Why everyone should switch to reusable coffee cups already

Save the turtles and use a reusable cup, dude.
 By  Samantha Kupiainen  on 
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Overview

Best Eco-friendly Design

KeepCup

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Best For Portability

Stojo

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Best Leak-proof Cup

EMISK

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Best Color Selection

Simple Modern

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Most Unique Coffee Cup

Thompson Mug Co.

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Best Budget Option

Contigo

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Best Handled Cup

MiiR

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Best Electric Cup

Ember

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Best Glass Cup

JOCO

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See 5 More

Table of Contents

A 2018 survey revealed that 64% of Americans start their morning with a nice cup of coffee.

If you don't work from home, or even if you do, stopping (or running out) for a cup of joe is convenient for those busy mornings, which, let’s face it, are basically every day. As much of a lifesaver and convenience as that liquid gold can be in the morning, grabbing a cup to-go at your local coffee shop adds up over time in both monetary value and waste. In fact, it’s estimated that 50 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year in the U.S. alone On a global scale, roughly 500 billion plastic cups are thrown away each year.

Bottom line: That’s a lot of preventable waste.

Reusable coffee cups are an eco-friendly alternative. Most coffee shops (at least in non-pandemic times) allow you to bring your own cup that can be filled with your drink of choice, and some even knock a few cents off your bill for doing so, such as Starbucks. Before you decide to go-green and do so, just make sure that your coffee cup is clean when you bring it in — cleanliness is next to godliness after all.

It’s also worth noting that it’s not just coffee drinkers who can use reusable cups — I’m looking at you, tea drinkers and kombucha lovers.

What should I look for in a resusable cup?

When you start to look for a reusable coffee cup, there’s a lot that you should consider. Price is a big driving factor but shouldn’t be your main determinant. Right off the bat, the first thing you should look for is that your reusable cup is BPA-free. BPA stands for bisphenol A, and it’s a toxic industrial chemical that’s been used to make various plastic items, such as food and beverage containers, since the 1960s.

So please, think of your health and don’t buy a cup that is made with BPA.

Secondly, you’ll want to make sure that your cup has great insulation to keep your coffee cold or hot throughout the day, whichever you prefer. This will prevent you from having to reheat your drink throughout the day. Some keywords to look for are "18/8 stainless steel" or "double insulated walls."

Next, you’ll want to look for a reusable cup that has a vacuum-sealed lid. This is especially important for folks who take their coffee on-the-go, as it’ll prevent your beverage from spilling during your commute. One of the worst ways to start your day is with spilled coffee. Once that happens, it’s just all downhill from there.

Lastly, when you’re on the hunt for your new reusable coffee cup, take your cup holder into consideration. Save yourself some time and heartache and make sure your cup is a reasonable size and will fit into your car’s cup holder.

Now that you know what to look for in a reusable coffee cup and have been trained on the best practices when you bring your own cup to the coffeehouse, here are some cups for you to consider.

The Good & The Bad

  • Protective layer of DuraCoat
  • No-sweat design
  • Difficult to chip its paint or dent its exterior
  • Some reviewers reported having leaky lids, making it not ideal for on-the-go

“It’s everything I was looking for. It’s strong and has a good weight to it. Even with scalding hot coffee inside, you cannot feel the heat while holding the outside of the container.” 

Why We Like It

For those early morning commutes when coffee is a necessity, there’s a laundry list of features that coffee snobs look for in a good, reusable cup. 

At the top of the list is for it to stay hot/cold for X amount of hours, to be sweat- and leak-proof, and for the cup to be compatible with coffee cup holders in vehicles. With the YETI Rambler, that’s exactly what you get. 

It’s pretty pricey compared to other tumblers, but it packs a punch. Its 18/8 stainless steel exterior makes it nearly impossible to dent, and it's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. The Rambler also comes with its signature MagSlider Lid, which uses the power of magnets to keep the cup's contents on lock.

Amazon reviewer Austin describes the Rambler as everything he was looking for in a coffee cup, as well as really high quality.

