If you’re on the go – and don’t take some time for yourself in the mornings, a good investment is a quality reusable coffee cup. The problem is that there are too many to choose from, and you want to ensure that your thermal mug keeps your drink hot. Booting up your coffee machine may take up some of your time in the morning, so you need to rely on a portable coffee cup solution to stay on schedule.
We've rounded up the best reusable coffee cups of all shapes, sizes and colours – including a collapsible coffee cup for convenience - that will suit your lifestyle.
Why should I use a reusable coffee cup?
A reusable coffee cup, thermal mug or flask can be essential to your daily routine. Sometimes, we may rely on a coffee shop to satiate our caffeine cravings, where we order pricey foamy lattes. Instead, make use of your filter coffee maker, stovetop moka pot or coffee pod machine and top up your cup before heading out for the day.
With a thermal mug, you’re saving money, keeping the planet happy with less waste, and keeping a hot drink warm for longer. They’re perfect for those of us who commute to work or spend time outside during the day – and need to fight off the bitter cold.
What features should I consider?
Leakproof cups should be your top priority. After, all you don’t want any mess or spillage during your commute. Even if your cup is placed in your bag, you want a good-quality seal. For the best reusable coffee cup with no leak, and durability, they will likely be pricier.
Heat retention may be another big factor. Those of us who do not work office jobs may be still taking sips of our morning coffee throughout the day. So, if you’re looking for a cup to keep your drink hot, it needs to be well-insulated and thermal.
Size is another design aspect to consider. After all, you probably should be buying a coffee cup that reflects the amount that you typically drink – whether it started the day as instant coffee, coffee beans or ground coffee. If you need a pick-me-up throughout the day, something bulky would work best.
Eco Material is one of many choices you can make in the kitchen – besides cleaning products, or the coffee subscription services – to reduce your impact. If you’re on the hunt for the best eco-friendly cup, some of our picks are made from sustainable or recycled materials.
Other features – include a handle for easy portability, an ergonomic or heat-proof silicone sleeve to keep your hands from scalding, or a tight, locking seal. We’ve made sure to include a good variety of coffee cups for your morning cuppa.
Best Reusable Coffee Cups
Best budget reusable coffee cup
This insulated travel mug ensures great heat retention with a double layer of insulation and a leak-proof lid. At a reasonable price and great value, it comes in multiple colours to suit any personal taste and is a perfect size (as well as capacity) for those of us on the go.
Customer Review: "I made a coffee at about 10am this morning. It's now 2.15pm and it's still a bit too hot to drink comfortably. As well as excellent insulation, the mug hasn't leaked so much as a drop, and the lid has a rather clever indentation that makes it easy to screw it in place. One month in, I have absolutely no complaints."
Pros
- Leakproof and easy to hold
- Insulated, double-layer stainless steel
- Good capacity for all hot drinks
Cons
- Almost too well-insulated
- Not dishwasher safe
Best reusable cup with a straw
Dishwasher-safe, cup-holder friendly and double-insulated for maximum heat retention, we love this thermal mug from Green Steel. It's the perfect companion for those of us who march down the street with an iced coffee or hot brew. The leak-proof lid also includes two straws and is stainless steel, plastic-free, robust and practical.
Customer Review: "Very very good at keeping drinks cold in the sun. Work on yachts in high temperatures and works well."
Pros
- Easy cleaning and dishwasher-safe
- Environmentally-friendly solution
- Made from top-grade, rust-proof steel
Cons
- May be too big for some
Best glass reusable coffee cup
www.johnlewis.com
If you're looking for a reusable coffee cup made out of glass, we recommend this KeepCup. Barista-standard, this cup is perfect for experiencing your favourite brews on the go. It's sourced and made sustainably in Portugal, the cork having been recycled from waste from wine cork manufacture. It's light, thermal and dishwasher and microwave safe.
Looking for something a different size? KeepCup has a 227ml or a 455ml cup if you'd prefer.
