A travel coffee mug should do at least two things extremely well: keep your coffee hot and keep it from spilling all over your bag/car/desk. Additionally, issues of size, aesthetics, ease of cleaning, and one-handed operation may be factors to consider. Our list was compiled based on CNET's previous picks, those that have been carefully reviewed by other review sites and appear repeatedly on best lists, as well as best-selling and consistently highly rated models at major retailers such as Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.
Most travel coffee mugs claim to keep liquids “hot” for about 5-6 hours. To test this, I filled each of the models here with 170 degree liquid and measured the temperature after 3 hours and 5 hours. Travel mug lids tend to fall into one of two camps, either some sort of screw-on threaded mechanism or a plastic and rubber screw-on/screw-on lid that creates a vacuum seal. To test the leak-proofness, I repeatedly tipped each cup when it was full, looking for a hint of a drip.
Comparison of the best travel mugs
| Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug | Miir Flip Traveler | Yeti Rambler | Contigo West Loop | Keep the cup | Hydroflask 16 oz | S'well tumbler | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes, ounces | 12, 16, 20 | 12, 16, 20 | 10, 14, 20, 24, 30 | 16, 20, 24 | 6, 8, 12, 16 | 12, 16, 20 | 10.16 |
| Lid type | Screw top | Screw top | Turn/press it | Screw top | Press | Screw top | Press |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes | Above all | Yes | No | Yes | Above all |
| Dishwasher safe? | No | Yes* | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Price | $29 | $28 | $35 | $23 | $31 | $35 | $30 |