Details

KeepCup

KeepCup

Best Eco-friendly Design

The Good & The Bad

  • Minimal and compact design
  • 100% recyclable
  • Glass cup keeps coffee flavor better
  • It’s made of glass, so if you’re clumsy this might be something to pass on

“Absolutely love this cup, it is a joy to use time and time again. I get lots of compliments at my local coffeehouse for its appearance. The cup is made of glass, so that part doesn't absorb any coloring or smells. I quite like being able to see that it's clean.”

Why We Like It

This one caught my eye because of how unique it looks compared to others on the market. It’s aesthetically pleasing while also offering features unlike any other cup. 

The KeepCup is BPA-free and has a splash-proof lid. Here’s where it gets interesting: all of its bells and whistles can be recycled when they’ve come to the end of their life, such as its lid and cork band. They offer replacement parts on Amazon when that time comes.

Amazon reviewer Becky describes this cup as a great value and says she gets all the compliments at her local coffee shop when she uses it. Who doesn’t love a compliment to start their morning? 

Details

Stojo

Stojo

Best For Portability

The Good & The Bad

  • Portable
  • Easy to store
  • Compactible
  • Made from eco-friendly materials
  • Amazon customers report it not keeping their beverages hot or cold very long
  • Leaks

Why We Like It

For on-the-go coffee drinkers, this cup is a lifesaver — you just collapse it, throw it in your bag, and go! Its petite design is decked out in cool features, such as a sleeve to protect your hand from hot beverages, and an insulated lid to keep your beverages at just the right temperature — and to keep it from spilling, of course. 

The Stojo cup is made from recyclable materials, only adding to its eco-friendly appeal. However, users beware: Some reviewers have reported leakage after they’ve collapsed their cup, spilling their cups' contents in their bags or purses, while others say that the cup can get too hot if very hot liquids are poured inside. This one is probably better for iced coffee, cold brew, and tea.

Details

EMISK

EMISK

Best Leak-proof Cup

The Good & The Bad

  • Leak proof
  • You can drink from it on all sides
  • It’s only available in one color

“So, I'll preface by saying I'm demanding, and pretty much want a coffee mug to be perfect in every way, like a holy grail. The design is great. I'm on the go and toss this in my bag, car, anywhere, without worrying. Keeps heat? Absolutely. I imagine it's great for cold too, but I use it pretty much for morning coffee then possibly tea or hot water later in the day. No problems keeping the heat. Easy to use. Easy to take apart and clean. Good size.”

Why We Like It

Most decent reusable coffee cups can run upwards of $25, but that isn’t the case with the EMISK cup.

It has double walls to keep your beverages at your ideal temperature, and is made of 18/8 stainless steel. The EMISK cup’s exterior is pretty basic and has standard leak-proof and sweat-proof features. However, it gets your attention with its one-click opening design, which allows you to drink from all sides, 360 degrees — allowing you to save time unscrewing and screwing back on the lid. No one has time for that. 

Just ask J Thomas, who couldn’t stop listing off good things about this EMISK cup on Amazon: 

Details

Simple Modern

Simple Modern

Best Color Selection

The Good & The Bad

  • It’s available in 15 unique designs and colors
  • Dents easily
  • Some Amazon reviewers report leakage

“The leak proof lid is great! I can easily leave this in my bag without any worries about it leaking or the lid accidentally opening due to the lock! It’s also a good size; not too big or too small. It’s also smooth to touch!” 

Why We Like It

If you drink a *lot* of coffee, you'll love this one. The Simple Modern Kona Travel Mug is one of the bigger cup options on the market, coming in at 16 oz. of goodness. 

Even bigger is its color selection. The tumbler has 15 color choices, which include patterns like marble and ombres. Its slim design fits in most cup holders, while its travel safe and lock lid makes it leak-proof and ideal for one-the-go and everyday use. Just ask Amazon reviewer Teenah Tee. 

Plus, coming in at only $13.99, it’s sure to not break the bank.

Details

Thompson Mug Co.

Thompson Mug Co.

Most Unique Coffee Cup

The Good & The Bad

  • Pretty unique
  • Compact design
  • Good quality
  • Isn’t leak proof
  • Doesn’t keep your beverages hot or cold
  • Not ideal for everyday use

Why We Like It

One item most people probably wouldn’t think could double as a coffee mug is a baseball bat, and rightfully so.

