Updated Aug. 26, 2024
We tested 21 travel coffee cups to find the best coffee tumbler options. The top performers surprised us—and some of them are nearly half the price of their popular competitors.
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Like most working folks, I get my morning dose of happiness from the cute coffee mugs that adorn my desk—or rather, what’s inside them. Whether you’re a fan of coffee concentrates over ice or steamy cups, temperature retention is an absolute must for us caffeine fiends. As a slow sipper and a total coffee snob, I cringe while reheating mugs in the microwave or brewing another cup when the first falls stale and cold. Thankfully, the best coffee tumbler makes my morning cup more of a treat rather than an urgency, so I can actually enjoy my morning brew.
A good coffee tumbler is a travel-friendly and leakproof option for savvy sippers on the go. Most tumblers offer layer upon layer of vacuum-sealed insulation, meaning that they’re sometimes rather pricey. So, how do you know which ones are worth snagging?
According to Erin Doern, coffee expert and Head of Product Development at Free Rein Coffee, coffee tumblers are essential for traveling caffeine fiends. “Coffee tumblers are convenient for an on-the-go lifestyle,” she says. “Tumblers offer many features that a standard ceramic mug does not, such as superior insulation to keep your coffee hot or cold for extended periods.”
To clarify things further, we tapped our expert Product Testing Team to take on the challenge of testing 21 coffee tumblers. Over 231 tests and 50 hours later, we’re confident that these eight options are the best coffee tumblers for every type of java junkie.
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Thermos’s brand is typically associated with travel soup containers, but our tests prove it’s time to stop sleeping on their travel mugs. The Thermos Stainless King ranks as our overall best coffee tumbler out of the 21 options we tested. It takes the threat of cold coffee away with a sweat-proof exterior and durable stainless steel interior. Whether you prefer drinks that are icy or toasty, this vacuum-insulated tumbler takes heat retention to a new level. It also offers two lid positions for any type of sipper.
An innovative tapered design makes it especially handy for traveling since it fits in both narrow and wide cup holders. Plus, the ergonomic concave middle offers extra grip. In terms of temperature retention, it’s a top performer. After six hours, our cold drinks came in at 37.2 degrees Fahrenheit, while hot drinks stayed at an anything-but-tepid 107.9 degrees Fahrenheit. As a bonus, the Stainless King boasts zero leaks, even after shaking it upside down. We attribute this to the handy Drinklock sealing lid, which keeps dribbles at bay.
“I’ve had one of these for several years and I trust the leak-free features,” says Product Tester Sheri Kaz. “It keeps my hot or iced coffee at a nice temperature, and I was surprised to learn that tea lovers can brew tea with the handy teabag hook on the lid.”
Washing up is a painless process, too. While the smaller capacity makes it tough to reach the bottom during hand-washing, it’s completely dishwasher safe. We recommend taking advantage of that—grooves in the screw-on lid and rubber seal collect their fair share of gunk, which can be a bit of a pain to scrub away.
Sure, the Thermos travel mug doesn’t come in a collection of flashy colors—just blue, red, green and traditional stainless steel—but it offers top-tier performance at a very reasonable price point. We’re willing to forgo any aesthetic extras for the peace of mind this leakproof option offers.
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We’re always a little skeptical of viral products, but we wanted to try all the top picks while testing for the best coffee tumbler. That’s why we were eager to try the social media-famous Zojirushi thermos, which boasts over 30,000 positive reviews on Amazon. During testing, this highly-rated option performed just as advertised. From now on, we may not trust another big-brand travel mug with our hot flavored coffee—this underdog option does the trick.
The Zojirushi tumbler is tall and narrow, towering above the others. It lacks grip or curvature, but because it’s so slim, it’s easy to hold securely without any issues. A flip-top locking cap and stopper prevent spills and keep the contents well insulated. No leaks here! Even after six hours of sitting, our icy drinks measured 35.4 degrees Fahrenheit, while our hot drinks held steady at an agreeable 110.3 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The locking lid ensures a leak-free experience. The thermal retention is impressive, and it’s a top performer,” notes Sheri of this handsome tumbler. And handsome it is—over 20 patterns and color options offer tons of stylish choices. This is something we really appreciate, especially since the tumbler is truly built for years of use. The mouthpiece protrudes a bit, meaning that noses may bump a bit against the silicone lid stopper. However, given that the stopper offers a little give, this doesn’t affect the experience much.
This lid is highly engineered and screws off to offer additional space while filling the tumbler. Once in place, it has a push button to open. It’s even outfitted with a lock for additional security while bumping around in backpacks. One unfortunate con is that this one is hand-wash only. That means you need a little extra elbow grease to clean the removable silicone nipple, mouthpiece and spout, which have quite a few cracks and crevices. That said, we find this slightly annoying design choice forgivable for an otherwise solid design and performance.
