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Single-use takeaway cups belong with throwaway grocery store provider luggage within the landfill of historical past. Usually comprised of plastic-coated paper, the billions used annually burn by means of copious quantities of power and water, whereas additionally contributing considerably to landfill.
The answer is easy: swap to a reusable espresso cup. These take numerous varieties, equivalent to cups, bottles and mugs, however are extra eco-friendly choices as soon as used a number of occasions. There are leakproof journey mugs that may sit in a rucksack pocket; small ones ideally suited to automotive cup holders; and ones comprised of recycled post-consumer supplies.
Two completely different phrases are used for this sort of product: journey mugs and reusable espresso cups. Travel mugs are often higher fitted to transporting espresso from place to position, whereas reusable espresso cups are sometimes simply one thing to sip from wherever you get a espresso. The phrases are typically used interchangeably, and it’s best to all the time examine the product specs to make sure you’re getting the proper mug to your functions. Some espresso chains now incentivise using these cups by means of reductions and reward schemes, too.
It could seem apparent, however probably the greatest issues about these journey mugs is that you may fill them at house earlier than going out, so the espresso machine gathering mud in your counter would possibly lastly get some extra use, too. To assist you to discover your sip-friendly sidekick, I examined 10 cups from manufacturers together with HoldCup, Yeti, Ocean Bottle, Circular&Co and Chilly’s.
A word of warning from a man with a singed tongue: among the cups and bottles featured are wonderful at preserving your espresso or tea sizzling. That’s largely helpful, however it’s best to examine whether or not your drink has cooled earlier than taking a hearty sip, which can require leaving the lid off for a couple of minutes.
As a daily reviewer for the Filter, I’m properly versed in testing merchandise. You could have noticed my information to one of the best suitcases, which culminated in me throwing the unlucky baggage off a stepladder, or my function on dawn alarm clocks, the place I performed the position of sleep-testing guinea pig. I’ve been writing about shopper merchandise for the previous decade, and I nonetheless take pleasure in attending to grips with fascinating, helpful issues.
I’m additionally into my espresso, and I care about how the fabric and type of a vessel have an effect on a drink. I all the time carry a reusable cup on days out or whereas engaged on the go, so my ideas on these merchandise are rooted within the every day grind.
I used every mannequin a number of occasions whereas travelling and dealing. I stuffed them with espresso at house for my first caffeine hit of the day, earlier than having them refilled at numerous espresso outlets, the place I requested baristas for his or her suggestions. Throughout testing, I thought of how securely the cups held liquid, how nice they have been to deal with and drink from, and the way properly they maintained the temperature of cold and hot drinks.
On the primary level, for extra rigorous evaluation, I held the cups the wrong way up and shook them over kitchen paper to see how a lot they dripped; I additionally bounced on a trampette with them (first with the lid closed, then with it open) to check the diploma to which they have been leakproof. Finally, I stuffed them with boiling water and measured the temperature over eight hours to gauge the effectiveness of the insulation.
Not all reusable cups are supposed to supply the identical qualities (eg leak-proofing or insulation), and I stored this in thoughts whereas writing the critiques. During the method, I drank dozens of sizzling drinks, stopping using a stack of disposable cups and making certain a pleasantly caffeinated state all through.
Mugs that weren’t requested again by the producer have been donated for fundraising to the Leeds branch of Cat Action Trust 1977, a small nationwide charity devoted to the welfare of feral cats – two of whom live in a catio on my drive.
Widely credited because the originator of the reusable espresso cup, HoldCup stays one of the best within the enterprise. This Commuter mannequin is marketed as “barista standard”, and it actually proved a minimize above throughout my exams.
Why we like it
I used to be impressed by its temperature regulation. It stored sizzling drinks sizzling for a number of hours, and chilly water refreshingly cool whereas out and about. Removing the broad lid will shortly convey down the temperature of the cup’s contents, although, so your espresso shall be sippable earlier than you recognize it.
The flip lid is a well known HoldCup function, offering a safe closure that couldn’t be easier to suss out. Do take care to screw it on correctly, although.
“This mug will fit under the group head on an espresso machine, so saves us from using another vessel to prepare the coffee before pouring it into the reusable cup,” mentioned Scarlet, barista at Holding Patterns listening bar in Leeds.
Hand-washing is advisable to protect the mug’s end. Thankfully, reaching inside with a soapy sponge didn’t show a chore. The Commuter is bought as “spill proof” somewhat than leakproof, however it carried out properly throughout my bounce and drip check.
It’s a disgrace that … this mug could also be too huge for some cup holders and backpack pockets.