Thompson Mug Co. sells baseball bat mugs for sports lovers. However, it doesn’t have a lid — it’s literally a hollowed out baseball bat. This cup's design makes it rather difficult to use every day and with on-the-go lifestyles. 

Nonetheless, its slim design and unique material makes it a great gift and will surely stand out at coffee shops. (Still, it's only for baseball fans.) 

Details

Contigo

Contigo

Best Budget Option

The Good & The Bad

  • Leak-proof
  • Easy one-handed drinking
  • Isn’t sweat proof

“Turn it upside down. Give it a shake. Let it roll under the seat. This thing NEVER leaks! I have three of these now in different colors because some days I might want to carry more than one coffee + hot chocolate or tea. SUPER easy to clean! I put the cup on the lower rack of the dishwasher and the lid on the top rack. They come out clean as a whistle every time.” 

Why We Like It

When it comes down to it, the Contigo coffee cup is incredibly hard to beat. For its size and price, there aren’t too many other options on Amazon like this one. 

The coffee mug has a snapseal leak-proof lid, which is essential for any and all coffee cups that you’ll be enjoying on the go. It has a no-slip belt, which makes carrying it in one hand safe and easy — with much less risk of spilling.

Even better, its thermalock vacuum insulation keeps your beverages hot or cold for hours. This Contigo’s features has Amazon customers raving about it, just ask reviewer R. Curbo. 

Details

MiiR

MiiR

Best Handled Cup

The Good & The Bad

  • Uniqe color selection
  • Its handle makes it hard to fit in standard cup holders
  • Pricey for a cup

“Best mug ever! I typically don't drink my coffee with the lid on, but on bumpy car rides sometimes it's necessary! I have a little coffee mess kit I bring with me everywhere and this mug is now part of it! Durable and always keeps my liquids hot!”

Why We Like It

Sometimes the best thing is just sitting down to enjoy a nice cup of coffee while you’re on the go or in the office. Even better is getting the chance to enjoy it out of an actual coffee cup and not a travel thermos. 

The MiiR allows you to transport your coffee cup to and from the wherever, thanks to its vacuum-insulated lid and hardshell powder coating, giving you extra grip. Even better — it comes in speckled and copper colors to add some flair to your desk. 

This Amazon reviewer even goes as far as to rave about this being the best mug ever. 

Details

Ember

Ember

Best Electric Cup

The Good & The Bad

  • Keeps your coffee continuously warm
  • Not ideal for travel
  • Pricey
  • Some users report incompatibility with LG Smartphones
  • Others report its color chipping
  • Can only keep drinks hot

“My favorite feature is how the ember app notifies you when your coffee is at your perfect temperature. The app also has some awesome preset temps to choose from (I.e. coffee, tea, latte, etc.). Although the battery doesn’t last for hours, the battery has more than enough energy capacity for your morning coffee or tea rituals.”

Why We Like It

The last thing you’d imagine to go electric is your coffee cup, yet, here we are, discussing an electric coffee cup. 

The Ember cup is ideal for coffee snobs. This cup can keep your beverage between 120°F — 145°F and has a one hour battery life. You can even connect it to your smartphone and heat up your cup from another room. Its design makes it not ideal for using on-the-go, but its ability to control the temperature with your smartphone is convenient. Say goodbye to heating your coffee up over and over again in the microwave with this tech-savvy alternative. 

Amazon reviewer EPG says this cup is decked out in all the features, and is worth the investment. 

Details

JOCO

JOCO

Best Glass Cup

The Good & The Bad

  • Anti-splash lid
  • Easily breakable because it’s glass
  • Expensive

“I have two of these cups, one in the 12 oz (mint) and one in 16 oz (red). I have had them for over a year and use them both almost every day. I have never had any problem with spills - I am constantly amazed that the lid stays on so nicely and seals everything in with just a tiny little lip!”

Why We Like It

Coffee connoisseurs swear by using a glass coffee cup.

The JOCO glass reusable coffee cup has many Amazon reviewers referring to it as their new everyday coffee cup that keeps their coffee tasting great. Just ask reviewer Hungry.

Its silicone sleeve protects your hand from the hottest of coffee and its minimal design makes it easy to clean.  Even better, it’ll hold up over time because it’s made from glass. 

Details


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