So can we talk mugs? I tend to make a half liter (~17 oz) of coffee in a French Press in the morning. I run into the problem that I get about a half hour to 45 minutes (I’ve never timed it this number might be wildly off) in before the, “Crap! Its getting cold!” moment and feel like I have to accelerate my consumption to avoid cold coffee when I’d prefer to keep going at a leisurely pace. I realize the most obvious solution is a couple of smaller batches but I’m lazy, easily distracted, and have a bit of a cutoff in the morning as my wife hates the smell of freshly brewed coffee and I catch a bit of drama if I’m brewing while she’s awake or just before she wakes up.
I do have a Contigo Autoseal stainless steel travel mug that I use occasionally for cheap tea and it works well for retaining heat. I can sip on hot tea for hours but the lid has all sorts of nooks and crannies that retain coffee oils that is a pain in the ass to clean and it has a very small drink hole limits the orthonasal olfactory pathway (aka you can’t sniff your coffee). The ability to take my drink somewhere is kinda nice but strictly speaking isn’t critical for me.
So anyone mind sharing their experiences with features or even specific recommendations? Don’t worry about if it is available in the US (where I’m located) I can always look at the features your favorite insulated or travel mug so it can still be handy to share. Or you may have a solution so elegant and obviously I’m going to facepalm when you point it out.
Overdue Update: I ended up going with a Carter Move and I’m quite happy with it. I appreciate everyone who gave me ideas and things to think about.
I’ve been through more than I can count. But this one by Zojirushi (yep, the rice cooker guys), which I’ve had for the past 10 years, is the best by far. Keeps liquids piping hot or ice cold for 8+ hours, I put the whole thing in the dishwasher (bottle on the bottom, top/plastic pieces on top, and it has never leaked. I recommend it to anyone who asks!
I’ve gone through a lot of travel mugs, but I also have been most impressed with Zojirushi to the point that it’s the only one I’ve used for the last 10 years and also recommend to everyone
+1 for this recommendation! I’ve had my zojirushi travel mug for over 8 years and I still love it. It’s super thin and lightweight but keeps my coffee just as hot as it was when I poured it all day long. If I’m just sitting at my desk I’ll unscrew the lid to drink it, still stays hot and you can get the olfactory side of things.
I like the look of the lid, the wider opening and the ability to disassemble it more than my Contigo looks like it’ll help with two my issues with my current mug. I think I’ll be throwing it onto the list to check for holiday sales.
My Zoujirushi is actually so good that I need to cool down my coffee before I put it in since it stays way too hot even later in the day.
Love my zojirushi rice maker and I have one of their giant thermoses which is amazing, but I also have this model and my warning is that if you have a giant nose like me the nipple will bonk into your nose when using this and also that cleaning isn’t bad, but it’s also not the easiest as far as mugs go. If pure heat rente ion is your goal, this is the one, but I prefer a. Ceramic mug with a simple silicon sealed lid for daily use and throw it in the dishwasher when I want to.
I’m a big fan of the Fellow Carter Move mugs. They definitely keep coffee hot (or cold) for quite some time. I actually have to cool off my freshly brewed coffee before I put it in the mug if I want to drink it in without waiting a long time. There are a few lid options, but I’ve found that the standard lid and slide lid keep temperature the best. There’s also several sizes available, though the 20oz is listed as a cold mug, it’ll work with the hot lids.
I realize I sound like a shill for the brand, but I just really like the mugs haha.
Don’t worry about sounding like a shill, if you really like a product you tend to sound that way. I’ll be honest when I saw the Carter Move mug the wide opening with a splash guard instead of some narrow drinking hole caught my attention from a difficulty to clean and smell aspects. Price is the main thing that has held me back, though that is why I’m seeking the collective wisdom of c/coffee because anything over $25 and I start getting more deliberate with my purchases.
They definitely aren’t the cheapest option, that’s for sure. They do their job well, and they don’t leak at all with the standard lid. The wide opening is definitely a very nice feature, it does feel more like drinking from a traditional mug.