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A good insulated coffee mug isn’t just fit for hot drinks. When you’re a fan of Cometeer pods or other iced options, there’s no better coffee tumbler than this Contigo cup. In addition to a fleet of eye-catching designs, the Contigo tumbler comes in three sizes: 16, 20 and 24 ounces. Apart from form, it also offers function—this is one impressively insulated mug. Throughout our testing, it kept liquids very well contained, providing hours of temperature retention.
“I feel very secure with the Contigo because I know it isn’t going to leak while it’s in a bag or lying on the front seat of my car,” says Sheri. The lid boasts a clever locking mechanism for additional security. But even when disengaged, there are no discernible dribbles when shaken upside down. This is a necessary feature since it won’t fit all cup holders and will definitely have to lie on its side in some situations.
The spout is smooth, with a rather small opening. Releasing liquids is as simple as pushing the button on the opposite side of the spout and making sure that the lock button is off. Even given this additional step, the flow works well. The lid is also dishwasher safe. That said, it’s recommended to hand wash the body. We’re not telling you to disregard the instructions, but we put both in the dishwasher with no adverse effects—take that as you will.
Surprisingly, the Contigo cup also offers incredible resistance to impact. Even after being dropped onto a hard floor, it didn’t display so much as a whisper of a scratch or dent. We expect this to last a long time, making it especially appealing for parents and chronically clumsy folks (guilty!). This also bolsters the slightly higher price point, which we feel is well worth it for years of use.
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Probably the most popular option on this list, the Stanley insulated cup didn’t disappoint like some of its other viral competitors. In fact, we found it the best option for taking your organic coffee with you on the trail, boat or subway. Boasting brand recognition backed by amazing performance (and a lifetime warranty, to boot), this is one option well worth splurging on.
“I personally love the slim design. It’s backpack friendly with zero leaks and a space-saving design,” says Sheri. The leakproof design is due in part to its double-walled vacuum-sealed body, which made it the top performer in temperature retention tests. “The temperature retention is great for hikers or anyone who needs to keep their beverages hot or cold for extended periods,” Sheri says of this pleasant-looking pick.
It comes in more than 10 colors, including matte and glitter options. Like many of its competitors, the Stanley also offers a screw-on lid that flips open for drinking. The mechanism is strong and durable and operates easily. It also offers an audible “snap” for added peace of mind. The body of the Stanley mirrors this durability. After dropping the tumbler a few feet, the exterior and lid had a few scratches but did not break.
The spout is narrow, and the mechanism boasts 90-degree angles rather than a curved design. Therefore, the hinge hits your top lip as you sip. It doesn’t offer the best drinking experience of the bunch, and there are lots of little crevices to collect gunk, which potentially makes cleaning tricky. That said, both the body and lid are dishwasher safe. Its top performance in temperature retention also makes it pretty easy to overlook this slight annoyance, especially given its leakproof, backpack-friendly design.
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BruMate is no stranger to innovative coffee tumblers—just take a look at their pour-over coffee mug. While it doesn’t boast flashy bells or whistles, the BruMate Muv tumbler is one good-looking travel tumbler. It’s available in 15-, 25- and 35-ounce sizes, all available in an array of dazzling hues. A colorful, removable silicone sleeve also offers additional grip. The tumbler’s dashing good looks are only eclipsed by its incredibly leakproof lid, which makes this a top contender for traveling.
The durable lid (made from recycled plastic water bottles) twists and pushes in. While it doesn’t have a tab to help lift it up and off the cup, the drinking spout is easy to push up. It also snaps back with a spring to keep it out of the way. This helps keep both hot and cold beverages securely inside the thermos.
That said, Sheri isn’t the biggest fan of the overall drinking experience. The edges of the mouthpiece are squared off, and your top lip has to fit between them. Her nose also hits the covered spring. With the way the edges are tapered, it theoretically could dribble out the sides, though she didn’t have that experience during testing.
However, when closed, this tumbler is akin to a tank in terms of its leakproof properties. Nary a drop escaped during the entire test, and the rugged exterior took its fall like a champ with only a few cosmetic scratches to show for it. It’s a definite winner for those who prefer tucking their tumbler into a backpack on the morning commute to having to hold it. Even better, coffee drinkers can rest assured knowing that it comes with its own lifetime warranty.
“I appreciate how rugged this tumbler is. The handle is very convenient, and the leakproof performance is a huge bonus for people on the go,” says Sheri. Overall, the large capacity, coupled with the cup holder-friendly tapered bottom and convenient handle, makes this an excellent choice for commuting. The lid is also dishwasher safe for easier cleaning, while the body boasts a large mouth that’s easy to get inside and scrub.
