Best Travel Coffee Mugs: My Top 7 Picks

Let’s face it; in this rushed-up world, we don’t always get the chance to enjoy our favorite brew at leisure. That’s why I decided to come up with this guide to the best travel coffee mugs.

Believe me, I’ve scoured the market for the most stylish, functional and durable travel mug options. It doesn’t matter if you’re on an early morning commute or an adventurous mountain hike. These coffee travel mugs have got the goods! They’ll not only keep your brew hot or iced coffee cold for longer but deliver all the thrills with none of the spills! 

Read on to explore the world of portable java perfection.

Best Travel Coffee Mugs at a Glance

Why Buy a Travel Coffee Mug?

I think the correct question is, why not? Modern day schedules can be crazy busy. Sometimes, we may find ourselves drinking coffee on the go, whether we like it or not. But is this the only reason to get a travel coffee mug? Not by a long shot!

Here are a few more reasons to convince you:

Coffee Anytime, Anywhere

Investing in a travel coffee mug means you can enjoy a cup of joe anytime, anywhere. Take early trains on your daily morning commute? No worries; take a travel mug with you. Planning an RV camping trip or adventure hike? Reach out for your travel coffee mug. 

These portable java cups make having coffee on the move pleasant and convenient.

No-Spill, On-the-Go Coffee Experience 

Whatever the trip, the best travel coffee mugs provide a no-spill coffee experience. Unlike regular latte or cappuccino cups, the best travel mugs have leak-free lids. They also ensure your coffee retains all its just-brewed flavor. No flat, stale coffee here!

Keep Your Brew Hot (Or Cold)

Another reason to get yourself a travel mug is to keep your brew piping hot or iced coffee cold. To this end, the best travel mugs come equipped with the latest insulation technology. This ensures an enjoyable drinking experience.

You know what else? You won’t need to get yourself that expensive coffee shop latte while you’re on the move. A win-win, I think!

Do Your Part for the Environment 

For the eco-conscious coffee drinker, the best travel coffee mug helps you reduce waste. I know you wouldn’t use a coffee pod machine at home. Just the same, I’m sure you’d prefer using a reusable coffee mug over single-use cups any day. So, buy yourself a travel mug and get to do your bit for the environment.

Drink Your Brew In Style

Last but not least, buying one of the best travel coffee mugs is a great way to flex your coffee personality. Who can forget the social media-driven craze for the TikTok Stanley mug? It didn’t come out of nowhere. People went out of their way to get these candy-colored travel coffee mugs.

And, boy, did it show in the sales! Stanley’s annual revenue went from $73 million in 2019 to a whopping $750 million in 2023! It goes to show what a good product – in this case a humble travel mug – can do for a business!

How to Choose a Travel Coffee Mug

So, now we’ve gotten the reasons why you need the best travel coffee mugs out of the way, how do you choose one? Here are a few tips to help you select the best travel mug.

Capacity (Size)

How much coffee do you usually enjoy in one sitting? The average North American drinks three 18-ounce (240-milliliter) cups of coffee every day! While you might drink less coffee on the go, capacity matters.

The best travel coffee mug is the one that hits the sweet spot – enough to give you a caffeine fix and easy to carry around. Most travel mugs range from 6 ounces (177 milliliters) to 40 ounces (1.2 liters). Suffice to say, there’s a wide enough range to choose from.

Style and Design

The best travel mugs come in a wide range of design options, so choose something you’ll love using. Moreover, it should jive with your aesthetic. Would you rather have a sleek and modern design? Or would a vibrant, colorful mug suit you best? There are plenty of options available to suit your particular taste.

Besides design, think about comfort. How easy is the grip on your cup? The best travel coffee mugs have ergonomic designs with easy-grip handles or surfaces, and car cup holder-compatibility. This is especially important if you’ll be carrying your mug for extended periods.

Materials and Insulation

As this is something you’ll be drinking out of daily, you need to make sure it’s safe and durable. Stainless steel, lead-free glass and BPA-free plastic are the best options. They’re durable, safe and lightweight. Others, like the Fellow Carter Move mug are ceramic-coated, which may suit those who prefer a traditional vibe.

While we’re on the subject of materials, I must mention insulation. The whole point of getting a travel mug is to keep your freshly-brewed coffee piping hot or ice cold. Look for a mug with effective insulation to ensure it does the job for more than a few hours. And as coffee is acidic, the inner surface should be corrosion-resistant. The best travel mugs have such vacuum, foam or double-walled construction for superior insulation.

Lid Design

In my opinion, this is one of the most important features you should look for when choosing the best travel mug. Opt for a press-on or screw-on lid that fits securely onto the mouth opening. These lids should have a convenient spout with a locking mechanism from which you can sip your iced or hot coffee.

Alternatively, choose a no-spill travel mug with a lid and straw. Whichever lid style you opt for, make sure it 100 percent contains your coffee liquid. This way, you won’t suffer embarrassing spills and you’ll get to enjoy hot (or ice-cold) coffee throughout.