One thing to note, and I haven’t experienced this myself, is that some people have reported that the ceramic lining can absorb some unpleasant odors. Though I think that was just the early batches, and has since been fixed.
ojirush
I have read from 8 months old comment on r/coffee that the problem still persist :( I am also kinda eyeing the Fellow Move but cannot decide. Would love to get some mug with ceramic coating as I don’t like the taste of coffee when it is on metal surface… DO you know anything about Frank Green? Seems to make also ceramic coated mugs…
Oh, that is unfortunate. I’m surprised they haven’t fixed it by now.
No, I don’t have any experience with Frank Green products. Hopefully they don’t have the smell issue.
This is my go-to as well. They’re expensive, but the design is well worth it imo. They’re so damn sleek! They have amazing heat retention, and I love the little splash guard they include. I’ve only used the standard lid, but I’d like to try the slide one at some point.
I just can’t stress enough how sexy this thing is. It’s the only Fellow product I can justify splurging on.
The slide lid is really nice, it keeps almost the same heat retention as the standard lid.
Somehow, I’ve justified a lot of Fellow products to myself haha, they are all very well designed and look so good on my counter.
I pretty much exclusively drink out of Yeti drinkware. You can get the specific travel mug which I’m sure is great, but I mostly drink coffee at home and use a more standard style mug.
I also have their rambler cups which are bigger, but you can still put in hot coffee since the outside won’t get hot. Love the Yeti drinkware and managing temperature is super simple. Put the lid on if you want it hot (or cold) for hours or leave it off if you need it to cool off a little quicker. Plus everything being completely dishwasher safe is what I love most. I don’t have to hand wash anything for a nice mug. The only compromise in my opinion is they are expensive, but worth it.
- 10 0z Mug https://a.co/d/5iSF80S
- 14 oz Mug https://a.co/d/18Qyukk
- 20 oz Travel Mug https://a.co/d/ieNYwzA
- 20 oz Tumbler https://a.co/d/4M5qZSv
I hate being a yeti fan boy, but I got a big ole thermos at work made by yeti and yeah you can absolutely fill it with hot coffee, or fill it with water and pop it in the fridge, whatever, and you’ll have a great drink hours later.
I always thought the Yeti obsession was silly, that you were just paying a ton extra for the name, but I recently got a Tumbler and honestly? It’s pretty great
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This 20 oz unit from Hydroflask will keep my coffee warm for hours. Fits in a cup holder, too, which I find many do not.
I’m going to throw you a curve ball and suggest just using the French press to make cold brew coffee. It’s hard to explain the flavor difference between a hot cup of coffee that has gone cold and a cold brew cup that just is that temperature. To me it tastes fresher somehow, more subtle flavors emerge, and it tend to be smoother. I don’t always have time to leisurely drink a cup of hot coffee in the morning. I hate drinking hot beverages when on the go. I’m not a fan of hot coffee that’s gone cold either. Cold brew solved each of those issues for me. Your wife might also appreciate that it doesn’t smell strongly either.
You might get some milage out of looking at the camping end of the market. You can get double walled mugs without lids (or with simple ones) and you are still drastically cutting heat loss even if it isn’t sealed.
You could also get a more traditional flask, just fill it up then pour out into a smaller cup as you need it. You should still be able to get ones with glass inner walls.
That’s a good idea that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg as you are right there are a ton of double walled mugs intended for camping. Or a thermal flask is like thinking to the insulated carafe someone else suggested but has the advantage of portability if I should ever want it.
I’m going to say, for saving money, Ozark Trail from Walmart cannot be beat. I’ve even seen videos and articles putting them head to head against Yeti and coming out the same or better, never worse. Yeti is overpriced as there is nothing whatsoever special about them other than the name and maybe some fancy design work. A double walled vacuum container is the same regardless of whose name is on it.
I’ve used their mugs for years and have never once been disappointed. I’ve had drinks where half or more of the mug was ice and still came back to being ice cold with some ice left the next day. The lids are cheap so if you lose or break one or too much oil gets built up, replacing it will not break the bank. Some of the name brands sell the exact same lid for more than an entire Ozark Trail mug goes for. Don’t fall for their shenanigans.