Capacity: 340ml
Material: silicone, electropolished metal, polypropylene
Dimensions: 8.6 x 12.7cm
Temperature after one hour: 74.4C
Temperature after eight hours: 34.1C
Weight: 218g
Dishwasher protected? Hand-washing advisable to protect end
Warranty/assure: 12 months
Isn’t this a wonderful little factor? I discovered the Rambler superb for small drinks equivalent to espressos, quick blacks and cordials on the go – and whereas it’s not marketed as an insulated mannequin, it proved efficient at preserving drinks suitably sizzling or chilly.
Why we like it
Perhaps one of the best trait of this cup is its portability. It’s small and narrows in direction of the bottom, which makes it useful for rucksack pockets or automotive cup holders. Thanks to the ridge about midway up, it’s handy to hold by hand, too.
I used to be impressed with the Rambler’s chunky Magslider closure, which makes it simple to open or seal the aperture on the splashproof (word: not leakproof) lid. In my bounce check, it didn’t leak by any means when the lid was closed, however it did spray out espresso with the lid open. Just keep in mind to shut it earlier than working to catch a bus. This mug’s vibrant colourways are simply my cup of tea, too – particularly the Rescue Red.
“It’s a convenient size, but it would’ve been helpful to have a mark inside the cup to show the right fill level,” mentioned Saeed Hussain, proprietor of Cravings By Sid in Calverley. “You might be best off handing it to the barista with the lid, so they can see how high to fill it.”
It’s a disgrace that … rinsing suds out from beneath the lid is barely tough, as among the dish water will get beneath the slider.
Capacity: 236ml
Material: stainless-steel and plastic
Dimensions: 7.2 x 10.5cm
Temperature after one hour: 74.1C
Temperature after eight hours: 34.9C
Weight: 200g
Dishwasher protected? Yes
Warranty/assure: 5 years
The aptly named AeroLight feels dainty. The lid seal is safe, barely permitting any steam by means of, even when opened for ingesting. In regular use and temperature testing, it proved efficient at preserving issues sizzling. On opening, this bottle typically greeted me with a tiny spray of espresso, however that’s a small worth to pay for its tight closure.
Why we like it
This was the mannequin I trusted most to remain sealed inside my bag – and, as anticipated, it didn’t leak. I bounced on the trampette with it, shook it the wrong way up, threw it over my head – and never a drop was spilled. Note that Stanley advises that customers fill the AeroLight no increased than 7mm from the threads of the lid.
The slender, pretty tall profile of the AeroLight is right for backpack aspect pockets and slimline cup holders, though it additionally means its capability could also be decrease than you count on. The barista who served me at a wonderful King’s Cross espresso kiosk was completely bemused after I requested her what she considered the bottle. I’ll take this as an indication that it’s simple to refill.
The AeroLight is dishwasher protected and comes with a lifetime assure.
It’s a disgrace that … the insulation of this bottle could also be too nice, if something. I needed to go away the lid off for fairly a while to convey espresso right down to a drinkable temperature.
Capacity: 350ml
Material: stainless-steel and plastic
Dimensions: 6.9 x 16.3cm
Temperature after one hour: 83.8C
Temperature after eight hours: 49.3C
Weight: 180g
Dishwasher protected? Yes
Warranty/assure: lifetime
Made from 90% recycled stainless-steel (in addition to BPA-free plastic and silicone), this cup supplied a brilliantly pure coffee-drinking expertise.
Why we like it
Paper takeaway cups can typically lend an undesirable flavour to a drink as their materials begins to interrupt down, however there’s no such challenge right here. Plus, its lip feels pleasantly skinny and by no means sharp.
Taking aside the tumbler for cleansing is easy sufficient, though the rubbery lid seal wanted a little bit persuasion. Fully disassembled, the mug is simple to scrub, with hardly any awkward areas that might harbour grime. While the tumbler isn’t supposed as an insulating flask, it stored espresso sizzling for greater than two-and-a-half hours. It additionally carried out properly throughout my trampette check, with just a bit splashing after I opened the lid slider.
According to the barista at an area espresso chain, it was completely simple to refill.
It’s a disgrace that … as tends to be the case with tumblers, this mannequin isn’t absolutely leakproof, neither is it designed to be held the wrong way up.
Capacity: 350ml
Material: recycled stainless-steel, BPA-free plastic, silicone
Dimensions: 8.2 × 13.7cm
Temperature after one hour: 76.4C
Temperature after eight hours: 35.8C
Weight: 230g
Dishwasher protected? Yes (eco-wash)
Warranty/assure: 10 years
This outstanding reusable cup from Circular&Co is a real instance of round manufacturing, with an outer layer comprised of a polymer-recycled espresso mix. The materials has a particular appear and feel: clean, shiny, Americano-brown and related, however uncannily a little bit completely different, to plastic.
