Last Updated on February 14, 2020 by
Lately, I’ve seen plain white travel coffee mugs everywhere.
They catch my eye because they look like paper coffee mugs, but they’re not.
Just look at this and tell me it doesn’t look like a run-of-the-mill Starbucks disposable mug:
More and more people are starting to use reusable travel coffee mugs ([easyazon_link keywords=”travel coffee mugs” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]See examples and prices with free shipping[/easyazon_link]).
When they are this cute it’s no wonder they are switching from paper.
These travel coffee mugs are typically made out of either porcelain, ceramic or bpa-free plastic.
So how do you pick the best?
Well, besides style and color there are a few futures worth noting:
Porcelain or Ceramic Travel Coffee Mugs
Depending on whether you are looking for a durable travel mug or a mug that doesn’t make your coffee taste funny you should consider different features.
First, if you’re looking for a pure coffee taste you should buy a porcelain or ceramic mug.
The reason so many people choose porcelain or ceramic is because unlike stainless steel travel mugs, these cups are just like regular old coffee mugs in that they don’t affect the coffee flavor.
Another type (and my husbands preferred coffee mug is the Walmart version of the Yeti Cup, the Ozark Trail Tumbler (review).
Porcelain Travel Coffee Mugs
The original “I am Not a Paper Cup” travel coffee mug is porcelain and holds about 10 ounces of liquid.
Reviewers say that the double insulation keeps the coffee hot and your hands from burning.
The ‘I am Not a Paper Cup’ [easyazon_link keywords=”I Am Not a Paper Cup” locale=”US” tag=”gogreentravel-20″]Cup[/easyazon_link] is also Dishwasher Safe.
This is a cool product that I have given as gifts.
There are a number of other porcelain travel mugs on the market today.
Check out the fun designs of these C.R. Gibson porcelains mugs and Sagaform porcelain take away mugs.
For a less expensive option, buy the porcelain Eco Cup.
Ceramic Travel Coffee Mugs
A Smart Planet 16 oz. Eco Cup is The lid and sleeve are silicone, and the cup is dishwasher and microwave safe.
Smart Planet also has several colorful travel mugs like ;a fun blue one.
The Kikkerland mug holds 12 ounces, comes with a silicone lid and is made of ceramic.
Just like the Kikkerland, the Trudeau Xpress Ceramic Tumbler is a ceramic coffee mug, though it only holds 10 ounces.
Unlike the other mugs I’ve seen it comes with a 5 year warranty.
BPA Free Plastic Travel Coffee Mugs
There are mugs looks just like the other Not a Paper Cup travel mugs, but it is made of BPA-Free Plastic.
So, it won’t break as easily as porcelain, though it may affect your coffee flavor unlike porcelain or ceramic which won’t affect the taste of coffee or tea.
The Copco mug also holds 16 ounces if you need a bit more caffeine than other travel coffee mugs can hold.
Size of the Travel Mug
Some of the ceramic mugs are bigger than others.
The trade off is that with the larger mugs they tend to be less insulated because the double insulation wall takes up space.
So be sure to consider what size of coffee you typically drink in the morning before you buy.
Also worth noting is that none of these mugs are made in the United States.
They are mostly made in China.
But let me know if you hear about a Not a Paper Cup type mug that is made in the USA.
Perhaps someday soon Starbucks and Caribou will start charging extra to people who don’t bring reusable mugs.
We love that Ikea charges for bags, and that Target gives you a ten cent discount for every bag you bring in yourself.
For now, get your discount and relieve your guilt by using one of the many reusable travel coffee mugs.