All coffee lovers know that drinking a coffee hot is blissful, but drinking it lukewarm is an absolute crime unless you’re into iced coffee.
So often, hurried mornings make it impossible for you to have a peaceful cuppa joe.
If you managed to make freshly brewed coffee but need to get going in a rush, it’s a thermos that comes to the rescue. Just pour your brew into it and keep sipping on hot coffee while on the go.
However, with so many varieties of coffee thermoses available in the market these days, of varying sizes, shapes, models, and colors, it could get confusing to choose the one that will suit your needs.
There’s no need to worry! Here’s all you need to know about the best coffee thermoses to help make up your mind on the suitable pick.
Is A Thermos Really Needed?
When you want to keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold, you can count on a thermos to do so. If you want to take your hot or cold brew to work, while running some errands, or even camping, just pick a thermos that suits your coffee needs.
The benefits of a thermos are too many. You can avoid wasting coffee you couldn’t finish at home by transferring it to your thermos. It’s also an environmental-friendly option compared to drinking your beverage in a single-use plastic cup.
Whether you purchase a thermos that costs more or less, it will last you for a long time, making it worth the spend.
Choosing the Best Coffee Thermos
The wide range of coffee thermoses can make the choice of the perfect one puzzling. All you need to do is break it down into the features you need to look out for, and you’ll land on the one you’re satisfied with.
Here’s what you need to look for in a coffee thermos:
Capacity
Are you going to be using the thermos for carrying a single cup of coffee for yourself or on a family camping trip? How much coffee do you typically brew and consume if it’s just for you? Based on how much beverage you want to carry, there are thermoses designed like a travel mug, ones that can fit in car cup holders, or bigger ones too.
Design
You’re bound to use your thermos often for work, commute, or trips. So you must get one with a design you’ll be comfortable handling and using.
- Thermoses with lids typically have an air-locking lid and an exterior lid that can double as a cup. These are spill-resistant and leak-proof.
- Some have screw-on and snap-on caps, with a slide or flip lid for drinking from.
- A few models have a press button that, when pushed, opens for you to take a sip and then close it.
- A handle is a good design feature for holding the thermos, pouring coffee out, or attaching it to your backpack or belt.
Material
Hands down, the most effective thermos material is stainless steel. It’s resistant to corrosion, can be used for hot and cold drinks, and doesn’t retain odors.
Insulation
A good quality double-walled vacuum insulation works well for keeping your coffee hot for longer. With vacuum insulation, better heat retention is achieved. Overall, it works well for both hot and cold drinks.
Cleanability
The ultimate convenience is to have a thermos that’s dishwasher safe. If not, then you must resort to hand-washing, which doesn’t get very easy. A model with many fiddly parts that need to be taken apart to clean makes it more difficult.
While a bottle brush and soap water would suffice for typical cleaning, if you’d like to get rid of any odor, just add a spoon of baking soda to your thermos and fill it with water. A few shakes after closing the lid and letting it sit for a few hours will do the trick.
The Best Coffee Thermoses
Here are the best ones that you could choose from without second thoughts:
Stanley Classic Vacuum Bottle
The Stanley classic vacuum bottle (Stanley calls it a bottle, not a thermos) is among the most popular ones. With an elegant design, it comes in a range of sizes (25 oz, 1.1 qt, 1.4 qt, and 2 qt).
When a brand has been making all-steel vacuum flasks for over 100 years, one can bet they’re among the best. This durable 18/8 stainless steel thermos has double-wall vacuum insulation. It keeps its contents hot for 40 hours or cold for 35 hours. Fill it with ice, and it can last for 6 days! Isn’t that a handy feature for camping trips?
Yet another appreciative feature is its lid that doubles as an 8-ounce cup (just like your coffee mug at home). And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a collapsible handle for added convenience. With a lifetime warranty, Stanley thermoses are indeed built for life. This is one leak-proof, spill-proof, dishwasher safe, and easy-to-clean thermos.
A curious customer even tested this thermos’s 40-hour heat retention capability with boiling hot water. The water in the thermos, after 40-41 hours, remained hot enough to burn tongues.
