Features You Should Consider When Purchasing Travel Coffee Mugs

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.

Travel coffee 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.

Of course, even a large mug can keep drinks very hot if they are insulated properly. Some of the best travel mugs have double walled construction to provide the necessary insulation. There is a pocket of air between the inner and outer walls and this is what keeps the drinks from cooling off too quickly. However, not all mugs can be put in the dishwasher without ruining the insulating qualities.

There is nothing worse than a travel mug which is difficult to clean. In order to make it easy to clean, you want to make sure that your mug has a lid that is completely removable so that coffee and other liquids do not get dried into the interior. If you are hand washing your mug, you want to make sure that the mouth of the mug is wide enough that you can get your hand all the way in so that you can clean the bottom. You also need to keep in mind that if the mug says you cannot put it in the dishwasher, you probably can’t without ruining the insulating qualities of the mug. If it is important to you to be able to wash your mug in the dishwasher, make sure you pick one that says it is dishwasher safe.

You need to make sure that your lid is something that you can open and close easily with one or two hands. Many have a tab that you slide across in order to close the mug and keep liquids inside. Some may be very stiff and hard to manipulate which will not be good if you are trying to work with only one hand. You should try it out before you buy the mug. You might also want to make sure that it can keep liquids from spilling as this is a requirement that many offices have for staff working with computers.

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.

Any travel mug can make a long commute more tolerable. By picking the right one you can enjoy hot coffee or tea no matter where you are or how long you have until you reach your destination.

If you enjoy taking your morning coffee on your drive in to work, buy travel coffee mugs to keep your beverage warm. Find the right coffee travel mug for you, here!