For coffee lovers, having the right travel mug is essential. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading out on a road trip, or simply want to enjoy a hot drink around the house without spills, a reliable coffee mug for travel is a must-have. We’ve tested a range of travel mugs to help you find the perfect one for your needs. Here’s a breakdown of how different models perform, focusing on key features for travel and daily use.
Recently, the Stanley Trigger Action mug, previously favored by many for drivers, faced a recall in December 2024. This recall was due to a lid issue that could detach when exposed to heat, posing a burn risk. While Stanley provided a replacement lid, it featured a different, less spill-proof design. As Stanley has discontinued selling this model and hasn’t announced updates, it’s no longer a recommended option for Coffee Mug Travel.
The JoeVeo Temperfect Javabliss 16 Travel Mug offers a unique approach to temperature control. It’s designed to cool down scalding hot beverages to a drinkable temperature and maintain it. This is achieved through an innovative third layer in its wall that absorbs and gradually releases excess heat. However, it’s important to note that this mug is not leak-proof or spill-proof, which might be a drawback for travel purposes.
The Kinto Travel Tumbler, with a 17-ounce capacity, stands out for its excellent insulation. In our tests, it ranked as the third-best insulator, only surpassed by the Zojirushi SM-SRE and the now-discontinued GSI Microlite 500 Flip. Its sleek design and insulation capabilities make it a strong contender for keeping your coffee hot on the go. However, using the Kinto requires fully removing the lid to drink, which might be inconvenient when traveling.
A silver Kinto Travel Tumbler standing upright, showcasing its minimalist design, ideal for those seeking a stylish coffee mug for travel.
Hydro Flask has improved its travel mug design with the 20-ounce Hydro Flask Coffee Cup with Flex Sip Lid. This model demonstrated significant improvements over previous versions. It effectively kept drinks hot for about 12 hours and showed better dent resistance compared to many other mugs we tested. Despite these improvements, the lid’s operation requires two hands, making it less convenient to open on the move. Additionally, some users have noted a slight “burping” of liquid when rotating the lid to open, which could be a minor inconvenience during travel.
The OXO Good Grips Thermal Mug with SimplyClean Lid, a 16-ounce option, offers similar insulation performance to the Hydro Flask, maintaining hot drinks for roughly half a day. It shares some of the same drawbacks as the Hydro Flask, including the need for two hands to operate the lid and the potential for slight liquid burping. While it’s a solid performer in terms of insulation, the lid design might not be the most travel-friendly.
The OXO Good Grips Thermal Mug in black, highlighting its comfortable grip and simple lid design, a practical choice for daily coffee mug travel needs.
For those prioritizing ease of drinking from any angle, the 18-ounce Purist Mover with Scope Lid is an interesting option. It provides insulation comparable to our top picks and features a 360-degree sip lid, allowing you to drink from any side. However, like the Hydro Flask and OXO models, it requires two hands to open and close, which may not be ideal for all travel situations.
Durability is a key consideration for a coffee mug designed for travel. During our testing, the 20-ounce Welly Traveler experienced damage upon a single drop. The flip-top lid broke, and the glued-on label plate at the bottom detached. This indicates potential weaknesses in its construction, especially for those needing a robust coffee mug for travel.
If budget is a primary concern, the 12-ounce Ketiee Travel Mug is among the more affordable options available. However, its performance reflects its price point. In our insulation tests, it kept drinks hot for only about two hours, placing it near the bottom of our rankings. A significant usability issue was a pointy knob left over from the molding process, positioned awkwardly above the drinking port, which uncomfortably pressed against testers’ noses. Furthermore, despite being advertised as spill-proof, we found it not to be, regardless of the lid’s open or closed position. Therefore, while budget-friendly, the Ketiee might not be the best choice for reliable coffee mug travel.
A close-up of the Ketiee Travel Mug in blue, showing its flip-top lid and highlighting the budget-friendly aspect of this coffee mug travel option, despite some noted drawbacks.
The Ember Travel Mug 2, a technologically advanced option, promises precise temperature control. This battery-powered mug aims to maintain your drink at a set temperature (up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to three hours on a single charge. However, without battery power, its insulation performance was poor, ranking at the bottom of our insulation test. We also encountered durability issues, breaking its inner seal during drop testing. While we appreciate the features of the standard Ember Mug 2 for home or office use, the Travel Mug 2, with its higher price and fragility, is not recommended as a practical coffee mug for travel.
In addition to these models, we also tested and dismissed travel mugs from GSI, Klean Kanteen, Stanley (prior models), and Zojirushi that are no longer in production.
Choosing the right coffee mug for travel depends on your priorities. Consider factors like insulation, lid design for spill-proofness, ease of use while traveling, durability, and budget to find the perfect mug for your on-the-go coffee needs.
