8 Plastic-Free Travel Coffee Mugs to Buy at Amazon

Key points

• Researchers have found that takeaway coffee cups may release microplastics into coffee.
• Choosing plastic-free, reusable coffee mugs could lower your exposure to microplastics.
• Our favourite travel mugs from Yeti, Fellow, Hydro Flask and Stanley start at just $25.

Why plastic-free travel coffee mugs matter

Those seemingly harmless paper cups handed out at coffee shops may not be quite so innocent. A recent paper in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics suggests that disposable coffee cups can shed thousands of microplastics into a daily coffee.

The research looked at cups made with polyethylene or coated in it. Even cups that are largely paper need a waterproof lining-often plastic-so they do not turn to pulp once coffee is poured in. Researchers systematically filled each type of cup with hot and cold liquids to establish when microplastics were released. The study found that someone drinking a 284 ml cup of coffee from a plastic takeaway cup each day could consume 363,000 microplastics annually. To put this into perspective, that is approximately the volume of a 1.36 kg bag of sesame seeds. Fortunately, many highly rated travel mugs have stainless-steel or ceramic linings, neither of which releases microplastics into coffee. Bring one of these eight highly rated mugs to your preferred coffee shop for plastic-free drinking-and the café may even reward you with a small discount.

Shop plastic-free travel coffee mugs at Amazon

• Editor-Loved: Yeti Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler, $35
• Owala SmoothSip 12-Ounce Coffee Tumbler, $25
• Best for Espresso: Yeti Rambler 4-Ounce Stackable Cup, Set of 2, $30
• Stanley Perfect Brew Pour-Over Set with 12-Ounce Camp Mug, $28, originally $45
• For Splash-Proof Sipping: Fellow 16-Ounce Carter Move Travel Mug, $35

Yeti Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler

Credit: Amazon

$35 at Amazon

We named this Yeti tumbler the winner in our travel mug tests thanks to its truly exceptional insulation. It kept hot drinks piping hot and cold ones chilled for 10 consecutive hours. Its Rambler body is made from double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, which both retains heat and is simple to clean in the dishwasher.

Stanley AeroLight 20-Ounce Transit Bottle

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$35 at Amazon

Stanley’s streamlined 20-ounce travel mug fits even very small car cupholders and tote-bag pockets. Its impressively light construction makes it especially easy to carry, however. Made with Stanley’s proprietary AeroLight spun steel, this mug is 33% lighter than the brand’s signature mugs and tumblers.

Owala SmoothSip 12-Ounce Coffee Tumbler

Credit: Amazon

$25 at Amazon

Owala combines an insulated steel tumbler with a sliding lid that is entirely leakproof. One shopper said the Owala could sit “upside down” in their bag without spilling, while another commended its lid for helping to protect inquisitive children from hot coffee.

Fellow 16-Ounce Carter Move Travel Mug

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$35 at Amazon

Fellow’s 16-ounce travel mug is an editor favourite for good reason. In testing, its splash guard impressed us: the steel insert clicks into position to stop scalding coffee from rushing into your mouth as you drink. Available in 14 refined colours, it is also among the most attractive travel mugs we have tested. Fellow also produces our favourite coffee canister, featuring a vacuum seal that shields coffee beans from light, heat and moisture.

Yeti Rambler 4-Ounce Stackable Cup, Set of 2

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$30 at Amazon

Drinking espresso on the move can seem impractical in an oversized mug, where it can slosh about and cool too quickly. Yeti’s 4-ounce option solves that problem. These compact cups are ideally proportioned for a double shot or a cortado.

Hydro Flask All-Around 16-Ounce Travel Mug

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$25 at Amazon

Thanks to its insulated steel interior, Hydro Flask’s travel mug keeps drinks hot or cold throughout the day. The subtly tapered design is easy to grip, including for smaller hands, and we appreciate that the interior steel does not hold onto even a trace of the previous day’s coffee flavour.

Simple Modern 12-Ounce Travel Coffee Mug with 360° Lid

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$30 at Amazon

A standout feature of Simple Modern’s travel mug is its ingenious 360° lid. It works exactly as its name suggests: press the button in the middle to open it, then drink from any point around the lid. We like that it lets you commute, hike, walk and more while sipping without thinking about it.

Stanley Perfect Brew Pour-Over Set with 12-Ounce Camp Mug

Credit: Amazon

$45

$28 at Amazon

This set contains not only one of Stanley’s practical insulated camp mugs, but also a portable pour-over coffee maker. With hot water and coffee to hand, you can easily make freshly brewed pour-over coffee while camping, at work or during a picnic. We also like its built-in stainless-steel filter, which enables plastic-free brewing.