Zojirushi Thermos
Yet another brand that’s been around for more than 100 years, the Zojirushi steel mugs are sleek and beautiful, aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. The Zojirushi stainless steel mug has a compact and portable design and makes a great commuter thermos. Stainless steel vacuum insulation keeps your drink at a steady temperature for about 6 hours.
The 18/8 stainless steel interior has a SlickSteel finish, which uses electropolishing technology. Rather than being coated on the inside, an electrically charged polishing process treats and provides the interior finish.
Its flip lid makes it easy to drink from, and the lid lock on the side prevents accidental leakage. It’s also easy to clean, and its stopper can be disassembled. With deceptively small and thin looks, it has maximized capacity.
Unfortunately, the narrow, skinny chamber inside could be difficult to clean compared to wider mugs. However, a simple cleaning brush would suffice for the cleaning (this isn’t a dishwasher-safe thermos).
Available in 12 oz and 16 oz capacities, there are 8 color options to pick from. The vacuum insulation has a 5-year warranty, assuring you can replace a faulty product.
EcoVessel Perk Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Bottle
This is one unique thermos indeed. The EcoVessel Perk Insulated Coffee Tumbler, with a 16 oz capacity, comes with a removable tea or fruit strainer/infuser. With three layers of insulation, your coffee will remain piping hot for 8 hours. It also ensures keeping your iced coffee cold for 20 hours.
If you’re wondering how they’ve managed triple insulation, they’ve combined two layers of 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, an inner copper, with a protective silicone base. This creates a metal vacuum insulated bottle.
The spill-free lid design uses a push button to open, sip, and lock again, making one-handed operation more manageable. What’s great is that this product is recyclable. In addition, its small size and light weight make it an excellent everyday bottle to carry around easily and also fit most car cup holders.
Thermos Stainless King Vacuum Insulated Beverage Bottle
When you like sipping coffee in the company of your family or friends, the Thermos Stainless King is the perfect pick. This large, 40-ounce insulated thermos can keep up to 2 liters of beverages hot or cold for about 24 hours and is ideal for outdoor adventures.
You can pick from a range of 5 different colors. There’s also one available with a 68-ounce capacity. You can trust this brand to really deliver when they say starts hot, stays hot; they do have over 115 years of experience.
The durable stainless steel remains cool to the touch when holding hot coffee and is sweat-free with cold brews. Also, you don’t have to worry about lost lids as this bottle has a twist and pour design; you can serve your drinks without removing the stopper. The built-in serving cup and carry handle provide added convenience.
While it is dishwasher safe, it’s also easy to clean. It weighs about two pounds, so it’s probably not the best – portability-wise, but it does let you share some good coffee with good company. There’s a 5-year warranty on this thermos.
Contigo Autoseal West Loop
A thermos that looks stylish is available in dozens of colors and in capacities of 14 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz, and 24 oz; the Contigo Autoseal West Loop definitely impresses. It’s not just the colors and the capacities that have good options; you can even get one with or without the handle. Since the handle is removable, you can use it as you want.
Despite being vacuum insulated stainless steel, it’s probably not as effective as some of the best ones in the market at keeping coffee hot for longer. Its unique AUTOSEAL technology makes it leak-spill-proof. As a result, your coffee stays hot for about 5 hours or cold for as long as 12 hours.
If you’d like to keep this thermos filled with your beverage in your bag, you can do so without worrying about accidental spills or leaks. There’s a lid lock that prevents the accidental push of the button. The thermos also fits most car cup holders.
Since the lid is dishwasher safe, you could just place it on the top rack of the dishwasher. However, the body needs to be hand washed. If you’ll be hand washing the lid, it could get difficult. One customer review mentions there’s a high chance of mold in the lid, behind the flap, and under the spring since it doesn’t disassemble enough to clean all the way.
With a lifetime warranty, you have extra assurance on replacement in case of any defect at any time.
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Bottle with Flex Cap
The Hydro Flask wide mouth bottle has a minimalist design and looks simple yet eye-catching. It’s available in a range of 15 colors, from bright sunny pops to chill earth tones and 4 sizes from 20 oz to 64 oz.