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Insulated coffee mugs have a reputation for being a bit expensive, especially when it comes to brands like Yeti and Stanley. However, the Simple Modern Voyager coffee tumbler proves that the best coffee tumbler doesn’t have to take a big bite out of your budget. That leaves plenty of room to try a coffee subscription!
Despite its lower price point—about half the price of its expensive competitors—the Simple Modern tumbler looks just as luxe. It’s available in a fleet of fun shades and patterns, including checkered and leopard print. Plus, on the Simple Modern website, you can further customize your tumbler with all sorts of text and fonts for an additional $10. It comes in three sizes: 12-, 16- and 20-ounce.
While it doesn’t insulate cold drinks as well as hot ones, it offers an incredibly secure flip lid that lets you take a big gulp without worry. The lid stays secure, and there is a slight slant to it, which means you won’t need to worry about drips and dribbles as you drink. Sheri also notes that the spout cover lifts and locks into place in both the open and closed positions. It takes a little force to lock them into place, meaning it’s very secure and leakproof compared to the spout mechanisms on other tumblers.
“I absolutely must have a leakproof tumbler that can withstand being dropped or knocked over. The lid design is not only highly functional, it’s also durable,” says Sheri. And this one delivers, boasting nothing more than a few shallow scuffs after big drops onto the pavement. “I love the sleek and slim design; it is indeed simple and modern. Although this may not be the best bet for the beach, this leak-free tumbler is a great value,” she says.
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The Corkcicle tumbler is the most expensive pick on this list, but it makes sense. This designer coffee tumbler makes any trip feel much more bougie thanks to its beautiful aesthetic and off-the-wall pattern options. Choices like walnut wood, glossy powder blue and iridescent dragonfly add a little style to every sip. The ceramic-coated interior also combats any metallic taste. While a bit pricier and smaller than other options, it earns its spot thanks to a clever design that’s ideal for taking on the go.
But its beauty isn’t the only reason we recommend setting it under your single-serve coffee maker. When it comes to commuting, the Corkcicle is a champ. The exterior metal is smooth and slippery, but this tumbler has flat-edge design features on two sides that help with stability. While not an ultra-slim design, it’s comfortable to hold while sitting on a bus or sipping in the car.
Additionally, it has a very secure screw-on lid. To open the drinking spout, simply push on the lid and drink from any side of the cup. It requires some force to push, which may be a bit cumbersome, but it goes a long way toward making this a truly leakproof pick. Not much liquid splashes out during each sip, and the lid is smooth with no obstructions.
“The 360-degree uniquely designed lid is the standout feature of this tumbler. I love that you can drink from any side of the cup without taking your eyes off the road,” says Sheri. This is one of her favorites. Although it didn’t do as well with hot beverages as it did with cold beverages, it stood out as a top performer for cold retention. As a bonus, it didn’t leak one drop when it hit the hard pavement from a few feet up.
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If you’re browsing through this list of the best coffee tumblers and none offer a style that speaks to you, let me introduce you to Swiglife cups. Whether you’re looking for a solid shade or a design featuring cactuses, cow print or colorful clouds, there’s a print for you. Snagging one of these stylish options is a surefire way to bring a pop of joy to your coffee bar.
More than 54 (!!!) colors and patterns are up for grabs, each available in either 14- or 22-ounce options. The tumblers are also triple-insulated for better heat retention. While they didn’t perform as well as some of the other picks on this list (think melted ice after six hours), the sliding lid is pretty leak resistant when held upside down. It didn’t respond well to shaking, though, so this is one option you’ll want to keep in your hand or cup holder rather than in a bag.
Sheri notes that the cup feels great in the hand, and the slightly tapered design provides a nice grip toward the bottom. Overall, it feels balanced and stable as she’s holding it. Plus, it’s rather user friendly since the tab on the side of the clear plastic lid is easy to flip off or push into place.
Washing it is as simple as popping it on the top shelf of the dishwasher. It’s also easy to hand wash, since it’s big enough for a whole hand to fit inside for scrubbing. As a bonus, the lid doesn’t have a ton of crevices for gunk to get trapped in. Overall, this is our favorite flashy pick. If style matters more than substance, you’ll love the performance of this sassy and Instagram-worthy tumbler.
