4 February 2021
Best reusable coffee cups and travel mugs for 2021
We've tested a selection of reusable cups and travel mugs to see which ones are built to last, less likely to spill and easy to clean – and will keep your drink hot, too.
In this article
If you enjoy a hot drink on the morning commute or on a weekend walk, investing in a reusable cup or travel mug can score you discounts on your drinks and also benefit the environment.
Reusable coffee cups and travel mugs are more popular than ever, and there's never been a better time to get one. With the environmental impact of single-use disposable cups in mind, a number of big-name coffee chains, including Costa Coffee, Pret and Starbucks, now offer discounts to customers who bring in their own cup.
Below, we've rounded up the reusable coffee cups and travel mugs that will keep your favourite drink warm and prevent spills, as well as cutting down on waste.
Fancy making yourself a coffee at home? Find out the best coffee machines for quick and easy espressos and lattes.
Reusable cup or travel mug: which is right for you?
Reusable cup
Literally, a reusable version of a disposable takeaway cup. Prices range from £1 to around £30 - pricier models are usually insulated stainless steel. Most have a capacity of around 350ml - a regular-sized coffee. Usually not fully spill-proof - intended for transporting coffee short distances
Travel mugs
Prices range from £5 - £30. Typically available in either a regular 350ml size, or a larger 470ml option. Designed to be more leak-proof than reusable cups - good if you're travelling further or want a hands-free commute
Best reusable coffee cups
We've tested all the big brand coffee cups, from the Keepcup to Chilly's, rCup and Stojo.
Only logged-in members can view which models came out on top in the table below. If you're not yet a member, sign up to Which? today for instant access to the best cups - and all our reviews.
| Name | Dishwasher safe? | Cleaning | Build quality | Overall score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Stainless steel 340ml |
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| Bru describes its reusable cup as ‘dark, bold, contemporary’. It’s certainly got style, but will it keep your coffee piping hot? Our review reveals all – log in now or join Which? today. | ||||
 Plastic340ml/454ml |
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| The KeepCup comes in two sizes, and the body, lid and plug can all be recycled. We got our hands on Caffe Nero's cup to see how sturdy it is.Uncover this cup's test score – log in now or join Which? today. | ||||
 Stainless steel 340ml |
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| Chilly’s, known for its reusable water bottles, also offer reusable coffee cups in a range of colourful designs. They’re pricier than many other reusable cups on the market, so check whether it’s worth investing in before you buy – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel 355ml |
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| Corkcicle says its stainless-steel travel cup has triple insulation to keep drinks hot for three hours. Discover whether it lived up to its claims in our heat retention test – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Glass/cork/BPA-free plastic 227ml /340ml/454ml |
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| The KeepCup is made from recyclable materials and 'durable, toughened glass'. In our tests, we checked to see how well it retains heat and how easy it is to clean. Make sure the KeepCup is worth your hard-earned cash – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Sustainable bamboo fibre/silicone 355ml |
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| Pret launched its own branded version of the eCoffee bamboo cup in summer 2018, and if you take one in store, you'll get a 50p discount on your drink order. Find out how this cup compares with a Starbucks cup – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 BPA-free plastic 340ml |
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| This reusable coffee cup is made from recycled materials. A push-down lid aims to prevent spills while you're on the move, but does it do a good job? Find out how the rCup fared in our tests– log in now or join Which? today. |
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 BPA-free plastic 473ml (grande) |
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| The low price of Starbucks' reusable cup makes it a tempting offer, but are you better off spending more elsewhere? Read our thoughts on this cheap cup – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Silicone/BPA-free plastic 340ml/454ml |
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| A unique collapsible design means this reusable cup stands out from the crowd, but will it keep your drink warm? To see how this cup compares with similarly priced alternatives – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Plastic 355ml |
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| This affordable cup from Waitrose is nice to look at, but can you trust it to keep your drink warm on a chilly morning? To see how this reusable coffee cup scores, log in now or join Which? today. |
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| Last updated November 2019. | ||||
Best travel mugs
To see which travel mugs pair a sturdy, secure design with excellent heat retention, see our comparison table below for our top picks. We've tested travel mugs from Thermos, S'well, Tefal and Bodum, as well as a cheap own-brand option from Wilko.
