If you’re taking coffee to go, you want it to stay hot. A travel mug is a great option, and so is a more classic thermos — an often larger insulated chamber for your brew that might include a cup so you can pour yourself a fresh dose of coffee.
The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab test all things coffee: drip coffee makers, espresso machines, milk frothers and coffee grinders. They’ve reviewed traditional thermoses as well as insulated mugs in the Lab as well as in their daily lives. They look for mugs that won’t leak, are easy to fill and drink from and will keep beverages hot or cold for hours.
Our top picks:
After our selections, we share more about how we chose these thermoses and mugs as well as what to consider when shopping for one — and how to clean it once it’s yours.
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab chose these thermoses based on both recent testing for travel coffee mugs and heated mugs as well as on brands that have performed well in other tests. Several mugs were assessed during routine commutes and daily use to evaluate their durability, heat retention and cleanability.
Our pros also consider stability and comfort of both holding and drinking as well as pouring, when applicable. They test whether each mug is easy to open and close and whether it’s resistant to leaking.
What to look for when shopping for a coffee thermos
✔️ Capacity: How many ounces of tea/coffee/soup do you need to keep warm? If you’re looking for just enough java for your commute to work, you might prefer an insulated mug style. But if you want to be able to pour hot chocolate for your family during a fall picnic, a traditional thermos that holds several servings is a better bet.
✔️Heat retention: Most insulated thermoses will keep your beverage hot for several hours — and generally cold for even longer than that. But for longer holds, check the manufacturer’s claims on how long the container can maintain heat. And for best results, consider “priming” the thermos with hot water, which you empty before adding your liquid.
✔️Style: Whether you prefer a carafe, a mug, a pitcher or a classic thermos with a cup for a lid, consider whether you would prefer a handle or a sleek design. Think about whether it needs to fit into a standard cup holder or a specific bag or backpack you use regularly. If you’ll be drinking directly from the thermos, consider the type of mouthpiece or drinking spout it comes with.
How to clean your coffee thermos
Ground coffee releases oils that can build up in thermoses and insulated mugs, so you want to make sure you clean the container well after each use. Kitchen Appliances Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou recommends washing by hand and using a bottle brush. “I like bottle brushes that have long handles and that are good at getting into crevices,” she says. “I would also recommend using a straw cleaner for small drinking spouts to better get rid of anything that accumulates.”
Some thermoses are dishwasher safe, and that can be good for an occasional deep clean. But Papantoniou notes that relying on a dishwasher can contribute to the build-up of residual coffee oils, which can affect taste over time.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Sarah Wharton Senior Editor & Analyst Sarah (she/her) is a senior editor and analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests products and covers the best picks across home, kitchen, tech, health and food.
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