# How's Your Coffee Travel Mug? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601 "2013-07-04T00:51:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/1 "2013-07-04T00:51:36Z")
I’m drinking out of styrofoam and need to get a good travel mug. Is there one that comes close to perfect? Perfect (I think) is: –Dishwasher safe. –Microwave safe (I’ll take the top off if necessary). –Keeps the coffee hot. –Probably not metal (the microwave issue, and metal feels worse than plastic). –Resists spills, yet is very easy to drink from. –Isn’t white or another light color that dramatically shows stains . –Fits into cup holders. –Probably doesn’t have a handle (although I could be sold on a handle). –Medium-size --more than a cup, but not more than 20 oz. –Not easily breakable. –…and nice looking. How’s your coffee travel mug? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/2 "2013-07-04T01:51:10Z")
I probably have a half dozen around here that fit the bill (more or less). The best ones are metal, because microwaving coffee is a sin. The one that gets used the most is a [promo mug from Amazon](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Amazon-1st-Anniversary-Customer-Appreciation-Travel-Mug-Rare-MIMB-99-/200931614053?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec8751d65#ht_172wt_808) that is 14 years old. The wife uses one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-18-Ounce-Stainless-Steel-Insulated/dp/B0000639WN/ref=sr_1_9?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1372902560&sr=1-9&keywords=thermos+travel+mug). ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/3 "2013-07-04T02:50:21Z")
I use a standard 12 oz. ceramic mug, because my car’s cupholder is designed to accommodate one. So there you go, get a new car. I have a taller, thinner car mug that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter to keep the coffee warm. The fuse went out, and I don’t have a long enough drive to really need it, so I never replaced it. But something you could consider. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/4 "2013-07-04T03:25:27Z")
I wasn’t aware they made a travel coffee mug that could go in the microwave unless it was a ceramic piece with a plastic removable lid. I switch between my Tervis cup because it holds a lot of coffee, my plastic travel mug because it’s my fallback and my Starbucks insulated stainless steel mug. For keeping coffee warm, the stainless is the best, then the Tervis, then the plastic. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/5 "2013-07-04T04:42:45Z")
It’s more of a tumbler. Sixteen ounces and insulated. Picked it up at a local coffee shop. Sorta looks like [this](http://camarocollection.com/media/catalog/product/cache/6/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/c/sc3-xc269_1000.jpg). It fits into any holder that accommodates a can. Don’t know if it’s microwaveable; don’t care since I don’t nuke coffee. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/6 "2013-07-04T11:44:11Z")
This is what I’ve got: [Your one stop shop for coffee, brewing and storage - Planetary Design](http://www.planetarydesign.us/products.html?paction=deskpress) It’s metal and therefore not microwavable, and it only fits in the one bladder-buster sized cup holder in my truck. But it has a french press which is totally awesome. I can keep some decent ground coffee in the truck and not be beholden to the uniformly bad gas station coffee. Also great for camping. ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/7 "2013-07-06T06:43:42Z")
Don’t microwave coffee. If you let it get cold it’s ruined. If you don’t notice an obvious difference between hot coffee and reheated coffee then you’re either drinking garbagewater or have broken taste buds. Good travel mugs tend to have things like gaskets to prevent leakage. These things are not dishwasher safe. Choose between a leakproof travel mug and the inconvenience of spending two minutes at the sink. Anyway, I use the larger [one of these](http://www.zojirushi.com/products/smkhe) exclusively. It keeps coffee hot for over eight hours, although it rarely lasts that long. It is actually leakproof, as it you can drop it in a bag in any orientation and expect to arrive at your destination with a dry bag and full cup of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/8 "2013-07-06T20:00:52Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I wasn’t aware they made a travel coffee mug that could go in the microwave […] > > I switch between my Tervis cup because it holds a lot of coffee[…] Tervis tumblers are actually advertised as being microwave safe. I sometimes use one, but I don’t really like their looks, and if I’m drinking coffee with cream it looks mildly gross after an hour or two. Opaque is my preference. It looks like this thread could grow serious legs if it became a referendum on microwaving coffee. (Smiley.) For me, a cup of coffee is a caffeine delivery system – better than tea or a pill, but 95% of the time not worth savoring. I only concentrate on the taste for one or two sips, and only _really_ care about the taste if it’s excellent and different than what I’m accustomed to. Otherwise, hot is better than lukewarm, and the microwave handles that issue efficiently. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/9 "2013-07-07T19:02:47Z")