Why we like it
From a design perspective, the intelligent factor about this cup is its lid. It has two indents to your fingers, and also you press these right down to unlock and open the 360-degree aperture in order that drink can stream by means of. It works brilliantly and, though I assumed the lid is likely to be fiddly to scrub, it’s simple sufficient to do in case you lever off the highest half utilizing a cutlery deal with. I’d suggest studying the instruction booklet to keep away from mishaps, nonetheless.
The cup was nice to drink from, stored its contents very popular and had no antagonistic results on the flavour. Seb Wilkey, head barista at Holding Patterns in Leeds, was enthusiastic concerning the cup.
“It’s a little too tall to fit under the group head on our coffee machine, but we can work around that and it was easy to use in general,” he advised me. “More people should be using reusable coffee cups. When I lived in Sydney, everyone had one.”
It’s a disgrace that … though it didn’t leak throughout regular use (or bounce testing), just a few drops spilled out after I held this cup the wrong way up and shook it.
Capacity: 340ml
Material: recycled espresso waste and plastic
Dimensions: 8.4 x 16.6cm
Temperature after one hour: 61.8C
Temperature after eight hours: 26.9C
Weight: 200g
Dishwasher protected? Yes
Warranty/assure: two years
after publication promotion
Best for: a family-size reusable bottle
Family-size flask meets stylish reusable bottle within the Chilly’s Big Mouth, new for 2025. It has loads of area for everybody’s tea, espresso or water on a bunch journey, and it serves equally properly as a daylong sipping answer for the chronically hydrated.
The rim of the bottle is fairly deep, and I discovered I needed to drink from it fastidiously to keep away from a drenching. Personally, I’m OK with that, however dainty sippers would possibly choose to decant their drink right into a cup.
This bottle’s lid felt very safe and I used to be assured sufficient to hold it, stuffed, in my bag. But given how good the Big Mouth appears, vibrant and pleasantly textured, proud house owners would possibly choose to tote it by the deal with as a substitute. It carried out exceptionally properly in my bounce, drip and temperature exams.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … most individuals will want one thing smaller for on-the-go coffees.
Capacity: 2l; materials: 90% post-consumer licensed recycled stainless-steel, plastic, rubber base; dimensions: 13.5 x 26.5cm; temperature after one hour: 88.8C; temperature after eight hours: 65.4C; weight: 862g; dishwasher protected? No; guarantee/assure: two years
Best for: daylong use
Ninja’s mug was one of many prime performers in my drip, bounce and temperature exams. If you’re on the lookout for a big, leakproof choice to fill at house and drink from all through the day, this may be a wonderful alternative.
Drinking by means of the lid could be very easy – you pop down the seal after which sip by means of the opening, which permits simply the proper stream for my style. I typically discover Ninja’s merchandise intuitive and properly designed, and that’s actually true of this bottle.
I wouldn’t suggest ingesting with out the lid whereas on transport (particularly with a driver who tends to slam on the brakes) because the steel is skinny.
Baristas Ivy and Theo at Flamingos Coffee House in Leeds have been glad to make use of the Sip Perfect, however that they had some reservations. “It’s too tall for our machine, so I had to pour the coffee into a mug first,” mentioned Ivy.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … it’s not fairly a match for our prime picks by way of portability. However, you would possibly really feel that the upper capability justifies the added heft.
Capacity: 400ml; materials: stainless-steel, BPA-free plastic; dimensions: 7.7 x 22.7cm; temperature after one hour: 62.2C; temperature after eight hours: 47.4C; weight: 573g; dishwasher protected? Yes, however hand-washing is advisable to protect the end; guarantee/assure: 5 years
Best for: an eco-friendly bottle
This is a really helpful little bottle to have in your assortment. It’s completely leakproof (even if you take it on a trampoline), insulates sizzling or chilly liquids very properly, and slots neatly right into a backpack pocket or cup holder.
Perhaps its most necessary position is its environmental influence: maker Ocean Bottle funds the gathering of the equal of 1,000 ocean-bound plastic bottles with every one purchased.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … the lid doesn’t permit sufficient liquid by means of directly for a very satisfying sip. I additionally wanted just a few tries to study when the lid is correctly sealed. Make positive you work this out earlier than taking the flask in your travels.
Capacity: 350ml; materials: recycled stainless-steel, BPA-free plastic, silicone; dimensions: 6.8 x 16.8cm; temperature after one hour: 81.8C; temperature after eight hours: 47.1C; weight: 226g; dishwasher protected? Yes; guarantee/assure: 10 years
Best for: tenting
The inside the Rise mug is a stunning brushed metal, canteen-like and a very good materials for warmth retention.