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if you aren’t in your commute for 45 minutes, have you considered keeping an electric mug warmer at your desk? It usually doesn’t take up much space and it needs a small plug in
A mug warmer would work for my at home drinking which is my primary concern. I’ll have to keep it in mind as I never even considered it for a second.
I’ve had many travel mugs, even the Zojirushi someone posted here. It’s a great mug in that it keeps coffee hot well into the afternoon. However, I find it keeps it too hot, and that I can’t drink directly from it. When I use it now, I use it only as a carrying vessel and pour out some coffee into a regular mug. Also, it’s a bit of a hassle to clean.
Long story long, after probably a dozen travel mugs, I’ve landed on the Yeti Rambler Mug as my favorite and go to. I even bought a universal wide cup holder adapter for my car on Amazon to be able to fit it. The Yeti Rambler is well built, holds the coffee at the perfect temp for me for hours (though I usually drink it within an hour), is easy as shit to clean and easier to operate than any other mug - the magnetic closure is really good.
Thanks for suggesting Yeti. I think in my head I had it pegged as a coolers and cold drink tumblers company but it makes sense that insulation is insulation. I’m looking at the Rambler Mug and I imagine that thing would last forever as there really isn’t anything to have break on it compared to some of the more complex lid and gasket systems some travel mugs are using.
I use a wooden coaster as a lid to keep the heat in. Very cheap and works with all my mugs and cups.
I didn’t see you mention a commute or that it has to for travel - I WFH so the coaster coffee won’t spill! https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/foersegla-coaster-bamboo-20468110/
ha, what a great timing of this post! My wife would like to get my some travel mug as I have been talking about it for several years now (have old leaking keepcup atm) and I was always eyeing Carter Move… BUT I have read in the past that it has some smelling problem which the manufacturer were not able to get rid of. So Does somebody know what is the status? I’d like to have a cup coated with ceramic, as I don’t like the taste of coffee when being drank from metal surface… My second to go seems to be Frank Green cup…
I bought a few Fellow Carter Move mugs in the last 6 months and have no problems with smell. I prefer the ceramic coating inside to the stainless steel of the Zojuroshi, and they’re easier to clean.
BUT I have read in the past that it has some smelling problem which the manufacturer were not able to get rid of.
I know this is quite a bit of a long time to come back to a thread (someone posted a new comment so it has pulled me back) but I find there is a bit of a coffee odor retained even after washing. Nothing rancid or anything but you can tell it gets used as a coffee mug. I find the main culprit is the gasket on the lid. but I’ve found that if I want to make the effort a soak in baking soda water eliminates it but I find when it is full of coffee any new coffee scents aren’t being harmed by the lingering coffee smell. I may just not be very sensitive to such things though.
I’ve been using a 12 oz Yeti mug for years and love it. They also have an 18 oz version. Close the cap, throw it upside down in a bag and never leaks. Dishwasher safe and simple to use. I’d buy another in a heartbeat:Yeti 18 oz mug
I like the lid design. I’m seeing some people complain about the plastic threading wearing down on the lid but I can easily see that being user error (over torquing). Is that something you’ve had any issues with?
We have had 0 issues with it. My wife and I both have one and they get used 5+ times a week, going on a couple of years now.
I have a mighty mug, mostly for the resisting getting knocked over thing, but it keeps cold drinks cold, and hot drinks hot.
I like Zojirushi but had the same “problem” as someone else where the coffee was too hot for too long.
If you have a mug that you like, try instead getting two smaller versions. The fuller the mug, the longer it stays hot. The standby mug would be nice and fresh when you get to it.
Yep, was going to put this recommendation forward. Zojirushi is absolutely best in class.
I threw my Contigo away years ago because the lid collected gunk. I have both a yeti and multiple off brands such as “mossy oak” stainless steel travel mugs. They all perform the same as far as I can tell. The issue is that they retain heat too well. I tend to turn the electric kettle off before it starts boiling. I also add a bunch of milk to my coffee to cool it down so I can actually drink it. You could also tune the temperature with ice cubes or leave the lid off to let it cool if you have time.
I also have a classic green Stanley thermos which keeps things hot for over 12 hours, even if left in the car during the winter.