With the TempShield insulation, beverages stay cold for 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. The wide mouth makes it easier to pour liquids into the bottle and also makes it easy to clean. For your convenience, you can also choose a lid from the range of Hydro Flip Lid, Flex Cap, or Wide Mouth Straw Lid.
This thermos is leak-proof, and with the Flex Strap, it’s comfortable to carry and easy to transport. Being dishwasher safe makes cleaning easy; however, hand cleaning with warm water and gentle dish soap would be better as there could be discoloration of the outer coating. There’s a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Hydro Flask also supports 122 non-profit organizations through their Parks For All program to help build, maintain, restore, and provide better access to parks.
Enloy 61 Oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Thermos
The Enloy coffee thermos is a heavy-duty, double vacuumed thermal carafe. It’s made of high-quality stainless steel and has a soft rubber handle for easy handling and pouring of the beverage.
It has a three-layer silicone ring for a better seal and a patented exhaust cover that makes it easy to open the lid. Rather than opening the entire lid and losing out on insulation, pressing the vent button 1-2 times will open up the spill-free spout.
This thermos can keep your coffee hot for 6 hours and warm for up to 24 hours. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the storage box at its bottom that you can use to store sugar, tea, coffee, and more. A long non-slip strap can also be attached on both sides of the thermos for you to carry it along outdoors on hikes, fishing trips, or camping. In addition, the thermos comes with two cups that double as the lids for covering the thermos.
Iron Flask Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Mug
This thermos brand is all things awesome. The Iron Flask vacuum insulated stainless steel mug comes in 26 different colors. You read that right; 26 color options to pick your favorite one from. The powder-coated exterior design is so attractive; it’s definitely an eye-catcher. And if that wasn’t enough, 6 different capacity bottles are available from 14 oz to 64 oz.
Although being marketed as an insulated sports water bottle, it can keep your beverage cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. It gets even better with the 3 different 100% leak-proof lids that come with the flask – the carabiner straw lid with 2 straws, a stainless steel lid, and a flip lid.
Like most other flasks, the 18/8 stainless steel insulation is 100% BPA-free and non-toxic. Since it isn’t dishwasher safe, it needs to be hand washed and can be done without much trouble, except maybe cleaning the reusable straws, which could get a little difficult.
About 100,000 customers have purchased this, and 88% of them have given it a 5-star rating, which speaks volumes about this insulated thermos. When they mention 100% satisfaction guaranteed, if not, a guarantee of refund or exchange, they aren’t kidding. Many customers have appreciated the speedy responses of the customer service.
Thermos Sipp Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug
With a simplistic design, the Thermos Sipp mug is a 16-ounce coffee mug that is vacuum insulated and dishwasher safe. In addition, its Tritan lid is leak and spill-proof and features a user-friendly one-button operation.
It can keep your coffee piping hot for up to 5 hours or cold for up to 9 hours. This would suffice for most daily activities. The ergonomic plastic handle makes for a comfortable hold of the mug. There’s also a handle-free option if you’re not fond of it.
This travel mug is priced slightly higher. One customer even complained that it keeps her tea hot for too long. Well, coffee lovers would not complain about their coffee staying hot for the longest time!
Ember Travel Mug
With so many smart devices around us, it shouldn’t be surprising if you have a smart thermos that is programmable. That’s exactly what the Ember travel mug is. This stylish black 12 oz thermos uses app connectivity and a high-tech design to keep your coffee at the desired temperature.
You can choose a temperature between 120 F – 145 F (50 C – 62.5 C), and this insulated mug will keep it at that exact temperature for 2-3 hours, going by its battery life. If kept on its charging coaster, it could keep going all day.
The touchscreen display on the mug shows the temperature it is maintaining. You can adjust the temperature with this display, using the Ember app on your phone or even via Bluetooth. This makes it one extremely smart thermos.
It’s got a leak-proof lid that can be pushed open for a 360-degree drinking experience. It does need to be hand washed though. The mug itself is made of stainless steel with a ceramic coating. You have the best high-tech coffee thermos if you don’t mind its small capacity and exorbitant price tag.
