The Kinto has also proven very durable. Emma notes that she’s “had it for a long time, and the color coating has not chipped or scratched at all—and I am not precious with it.” Speaking of that color coating, this mug comes in ten matte colorways that range from a jewel-toned turquoise to earthy ash green, and the sleek design makes it a great choice for any minimalist aesthetes out there. Laperruque likes the smaller, 12-ounce size because it’s easy to slip in her bag without weighing her down, but Kinto also makes a 17-ounce version for people who need a bit more of a caffeine boost in the morning.
This mug is not dishwasher safe, but it completely disassembles (even down to the silicone gaskets) for easy handwashing.
Dishwasher safe: No
Fits in car cup holder: Yes
Leakproof: Yes
Sizes available: 12 ounces, 17 ounces
Warranty: 30 days for manufacturing defects
The best travel coffee mug for car rides: Yeti Rambler
Pros: Easy to open and close with one hand, stackable, heat retentive
Cons: Not spill-proof
Yeti is another perpetual staff favorite brand. The cooler giant’s travel coffee tumblers are the go-to pick for multiple staffers, specifically when they’re looking to take their beverage on the road. (The Yeti Rambler was the top-scoring mug for road trips in the Epicurious tests as well.) That’s because Yeti’s Rambler mugs are equipped with “MagSlider” lids that are easy to open and close with one finger while your other hand stays on the wheel. “They have the best sip lids in the game,” says commerce editor Carina Finn, “and even though I’m a certified Straw Person, I actually love drinking from these.”
While the Yeti Rambler comes in a handled mug shape, both Carina and Bon Appétit production manager Matt Carson are partial to the tumbler style, which comes in 8-, 16-, 20-, and 30-ounce sizes, all of which fit in a standard car cup holder. “I like the 8-ounce size for hot coffee, and the adorably chunky 16-ounce for iced coffee season,” says Carina, while Matt typically opts for the 20-ounce size. Another excellent feature? “They’re stackable,” says Carina. “So they take up less space in my cabinet (which means I can snap up any of the brand’s limited edition colors I get way too excited about).”
As with the other tumblers on this list, the vacuum insulated construction of these guys keeps drinks at a consistent temperature for hours on end, whether you’re into hot or cold beverages. “I once left it in my car all weekend full of water and ice cubes, and there was still solid ice in there on Sunday afternoon,” says Matt. Unlike the Zojirushi and the Kinto, this tumbler is dishwasher safe.
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Fits in car cup holder: Yes
Leakproof: No
Sizes available: 8 ounces, 16 ounces, 20 ounces, 30 ounces
Warranty: 5 years
The travel coffee mug that is also a water bottle: Hitch Bottle and Cup Kit
Pros: Combines the functions of a water bottle and coffee mug
Cons: It’s bulky when the pieces stack
Senior service editor Kelsey Youngman needed to tick a lot of boxes when picking a travel coffee cup. She wanted something that “was pleasant to sip from, kept my coffee hot, was dishwasher-safe, and was also somehow a water bottle because kept forgetting to drink water alongside my morning brew.” If you have been clogging your backpack or purse with separate coffee cups and water bottles and Kelsey’s plight strikes a chord with you, the Hitch Bottle and Cup Kit is the answer to your problems. “It’s a nifty insulated water bottle with a just-right sized 12-ounce coffee cup nestled inside (the coffee cup slips in between the insulated layers of the bottle when it’s not in use),” explains Kelsey. If you’re having a hard time visualizing what exactly that all entails (as I admittedly did), the product page on the Hitch website has a handy video to help with that.