Ease of Cleaning

How easy is it to clean your coffee mug? You should consider this before making a purchase. I’d recommend choosing a coffee mug with a wide opening and removable parts for easy access. Also, the interior surface should consist of lead-free, odor-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials. Another consideration is to check if your mug is dishwasher-safe for added convenience.

All these features make maintenance hassle-free. What you don’t want is a travel coffee mug that accumulates dirt, rust or bacteria. This could very well land you in the emergency room!

Budget

When it comes to budget, I don’t necessarily mean picking the cheapest travel mug. I mean one that’ll give you the best bang for your buck. The price will vary based on the quality of materials.

Naturally, a travel mug with plastic or glass construction is more affordable than stainless steel or ceramic mugs. However, they may not meet your insulation or durability needs.n Similarly, a foam-insulated or double-walled mug will be more expensive than a single-walled one. This is due to its superior heat retention.

Keep these factors in mind before making your choice.

The 7 Best Travel Coffee Mugs

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

Zojirushi, a household name in Japan since 1918, is a renowned manufacturer of kitchen and coffee equipment. With the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug they’ve outdone themselves.

Costing $28.99, this stylish travel mug comes in a range of collectible colors. In addition, this Zojirushi mug is compatible with a standard car cup holder for easy travel.

When it comes to performance, this insulated travel mug retains heat well, keeping coffee hot (or cold) for at least six hours. It also has a leak-proof screw-on flip lid with airtight seal to ensure no leakage.

You should note that this Zojirushi stainless steel travel mug isn’t dishwasher-safe. You’ll need to hand-wash it (preferably with a bottle brush) due to the narrow mouth opening. Best yet, as the inner material is lead-free, you won’t have to worry about leaching or possible contamination.

My only reservation with this Zojirushi travel mug is its tapered shape. Slimmer than other travel coffee mugs, it might be tough to grip for people with dexterity issues.

Other than this one flaw, this Japanese beauty is one of the best travel coffee mugs in my book. It lives up to the philosophy of Japanese excellence Zojirushi thrives on, as a stylish, functional and durable number.

Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug

I must admit that I can’t stay away from iced coffee and cold brew in the hot summer months. It’s like Fellow knew my weakness and came up with the Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug! That aside, it performs brilliantly with hot coffee, too!

Minimalist and modern, this 16-ounce (473-milliliter) travel coffee mug comes in various tempting colors. And as it’s vacuum-insulated, it maintains the temperature of cold water, iced coffee or hot drinks for up to six hours.

Another feature of this insulated mug is a leak-proof, screw-on lid. This enables easy sipping and 100 percent leak-free action when walking or driving. All for the affordable price of $35.00!

Yet another feature I must mention is the ceramic-coated interior. This surface is completely corrosion, oil and odor-resistant, maintaining your coffee won’t have the dreaded metallic taste. This feature is a winner for espresso drinks, especially those with ice cubes!

Although this stainless steel mug is dishwasher safe, I’d recommend hand washing it for added durability.

The Fellow Carter Everywhere insulated travel mug is the perfect to-go coffee cup. If you’re a coffee devotee who wants to look good, feel good and drink good on the go, get yourself one!

See Also: Fellow Mug Review

KeepCup Brew Cork Reusable Coffee Cup

Now, I bet you didn’t think you’d see an alluring glass number in a guide to the best travel coffee mugs. But how could I leave out the KeepCup Brew Cork Reusable Coffee Cup?

This barista-standard reusable coffee cup has BPA- and lead-free tempered glass that can easily hold boiling water. Talk about break-proof portability! This glass mug also boasts a built-in Portuguese natural cork sleeve, which provides a solid grip and saves your hands from getting burned.

Of all the mugs I’ve covered, this KeepCup number has a lovely neutral aesthetic. It’s available in four sizes to fit a wide range of regular brew and espresso drinks. It also sports a press-on lid with a movable sipper to ensure the ultimate leak-proof action.

On the downside, I’m unsure how well the glass will retain heat.

KeepCup has made this travel coffee mug modular, taking its eco-friendly chops up a notch. This means that if any part breaks, all you need to do is replace the said part, not the whole mug! How cool is that?

Now, let’s talk cleanliness. As this travel mug is mostly glass, cleaning is a no-brainer with the added plus of zero odor retention. The parts also come away quickly, making hand-washing a breeze. Just don’t put this mug in the dishwasher (or microwave, for that matter!) These will likely break and degrade the built-in cork sleeve.

Still, for the price of $29.11, I think it’s excellent value for money! This KeepCup travel mug would suit eco-conscious coffee connoisseurs. Especially those who want to flex in style while drinking their morning coffee on the go.

Miir Flip Traveler

The MiiR Flip Traveler makes it to our list of best travel coffee mugs for its simplicity and vacuum-insulated, car-friendly design. It is available in a range of exciting colors and comes in various sizes.

Crucially, this coffee mug has a BPA-free, double-walled, stainless steel construction with a powder-coated outer body. These features not only provide enhanced durability and grip, but also superior insulation. You know what that means, right? Hot beverages will remain hot, and cold drinks will be chilly for six hours! The interior surface also ensures odor-free liquid retention for the purest flavors.