I have several of [these](http://www.rei.com/product/799295/rei-flip-top-vacuum-tumbler-15-fl-oz) as well as plastic tumblers and I tend to use the stainless steel vacuum sealed ones as they keep the coffee hottest the longest. Since my coffee never, ever sees the inside of a microwave oven, the lack of microwaveability of these tumblers is irrelevant. Stainless ones are also easy to clean and durable. Since the lid is hard polymer, there’s no issue with the feel of stainless on the lips. Not that that would bother me. ETA: They are also top shelf dishwasher safe, although I tend to handwash mine because its quicker. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/10 "2013-07-07T19:56:46Z")
We have a titanic selection of the double-walled 20 oz tumblers with flat lid and captured straw. We only drink iced coffee and hand wash. They are from all over…Dunkie Doh, Target, Univ of Nebraska, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/11 "2013-07-07T20:43:01Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I have several of [these](http://www.rei.com/product/799295/rei-flip-top-vacuum-tumbler-15-fl-oz) as well as plastic tumblers and I tend to use the stainless steel vacuum sealed ones as they keep the coffee hottest the longest. Since my coffee never, ever sees the inside of a microwave oven, the lack of microwaveability of these tumblers is irrelevant. > > Stainless ones are also easy to clean and durable. Since the lid is hard polymer, there’s no issue with the feel of stainless on the lips. Not that that would bother me. > > ETA: They are also top shelf dishwasher safe, although I tend to handwash mine because its quicker. That’s a great mug. I have one similar and short of leaving it on the roof of your car as you start to drive away, your coffee will be hot and it will be leak free. I was going to post about [this one](http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=98241&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50751&subdeptNum=50752&classNum=50753#) from West Marine, but its not microwaveable and it won’t fit in your cup holder (you put it on the floor of the passenger seat instead). The body is the single most durable coffee mug body I have ever seen. (Handle and plastic lid aside, it may well be bullet-proof). Yeah, I know, but who is _ever_ going to a start a thread looking for bullet-proof coffee mugs..? ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/12 "2013-07-07T21:52:33Z")
I have purchased and given away many different coffee travel mugs in search of nirvana. I finally found it about five years ago. Your search is over. 4.6 out of 5 stars from 808 amazon reviews. [This is The One](http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-16-Ounce-Stainless-Steel-Backpack/dp/B000K604P0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373233514&sr=8-2&keywords=nissan+thermos). Brilliant design. Easy to clean. Will not leak! Fits in cup holders. One handed operation. Again, it will not leak. I can lay it on its side on my car seat with no worries. Keeps coffee hot all day. It works so well, you do not need a microwave, so no worries about the stainless steel construction. Whatever you put in there stays hot all day. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/13 "2013-07-07T22:11:32Z")
I have a Brugger’s Bagel bottomless [mug](http://brueggers.com/bottomless-mug/). It’s not microwave or dishwasher safe, but it keeps the coffee hot. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-coffee-travel-mug/662601/14 "2013-07-07T22:14:16Z")
I have one of these [Stanley mugs](http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-16-Oz-Travel-Mug/dp/B005TIMUJC/). Which fails several of your criteria, but it looks like Stanley makes [others](http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Ink-Recycled-Recyclable-16oz/dp/B001TIAQB0/) that might not. It has a simple leak-proof lid that’s easy to clean - just a flat round screw-down top with a silicon o-ring. I’ve had it turn upside-down in my backpack without leaking. No buttons or sliding parts, you loosen the lid to drink.