I discovered it one of many best reusable cups to scrub. It’s huge sufficient to succeed in inside effortlessly with a sponge, and the lid has a easy design that ought to minimise grime buildup.
Whereas most reusable cups most likely gained’t get used a lot at house, this one’s so nice to drink from with or with out the lid that you simply would possibly attain for it when in want of a homely cuppa.
It’s value noting that the Rise mug shouldn’t be leakproof – as I found after I tipped it the wrong way up for a drip check. However, the lid seal holds up properly if you’re utilizing the cup sensibly.
Cravings By Sid’s Hussain solely had good issues to say about this mug. “I loved it – I’m tempted to get one for myself,” he mentioned, after filling the mug with a big iced espresso.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … it’s too huge to suit conveniently inside most rucksack pockets. The deal with is right for looping on to the strap of a climbing backpack or bikepacking pannier bag, nonetheless.
Capacity: 399ml; materials: 90% post-consumer recycled metal, BPA-free plastic; dimensions: 9.7 x 9.9cm; temperature after one hour: 76.5C; temperature after eight hours: 32.5C; weight: 309g; dishwasher protected? Yes; guarantee/assure: lifetime restricted guarantee
Best for: affordability
Its stubby type makes this a handy cup to squeeze into a good backpack pocket or cup holder. I actually appreciated its ease of cleansing, its lightness and most of all its pure really feel: the entire thing is comprised of a plant-based materials derived from sugar beet.
There are limitations to this type of cup. It leaked a little bit throughout my trampette testing, and launched espresso liberally when upended. For shortly ingesting a brief espresso drink purchased from a restaurant, it really works very properly, however I wouldn’t suggest it for transporting liquids.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … warmth switch by means of the cup’s materials is appreciable. You wouldn’t need to maintain a good maintain of it when it’s freshly crammed with black espresso.
Capacity: 240ml; materials: PLA (plant-based); dimensions: 8.2 x 10.1cm; temperature after one hour: 48.3C; temperature after eight hours: 24.8C; weight: 150g; dishwasher protected? Yes; guarantee/assure: two years
The eco-friendly resolution to hold your espresso in a reusable cup or bottle is properly rewarded by numerous espresso chains and unbiased cafes.
Ideally, you’ll maintain taking your reusable cup to your favorite native unbiased when you possibly can. You gained’t all the time get a reduction, however financial savings of about 10% will not be unusual.
Several of the large chains supply incentives to make use of a reusable cup, together with:
Starbucks: 25p low cost
Pret a Manger: 50p low cost
Caffè Nero: double loyalty card stamps (so the fifth espresso is free)
Costa: double loyalty card stamps (so the fifth espresso is free)
Black Sheep Coffee: 45p off
Greggs: 25p off
Supermarkets are additionally getting in on the development. Waitrose now gives free sizzling drinks to its members solely once they convey a reusable cup; Marks & Spencer cafes supply a 50p low cost.
A journey mug comes with environmental prices. Manufacturing and promoting one requires power and supplies, and it will likely be cleaned with cleaning soap and water by the eventual proprietor.
Thankfully, the environmental toll of a reusable cup tends to be decrease than that of habitually ingesting from single-use cups, that are sometimes comprised of paper modified with plastic. A examine by Ciraig (a sustainability analysis organisation primarily based in Canada) discovered {that a} reusable cup turns into much less dangerous than utilizing single-use cups after 20 to 100 drinks, by way of greenhouse gasoline emissions generated. This varies relying on the fabric of the reusable cup.
You would hope to make use of your cup or bottle at the very least that many occasions – and even perhaps for a lifetime. Some fashions are constructed to final with decades-long ensures.
Reusable cups are typically made largely from recycled supplies, which reduces their embodied carbon (the sum of emissions created by making the cup and getting it into the shopper’s fingers). The maker’s enterprise mannequin may additionally search to offset or outweigh environmental prices. For instance, Ocean Bottle funds the gathering of plastic waste by means of the sale of every product.
In quick, reusable espresso cups are essentially the most eco-friendly answer we’ve give you for carrying sizzling drinks on the go. To minimise the environmental downsides, use yours for so long as you possibly can, apply minimal (eco-friendly) washing-up liquid and sizzling water throughout routine washes, and select a sustainability-focused model.
Pete Wise is a journalist with greater than a decade’s expertise masking all the pieces from international improvement and social causes to expertise and music. He’s written numerous articles about espresso, together with critiques of espresso machines and low grinders, and options on the well being results of caffeine. He’ll take an extended black to go, please – in a reusable cup
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/jul/30/best-travel-mug-reusable-coffee-cup-uk
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
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