Customer Review: "I have the glass, small size of this, with the cork band. It's the best reusable cup. It's not leakproof, it's not really that sort of product and it doesn't keep things hotter than a regular cup would, so this is really for people who don't want to use single-use takeaway cups and for that, it's peerless thanks to the glass which transfers not taste. If you want something that keeps liquids warm then look at the Keep Cup Thermal which keeps them, seemingly, hotter than when they went in!"
Pros
- Microwave and partially dishwasher-safe
- Sustainably made with biodegradable cork
- Looks very stylish and is a great size
Cons
- Not entirely leak-proof
- Glass is not shatterproof
- Pricey for some
Best Thermos reusable coffee cup
If you're looking for something a little easier to hold when you're commuting to work, we recommend this option from Thermos - which comes with a handle for easy holding. Though it's not dishwasher-safe, it's packed with plenty of other features to make up for it. Thermos' vacuum insulation is second-to-none, keeping drinks hot for up to five hours. Plus, it has a leak-proof lid and built-in tea hook for those of us who prefer a cup of char, instead.
Customer Review: "I looked at several contenders before purchasing this travel mug. I decided to play it safe with a brand that I knew I could trust Thermos. The mug ticks every box and keeps hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold. The lid is 100 per cent leak-proof. Finally, the paint finish is breathtaking. There are cheaper options available but this mug is worth every penny."
Pros
- Boasts five hours of warmth
- Durable interior and exterior
- Built-in tea hook for tea bags
Cons
- Tricky to disassemble for cleaning
- Not dishwasher safe
Best eco-reusable coffee cup
This smart reusable coffee cup is 100 per cent leakproof, perfect for those of us who prefer an eco-approach to our lives. Choosing this coffee cup means that you're recycling and reusing single-use paper cups that would have ended up in a landfill. With a unique push lid, this reusable cup is easy to open and is great for those on the go.
Circular and Co. have a smaller travel mug, which is 227ml.
Customer Review: "Literally the best thermal cup I’ve ever used. The drink doesn’t stay too hot, it cools down slowly over about an hour or so which is ideal for when you actually want to drink your drink rather than look at it wishing it was cooling down faster. The leakproof is also 100 per cent reliable - it’s better than any thermal cup I’ve ever used and is literally a game-changer. I really like how you can drink from the cup from any side as well. Really such a great product. I never leave reviews but this cup has been such a game-changer for me. As well as taking it out and about I often use it instead of a regular cup as I never managed to finish my tea/coffee before it went depressingly cold!"
Pros
- Dishwasher-safe and leakproof
- Easy one-hand opening
- Made from recycled paper cups
Cons
- Heat retention is pretty average
Best leakproof reusable coffee cup
If you're looking for something leak-proof, we recommend this Contigo Byron 2.0 Snapseal Travel Mug. The Thermalock double-wall insulation keeps the temperatures locked in for hours, five for hot drinks and 12 for cold. It's leakproof, well-insulated and durable. Plus, the sweat-proof design keeps liquids inside and it's partially dishwasher safe.
Our Review: "I'm a slow drinker and like to have a brew in the morning that I can sip but I often find that it goes cold before I can finish my drink. No longer do I have to worry about that when I use the Contigo Snapseal mug. I made a hot drink at 8 am and by lunchtime at 1 pm it was still hot, which is very impressive. The spout is also pretty clever, instead of flipping up a seal and drinking from the same opening, the Snapseal is a lever mechanism which you lift and the liquid flows from a hole on the opposite side. The only thing is because my drink is so hot I could never judge the speed of the flow and burned my lip on a couple of occasions! It also worked perfectly for recent hot weather where I needed to keep my water cold and I plan on taking it to a festival too!"