Only logged-in Which? members can access the results. Not yet a member? Join Which? to get instant access to all our test scores and reviews.
| Dishwasher safe? | Cleaning | Build quality | Overall score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 100% recycled BPA-free plastic 350ml |
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| It’s not just the colour that’s green with this travel mug – Aladdin says its eco-friendly mug is made from 100% recycled and recyclable material. See how it scores on heat retention, leakage and more in our review – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/plastic 350ml |
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| Dubbed the perfect mug for an 'on-the-go lifestyle', this travel mug comes in several vibrant colours. Find out how we rated this mug – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 340ml |
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| CamelBak says it has ‘reinvented the travel mug’, offering a self-sealing cap that enables you to drink one-handed. Discover whether this unique mug could be your ideal on-the-go drinking vessel – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/silicone 470ml |
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| Contigo says that its travel mug is the ideal companion for commuters, but does the push-to-drink mechanism make it a pain to clean? Find out how we rated this mug – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/plastic/silicone 350ml |
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| We like the metallic look of this travel mug, but were our team of testers impressed by the build quality? To see if the Eva Solo Flask scores well for heat retention, log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/silicone 345ml |
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| The sleek Nespresso Touch Travel Mug looks great up close, but will you dread cleaning it when you're back at home? Find out how we rated this stylish Nespresso mug – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel >470ml |
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| This travel mug’s cheerful pattern is sure to brighten up a dull, winter morning. But how effective is the cap at preventing leaks? Find out whether you can trust it to keep your bag dry – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/silicone/BPA-free plastic 360ml/500ml |
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| This travel mug has a soft-touch silicone sleeve that makes it grippy. It's described as '100% leakproof', but do our tests agree? Find out how we rated this mug – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel >470ml |
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| Thermos makes some bold statements about its Direct Drink travel mug, claiming its leak-proof, super light and keeps drinks hot for ten hours. Read our review to find out whether it lives up to expectations – log in or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/BPA-free plastic 470ml |
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| Thermos is a big name in the world of travel mugs, so does this mug deserve a spot in your backpack if you're travelling? Find out how we rated this mug – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/BPA-free plastic420ml |
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| We’ve tested three Thermos travel mugs and the Thermocafe translucent travel mug is the cheapest of all of them – but does it still deliver the quality you would expect from a Thermos? Find out whether it’s one of our top picks – log in now or join Which? today. |
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 Stainless steel/silicone/BPA-free plastic 500ml |
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| Wilko’s cheap travel mug seems like a bargain, but how does its heat retention and leak prevention compare with more expensive models? See how this cheap travel mug fared in our tests – log in now or join Which? today. |
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| Table last updated November 2019. | ||||
How we tested reusable coffee cups and travel mugs
We rated each cup on how easy it was to drink from and clean, and how well it retained heat and prevented spills or leaks.
Our in-house scientists tested the mugs for heat retention and spillage, but we also got a panel of testers to try out each mug, assessing how easy they were to use and drink from, how touch-comfortable they are to carry when filled with hot water and how easy it is to remove the lid.
We also rated how easy they are to clean and grip, and how slip-proof they are when placed on a smooth surface.
Looking after your reusable cup or travel mug
We washed up many reusable cups in our quest to find the best. Here are some top tips (learned the hard way) on how to keep your mug squeaky clean, and what to do if it breaks.
Cleaning
While some coffee cups and travel mugs can be popped into the dishwasher (usually top-shelf only), others need to be washed by hand. Check the packaging that came with your cup or head to the brand's website for detailed instructions.
If you want to give your travel mug a thorough clean, remember the following:
If the lid has fiddly parts, you could invest in a small round cleaning brush for getting into the nooks and crannies. You could also buy some cheap sterilising tablets or a little baking soda, and sterilise the lid once a week by adding the tablets to water and leaving it to soak for a short while.
Replaceable parts
If you lose or damage part of your cup, such as the lid or seal, many brands offer replacements you can order online, including Bru, Chilly's, Keepcup, Stojo, rCup, Thermos, Bodum and Contigo. Check the manufacturer website for information.
Coffee shop discounts available with your reusable cup
Switching to a reusable cup doesn’t only benefit the environment; it can save you money too.
Many high street coffee shops offer money off or reward stamps if you bring in a reusable cup, which can add up to big savings over time. The most generous discounts could save you more than £100 a year if you're a regular coffee drinker.
Below, you can see the discounts offered by popular coffee shops and the potential saving you could make over a year:
Want to save even more on your coffee habit? Consider buying a coffee machine and making your own brew at home. To find out how to choose the right model for you, see our full coffee machine buying guide.
Costa cup: the travel mug you can pay with
Costa’s Clever Cup is a unique travel mug that can be used for contactless payments. The cup costs £15 and is available from Costa coffee stores across the UK. The cup’s removable base has space for a chip that you register to the Barclaycard bPay app and top up like a prepaid account. You can then use it instead of a card or phone to make contactless payments of up to £30.
We tried it out as a contactless payment method in a coffee shop and tested it during a commute, to see how it would fare with contactless payment ticket barriers. Watch our video report to see how we got on.
Costa has also launched its own branded version of the rCup, made from recycled disposable Costa cups.
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