If, like many people, you commute to and from work, you may find that the trip is a lot easier if you have coffee you can take with you. It is also much more affordable for you to bring a mug when buying coffee on the go. Rather than deal with the small, flimsy and spill-prone cups you are given, travel coffee mugs can be the way to bring the perk back into your morning and the spring back in your step.
Coffee travel mugs come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They can be made from materials including stainless steel, plastic, stoneware and even ceramic. Their size can range from a small 12 oz size which can be great for a small drink on the run, to a (debatably) healthy 22 oz sized mug that can keep you sipping through the longest commutes.
If you are buying a travel mug there are a few things you want to look for. The first factor is insulation. Good travel mugs usually have double walled construction that helps keep your hot beverages as warm as possible for as long as possible. Knowing what makes up the double walled construction is important since, while metal makes an excellent insulator, it can also make nuking your coffee to warm it up again impossible.
The next thing you want to make sure is that your travel mug is easy to clean. The lid should be easy to remove and the wider the opening is the easier it will be to clean the interior. If you want to clean your travel mug in a dishwasher you need to make sure that it is dishwasher safe so that cleaning it that way does not damage the insulation.
The lid on your travel mug needs to be easy to open, remove, and seal properly. It should also be drip free since there is nothing worse than having coffee or tea leak on your suit while on the way to work. Ideally, your lid should be easy to open with only one hand. This can be especially important if you are planning on drinking the hot beverage inside while you are in the car, or if you are moving it around with your other hand full.
The shape of the travel mug’s bottom is also critical if you will be putting the mug in a cup holder. Most cup holders are a fairly standard size, although some cars have cup holders that are a different size. Although a wide bottomed cup holder can be handy to prevent it from tipping and spilling a wide bottomed mug will not help you if you are driving in a car or van where there is no flat surface to put the travel mug on. If you are unsure about whether the mug will fit, look for specific mention of it in the description of the mug before you buy it.
There are other unique travel mugs that you can use to transport hot beverages. There is the standard thermos, which many people like because it can hold quite a bit of liquid and keep it warm for quite some time. One of the more interesting products on the market is the French press. This is a coffee mug with a specialized lid that allows you to brew coffee or tea right in the mug. The mesh press pushes down and strains the loose leaf tea or the coffee grounds which can result in a superior hot beverage that is fresh and truly gourmet.
Your morning travel may seem bleak but using a travel mug can take the edge off of a long ride in to the office. By choosing carefully you can find the one that suits your needs and your budget and keep you happily caffeinated all day long.
When you’re able to find good travel coffee mugs you might just want to pick up several of them. Having a coffee travel mug can really make a different on your daily commute.