One thing I love about this coffee cup is how it delivers superior spill-proof performance. This is thanks to the locking flip lid – all you need to do is flip, sip and then click back in place to secure.

Another winning feature is the MiiR mug’s car holder compatibility. It will fit your car’s cup holder beautifully without the risk of spilling.

On the downside, due to the narrow opening, you may need a bottle brush to clean the interior. Then again, that might be a non issue seeing as the MiiR Flip Traveler is also top-rack dishwasher-safe.

Overall, this travel mug is good value for money. At $27.95, it’s pretty affordable. Best of all, it’s so freaking cute! I mean, why not gift it to the coffee lover in your life?

Camelbak Horizon 12 oz Tumbler

Are you in the market for an affordable, to-go caffeine delivery system? Well, you’d better cop a load of the Camelbak Horizon 12 oz Tumbler. This contender for the best travel-coffee-mug is perfect for office use. Plus its tapered design will fit most cup holders and has a non-slip silicone pad for easy car travel.

In addition, its durable powder-coated finish offers a comfortable, slip-free grip as you sip and walk. I love the range of colors this solid stainless steel travel mug comes in. Collectors can choose from beautiful colors like Nordic Blue, White, Desert Sunrise and Wild Strawberry. You get the drift.

Now let’s talk functionality. The dual-walled vacuum construction keeps beverages hot for four hours or cold for six hours without a possible loss of flavor. Don’t get shook if you find some of your iced coffee’s ice cubes still intact the next day! Crucially, the spill-proof lid on the CamelBak Horizon boasts tri-mode flow control. This lid technology reduces the likelihood of a liquid spill, in-car or in-transit.

Now when it comes to cleaning, I urge caution. Even though it’s dishwasher-safe, I’d recommend hand-washing most of the time for durability.

All in all, this travel mug is a solid choice that will support any New Year’s resolutions to cut those coffee shop visits. At $19.99, it represents really good value for money. And it’s a whole lot cheaper than other mugs on the market!

Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you must have heard of Stanley mugs. The Stanley Classic Trigger-Action Travel Mug makes my best travel mug list for all the right reasons. It’s stylish, durable, functional and does the job time and again.

At $27.00, it’s also excellent value for money. This ergonomic and stylish stainless steel mug comes in various attractive colors. Best yet, this Stanley mug is dual-walled to keep hot beverages hot for up to nine hours. What about cold drinks? Well, that, too! This mug can keep cold drinks cool for up to 12 hours, and iced drinks freezer-cold for an incredible 40 hours while retaining all the flavor.

As it’s compatible with most cup holders, this is the perfect car-friendly mug. And with a leak-proof trigger-action lid (with a push button), you won’t have to worry about spills.

When it comes to cleaning, you can either hand-wash this beauty or place it on the top rack of your dishwasher. It’s relatively simple to clean, with a wide mouth opening and a corrosion and lead-free inner surface. Crucially, this Stanley travel coffee mug is also dishwasher safe. But, remember to remove the flow controls from the lid before washing in warm, soapy water to ensure a thorough clean.

In conclusion, it’s easy to see why so many people love this travel coffee cup. It’s stylish, durable and functional while being affordable. No wonder it tops many best travel coffee mug wish lists!

Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Reusable Mug

As the only travel mug with a handle on this list, the Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Reusable Mug is stylish and simple. It boasts a soft-touch, lightweight outer body in trendy colors, including Black, White, Bark, and Goji Red. This wide range of color availability and pleasing design seems a bargain at only $22.28.

Another winning feature of this dual-walled vacuum-insulated stainless steel travel mug is excellent insulation. It will keep your drinks hot or cold for several hours. Take it with you on your morning errands or outdoor and camping adventures. Its slide-top lid also channels cold and hot beverages evenly for easy sipping.

One thing to note about the Hydro Flask travel coffee mug is that although it’s spill-proof, it’s not 100 percent leak-proof. It’ll fail the leak test when vigorously shaken or stored upside down. To this end, I wouldn’t recommend tossing it into any bag that won’t keep it upright.

On cleaning, I’d say hand-washing is the way to go, even though this mug is top-rack dishwasher-safe. It also has a slider top that disassembles easily and a wide mouth opening. And as the interior is BPA and lead-free, you won’t have to worry about leaching and other forms of contamination. A winner in my book!

Decision Time: The Best Travel Coffee Mug

Wrapping up, I’ve given you lots of options for the best travel coffee mug. However, remember to choose one that fits your lifestyle. Still, features like a sleek design, precision insulation and leak-proof lids are must-haves. So, too, an easy-to-clean construction and non-toxic inner surface material.

I have to say that my top contender for the best travel mug is the Zojirushi. It meets all these criteria and more, delivering style, superior insulation and proven durability.

That’s it for this guide to the best travel coffee mugs on the market today. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it and have chosen a clear winner for your travels. Keep brewing, keep sippin’ and keep enjoying that coffee on the go!

Best Travel Coffee Mugs FAQ