The best coffee tumbler depends on the person using it. While some folks want a rugged option that stays intact after drops on the trail, others look for attractive picks that perform well without breaking the bank. Each coffee thermos offers its own pros and cons, so it’s important to first consider when and how you’ll use it. Some traits to keep in mind while shopping include:
Coffee expert Erin Doern also offers a few additional considerations. “When choosing a tumbler, look for one with a vacuum-insulated, double-wall exterior to maintain your coffee’s temperature longer. The lid design is also important with options such as locks, wide mouths, or even straws, all of which suit personal preferences. Additionally, a good tumbler must fit in your car’s cup holder,” she says. “A spill-proof design is a great bonus. No one wants to spill coffee on their way to work, and the convenience of being able to throw [the tumbler] in a bag while traveling is always a plus!”
In our search for the best coffee tumbler, our expert Product Testing Team tested more than 20 tumblers from popular brands and more niche—albeit well-reviewed—shops. To give each a fair shake, we created rigid standards and subjected each travel coffee mug to the same 11 tests. Overall, we collected more than 730 data points and spent an estimated 50 hours on the test. This includes the time it took to research, source, intake and test the products.
We conducted tests in the following categories:
Our testers placed 140 degrees Fahrenheit water (the typical hottest serving/drinking temperature of hot coffee) in each tumbler, then measured the temperature after four hours to see how much it fell. They left all tumblers in the refrigerator to simulate a near-freezing day, then filled each tumbler halfway with ice and added 60 degrees Fahrenheit water (the typical temperature of cold tap water) until full. After another four hours leaving the tumblers outside in the sun (on a day when the temperature was in the mid-to-high 70s), they measured the temperature again to see how much it rose and if any ice remained.
Testers sipped liquid from the tumbler to evaluate the pleasantness and ease of the drinking experience, monitoring cup lip thickness, opening placement, flow and any other aspects that affect drinking.
Testers attempted to place the tumbler in a standard car cup holder to see if it fit. If the tumbler had a pop top, testers rapidly opened the lid five times to gauge how cumbersome it was to open and close and how tiring it was on the hand. Testers then carried each full tumbler around for five minutes to assess its weight, circumference and, ultimately, comfort.
Testers shook each tumbler upside down for 15 seconds to see if and how much the cup leaked.
Testers pushed the tumbler from a hip-height ledge onto the pavement once to see if it scratched, spilled, dented or popped open.
Testers weighed each empty tumbler and noted its fluid capacity and materials. They also looked at how well the tumblers fit into standard-sized cup holders in cars.
Since lids and gaskets often have nooks and crannies that cling onto grime and gunk, testers noted the ease or difficulty of cleaning each option around the top seal.
Testers also washed each tumbler in the dishwasher two to three times, noting its appearance and cleanliness afterward. Since heat affects the silicone and plastic parts, we turned off the hot water for this test. All lids sat on the top shelf during the dishwashing cycle.
Testers swabbed the inside of each tumbler and used a rapid lead test kit to check for the presence of lead.
Our Product Testing and Shopping Teams have a combined decade of experience testing and evaluating products. As purveyors of everything from the best coffee subscriptions to the best coffee products, we are passionate about our morning brew. We conducted all tests in our Product Testing Lab under controlled conditions to rate each tumbler’s performance. Our team spent an estimated 50 hours on this test, including researching, sourcing, intake and testing the products.
For this piece on the best coffee tumblers, we also consulted Erin Doern, coffee expert and Head of Product Development at Free Rein Coffee, for her take on what makes the best coffee tumbler.
According to our tests, the Stanley AeroLight Transit Bottle offers the best overall insulation. After six hours, the cold coffee still measured at 34.7 degrees Fahrenheit. During the hot test, the Stanley performed similarly well, keeping hot beverages at 115.7 degrees Fahrenheit after six hours. That said, the Zojirushi thermos is our favorite option for hot coffee since it comes with a five-year warranty on heat retention and performs nearly as well as the Stanley.
Recently, news about detectable lead in some travel mugs has led (get it?) to concerns about using certain brands. Lead is used primarily to assist with a coffee tumbler’s vacuum seal and doesn’t typically come into contact with beverages. For our tests to find the best coffee tumblers, we used an at-home lead detection kit to pick up any discernible lead in the interior of the cups. Our intention was to disqualify any that picked up noticeable traces. Luckily, each pick passed without any lead detected.
“Bigger isn’t always better,” says Erin. “Make sure the tumbler’s design is comfortable to hold and fits in your bag or cup holder when you’re on the go.” Erin also offers a few tips for finding the perfect size for your needs.
“To determine the right size of a coffee tumbler, consider your daily coffee intake and lifestyle. Popular sizes range from 16 to 30 ounces. If you prefer iced coffee, you might want a slightly larger tumbler to accommodate ice. For long commutes or busy workdays, a tumbler sized to hold your full morning coffee is ideal. Alternatively, if you prefer refilling more often throughout the day, a smaller tumbler may be more suitable,” she says.
Originally Published: August 26, 2024