Pros
- Heat retention for five hours
- Leakproof and easy to hold
- Different colours available
Cons
- Partially dishwasher-safe
Best reusable coffee cup for heat retention
www.chillys.com
Available in 340 or 500ml, Chilly's bring a reliable coffee cup to its collection. Renowned for their durable, stainless steel bottles, Chilly's bottles ensure good heat retention with double-walled insulation. Plus, the materials are BP and toxin-free. However, the cup itself is not dishwasher-safe or leakproof.
Customer Review: "Good coffee cup. No surprises here, works as expected. High quality and keeps your drink hot for a long time. For me, this cup decreased the amount of coffee as the drink stays hot and you can slowly zip away your coffee without needing a new one."
Pros
- More colours and designs are available
- Clean, stylish and minimalist design
- Double-insulation for heat retention
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Not entirely leakproof
Best reusable cup for tea drinkers
Impressive, this Thermos cup boasts seven hours of warmth and 18 for cold drinks. With a durable, stainless steel design, this Thermos coffee cup features a drink-lock sealing lid for a leakproof experience. Plus, it's cool to the touch with sweat-proof qualities. Not to mention the built-in tea hook may come in handy for tea lovers. It's a winner.
Customer Review: "I’ve been using my Thermos tumbler for about a year now, and it’s by far the best I’ve ever owned! I had been using Bodum travel cup until then but needed one that was fully leakproof and this Thermos one is incredible: I can put it in my handbag when it’s full, and even if it falls in my bag, not one drop of coffee spills! I’ve also wanted a bigger one to fill a grande size at Starbucks and this does the job perfectly
.
"I struggled a bit to deep clean the top at the start but since I’ve done it the first time it’s now super easy. It keeps my coffee warm for hours, which is just what I needed for when I sit at Starbucks with my book for a couple of hours. It’s a bit bulky but fits perfectly in a mid-size tote bag.
"I will definitely buy another one when this one gets tired, but I feel like I’ll be able to use it for years as it’s still in perfect condition after a year of daily use. I hesitated to purchase at first just because of the price point, but it’s 100 per cent worth it (and repaid by the discounts I get for my coffee every time I use it in shops). Cannot recommend enough!"
Pros
- Boasts seven hours of warmth
- Durable interior and exterior
- Built-in tea hook for tea bags
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Pricey for some, but worth it
Best collapsible reusable coffee cup
Stackable, nestable and portable, this cup is the ultimate convenient cup. To collapse, simply remove the temperature sleeve, open the mouth and push the cup closed. Plus, it guarantees a leakproof seal - and it's dishwasher safe, too.
Customer Review: "Bought this cup to replace my old metal cup. I love that it is collapsible but still sturdy when assembled, it is small enough to put in my pocket when I am finished with my drink while on the go. The silicone material and cup shape make it a lot easier to clean than my previous cup. The only "downside" this cup has is that it gets hot quite quickly initially so you can only hold it from the neck if you have sensitive hands."
Pros
- Easy storage and clean
- Leakproof and durable
- Durable and thermal-resistant
Cons
- Can get very hot
FAQs
Which materials are reusable cups made from?
Reusable cups can be made from a variety of materials including stainless steel, recycled plastic, silicone and bamboo.
Do reusable coffee cups help the environment?
If you’re a coffee shop regular, your drink is served in single-use cups that ultimately end up in the oceans or in landfills. Single-use coffee cups are one of many items polluting our planet. Perhaps, you’re thinking… are there any benefits of reusable coffee cups? Do they actually help the environment?
According to Green Steel, a 2021 study believes that the daily coffee intake of the average Brit is around two cups. If you're a whizz at maths, you've probably worked out that this comes out to a giant 135 million cups of coffee consumed every day by the United Kingdom alone. Add the United States into the equation, and you’ve got so many single-use cups to contend with.
By swapping a single-use for a reusable cup, you’re cutting down your carbon footprint – and not giving up on your favourite drink, either. It’s a win-win for us and the planet.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Gardens and Wellness Product Writer for A Modern Kitchen, specialising in cookware. When she’s not cooking up a storm in the kitchen, Piper is re-watching a TV show or listening to a podcast.