BPA-free and dishwasher safe
- Easy to open or close with a single finger
- 20 Oz
- Duracoat coating prevents scratching plus offers extra grip
- Not overly suitable for train or bus commuters
3. Jura Outdoor Tumbler
Flip lid or slider provides choice of drinking style
The Jura Outdoor Tumbler provides a light-weight, very comfortable mug option more geared towards car commuters. The multi-lid design means you can either sip it like a traditional coffee, or use the metal straw which comes as part of the package and enjoy colder drinks.
Completely dishwasher safe, this 20oz mug is a good, cheaper option.
- Durable mug designed for outdoors
- Will keep hot drinks hot for up to 6 hours, cold up to 24 hours
- Sleek design with easy grip surface
- Dishwasher friendly, BPA free material
- A great option for colder drinks (ice coffee/smoothies etc)
- 20 oz
- Comes with a metal straw and cleaning brush
- More suited to car commuters as its not designed to be kept on its side
4. YETI Rambler 30 oz Tumbler
Larger travel mug option
Let’s face it – some mornings you just need more coffee and this 30 oz travel coffee mug from YETI is just the ticket!
I’ve been using this particular mug for the past year and it’s been great.
Similar in features to the other YETI mug offering at no.2 – this mug’s main selling point is the fact it can hold 30 ounces of life-saving caffeine making it an awesome large travel coffee mug option 🙂
- Large 30oz size for those rougher mornings
- Magslider lid to lock the liquid in
- Double-insulated stainless steel wall for added durability
- Dishwasher friendly, BPA free
- Larger size will still fit standard cup holders
- Comes in a range of great colors
5. Contigo SNAPSEAL Travel Mug
Affordable
A good cheaper mug is the Contigo snapseal travel mug. Of particular note is the easy grip design which not only feels great in the hand but makes drinking from the mug while in the car a lot safer.
- Snapseal leak proof lid
- One hand operation
- Easy grip design that feels great in the hand
- Range of sizes available -16, 20 and 24 oz (16 oz pictured above)
- Lid is dishwasher safe but the body needs to be hand-washed.
6. MIRA Insulated Travel Car Mug
Easy to use handle when driving
Drinking from a travel mug is a good option when you’re commuting but the sheer design of the mugs doesn’t always compare to the experience of drinking from a normal mug at home.
Until now!
The MIRA insulated travel mug is double-wall vacuum sealed to ensure your coffee stays hotter longer, and with the handle design a pleasure to drink from.
- Double insulation to keep the drink hot or cold for longer
- BPA free lid free of any toxins
- Secure, screw lid keeps the mug leak free with flip-top option also
- Rust proof stainless steel
- Handle design for maximum drinking comfort
- The handle may make it bulkier inside your commuter bag
- Fits in most vehicle cup holders
7. BEAST 20oz Stainless Steel Tumbler
Gift box bundle with cleaning wand and re-usable straws
This fantastic gift box bundle from BEAST is great for either yourself or as a gift for a commuting friend. The set comes with two steel straws and cleaning brushes, a huge range of colors and a 20oz (better for train/bus) or 30oz (car) size.
Couple that with a lifetime and 100% satisfaction guarantee and you basically can’t go wrong.
- Comes with 2 steel straws and cleaning brush
- Air tight lid
- Electro-polished interior to keep it clean and rust free
- Lifetime guarantee or you money back
- Great looking mug in a range of colors, perfect for gifts
- Completely dishwasher safe
- Not recommended to carry inside a bag due to risk of leakage
- Also comes in 30 oz for you large travel coffee mug lovers!
8. Keurig Insulated Coffee Travel Mug
Smaller mug option
Some of us prefer a smaller, cup-size travel mug and this Keurig insulated travel mug fits that bill. This 12oz stainless steel mug is designed exclusively to fit under any Keurig coffee makers, has a non-slip grip and is a good price to match.
- Stainless steel outer wall, plastic inner
- Air tight, flip top lid can be carried in bags
- Good price
- Fits under ALL Keurig coffee machines
- Only the lid is dishwasher safe
- Not the best looking mug (but it does the job!)
- Fits well in most car cup holders
9. S’well Stainless Steel Travel Mug
Super triple wall sealing for maximum insulation
This stainless steel mug by S’well is triple insulated, keeping your hot drinks steaming for a whopping 12 hours, or cold for 24!
If you have a super long commute, this is the mug for you – but if you’re travelling for 12 hours then man, you have other issues!
Ergonomically designed to fit snugly in the hand, and available in a huge range of styles, patterns and colors, this fully featured mug is the perfect addition to your commuter kit.
- Designed to keep beverages cold for a whopping 24 hours, or hot for 12
- Food grade stainless steel construction
- Ergonomic design fits comfortably in the hand
- Comes in a range of styles and sizes
- Accessories sold separately (cleaning brush, staws etc)
- Must be hand washed
10. Corkcicle Coffee Travel Tumbler
Stylish, all-round great travel coffee mug (my favorite)
I left one of the best mugs til last as this is my personal choice for travel coffee mug when driving to work.
Not only does it look stylish as a travel mug, it’s very easy to clean and feels great in the hand. I’m also a fan of the color (though there’s tons of colors to choose from with this mug).
I alternate between using it for coffee, but also for breakfast smoothies in conjunction with a metal straw (which it doesn’t come with).
This coffee mug has served me very well for the past year, but I wouldn’t reccomend it to anyone who wanted to put it inside a bag, it’s not leak proof.
- Triple insulated for maximum temperature control
- Comes in 3 sizes (12, 16 and 24oz)
- Huge range of colors
- Very slick design – great as a gift
- Contoured design makes it easy to grip in the car
- Fits well in most car cup holders
Additional information about BPA free:
What does BPA free actually mean when in reference to a travel mug?
When you choose a travel mug that is BPA free it means it does not use an organic compound known as Bisphenol A in its construction. Bisphenol A is a toxic chemical which has been linked to a variety of reproductive, immunity, and neurological problems in humans.
So my travel mug is guaranteed safe if its BPA free?
Not entirely – as with most products, there are never any guarantees. The key issue with BPA is not only is it harmful to the human body, but it is specifically released when exposed to high temperatures – so obviously not something you want in a travel mug which is specifically used to carry hot beverages!
How do I know my travel mug is made from safe materials then?
In addition to buying one that is BPA-free, it also comes down to common sense.
I suggest the following tips to maintaining a healthy travel coffee mug:
- Regularly clean your travel coffee mug – built up dirt and stains can lead to deterioration.
- Try to avoid unnecessary scratches or damage to the mug itself – particularly the interior. Don’t keep it in your bag alongside objects which might damage it for example.
- If your travel mug is old and getting worn – particularly if you notice the coating beginning to scratch and peel, it might be time to buy a new mug.
- Inspect the mug frequently – when using and cleaning the mug, be on the lookout for deterioration in the lining. If the mug has cracks or scratches, it raises the risk of any harmful chemicals releasing into your drink!
For additional information on BPA – please consult the following article.
And that brings us to the end of our list! Remember – the golden rule with travel mugs is do NOT put them inside your bag unless you’re 100% sure they won’t leak – believe me, I’ve been there!
If you’re still on the hunt for other cool commuter items, check our gifts for commuters.
Happy commuting!