Yeti Rambler Vacuum Insulated Tumbler with MagSlider Lid
Yet another solid contender in the category of insulated thermoses is the Yeti Rambler tumbler. This 20 oz tumbler comes in an astounding 35 color options. The unique feature is its MagSlider lid, the only magnetic drink lid to keep your beverage locked in.
The BPA-free, no-sweat design and dishwasher safe are all things desired in a thermos. Its shatter-resistant construction means these double-walled insulated tumblers will keep your drink at its temperature regardless of any degree of beating it may take.
The Dracut durable color coat doesn’t peel, fade, or crack and also provides an additional grip. Take one of these tumblers camping or hiking, and you’ll have your beverage at the right temperature till the last sip.
As per customer comments, it keeps hot black coffee warm up to 7-8 hours, while ice doesn’t seem to last beyond 1-2 hours. However, the lid isn’t 100% leak-proof, but it does make it easier to drink and re-seal.
Contigo Snapseal Byron Stainless Steel Travel Mug
The 16 oz Contigo Snapseal Byron mug has a thermalock double-wall stainless steel insulation. It is leak-proof when the snap seal lid is closed. This elegant-looking travel mug is great at keeping drinks cold for up to 18 hours or hot for up to 7 hours.
A convenient rubber grip makes it easy to hold, and its one-of-a-kind lid is convenient to handle and drink out of while walking or driving. You can have a no-hassle commute since it fits most car cup holders.
The stainless steel body must be hand washed, while the lid is top-rack dishwasher safe. While there are mostly positive reviews about this, a few customers have complained about the lid’s plastic washer failing to stop leaks after 4-6 months of use.
Cresimo 68 Oz Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe
When you want to sip coffee with your friends, colleagues, or family, there’s plenty to go around with the Cresimo Thermal coffee carafe; 68 oz plenty. With 2-liter capacity, its vacuum insulation keeps coffee hot for 12 hours or cold for up to 24 hours. It even preserves the coffee smell and freshness.
A convenient carry handle and a pour spout that opens with a push button make it easy to pour coffee. It stays cool-to-the-touch when carrying hot liquids and condensation-free with cold beverages.
Going by some customer comments, cleaning this is a hassle because of its narrow opening.
Fellow Carter Move Travel Mug
This stunning thermos is perfect if you like sipping your fresh brew while commuting. The Fellow Carter travel mug is available in 8 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz capacities.
The unique feature of this double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler is its ceramic interior coating. As a result, it doesn’t retain any odors of past contents. With a twist locking lid and a leak-proof seal that prevents leaks, there’s also a snap-in splash guard for your drink on the go.
This mug’s design makes it compatible with all standard pour-over drippers, so you can brew directly into the mug. That’s a cool convenience. It’s also top-rack dishwasher safe that makes for easy cleaning.
The downsides of this mug are its cost, and with the screw-on lid, you can’t have one-handed drinking since you need to use both hands to open or close the lid. Luckily, for those who’d like to upgrade, there is an open-top sip lid for the convenience of one-handed drinking.
Kinto Travel Tumbler
When you’d like a fashionable thermos that keeps your beverage hot or cold the way you want, you must go for the Kinto travel tumbler. This three-piece 18/8 stainless steel, polypropylene, silicone thermos keeps your beverages hot or cold for up to 6 hours.
However, they do mention having to preheat or precool the tumbler before use for a minute or two for maximum insulation efficiency. It isn’t dishwasher safe and will need to be hand washed.
With the lid on tight, it’s leak and spill proof and can be kept in your purse, backpack, or car cup holder without worrying. It’s also available in 6 lovely colors.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a coffee lover and prefer having intermittent caffeine sips on the go, you must definitely get yourself an insulated thermos. Based on your coffee drinking habits and how long you’d like to keep your coffee hot or cold, there’s a range of thermoses to select from.
Once you’ve gotten the best thermos, you’re bound to be satisfied, drinking your beverage as hot or cold as it was when freshly brewed.
