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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:
Best Value Coffee Thermos
Contigo Luxe Autoseal Vacuum-Insulated Travel Spill-Proof Coffee Mug
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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.
Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle
Pros
- Built-in cup for sipping
- Comes in nine colors
Cons
- Some may find it a little bulky
We love the classic silhouette and large capacity — 48 ounces — of this Stanley coffee thermos. It's stainless steel and vacuum sealed, so it's durable and can keep beverages hot for up to 40 hours and cold for up to 35, according to the brand. (It also claims to stay cold for up to six days if iced.) The insulated lid serves as a cup so you don't need to sip from the large vessel or carry a second item, and the lid sits over a tight seal that helps prevent leaks. The built-in handle makes it easy to carry the thermos, which can have some heft when full.
| Capacity | 48 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | up to 40 hours hot; up to 35 hours cold |
| Dimensions | 4.7" x 3.9" x 14.1" |
Contigo Luxe Autoseal Vacuum-Insulated Travel Spill-Proof Coffee Mug
Pros
- Sleek design is easy to hold and transport
- Comfortable to drink from
Cons
- Some found that the lid can get too hot
This affordable pick from Contigo has impressed our experts with its smart design. It's slim and comfortable to hold, and one tester appreciated that the lid is a single easy-to-clean piece. The lid includes a large button to press when you're ready to sip, and our experts noted that "it's located exactly where you want it to be — opposite the drinking hole so when you grab the mug, your finger can easily do all the work." It's also ideal for travel: A switch on the lid lets you lock the seal-release button so it won't open in your bag or cup holder. It's dishwasher-safe. One caveat is that a tester reported that, with hot beverages, the lid can feel too hot.
| Capacity | 16 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | up to 5 hours hot; up to 12 hours cold |
| Dimensions | 2.91" x 2.91" x 8.35" |
Pros
- Generous handle helps with carrying and pouring
- Lid latches closed to avoid leaks and spills
Cons
- Narrow neck may be difficult to clean
When you're packing water for a longer trek or pouring cocoa for a crowd, you need a large coffee thermos. This growler-style from Stanley holds 64 ounces of hot or cold liquids — the brand even notes that it's suitable for carbonated beverages. It claims that drinks will stay hot for up to 18 hours and cold for 24 hours and states beverages will stay iced for up to four days. The rigid, angled handle is designed to help balance the large body when pouring. And the latched locking lid should help prevent leaks. Our Kitchen Appliance Lab pros will be testing this model soon; the brand has performed well in other tests, including its Stay-Hot French Press, which earned a 2022 Kitchen Gear Award.
| Capacity | 64 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | up to 18 hours hot; up to 24 hours cold |
| Dimensions | 15" x 8" x 6" |
THERMOS Compact Beverage Bottle
Pros
- Lightweight, compact design
- Built-in cup and pour-through stopper
Cons
- Some users reported shorter heat retention than claims
Though we have not tested this model, we appreciate the long-standing reputation behind Thermos coffee thermoses. We like that this Compact Beverage Bottle bridges the gap between a traditional thermos and travel mug, with a lightweight design — the bottle itself weighs just eight ounces — and a lid that doubles as a cup for sipping. The stopper is fully removed when filling the bottle, but it can be left in place and rotated open for easy pouring. The brand claims it will keep liquids hot for 12 hours and cold for 24 hours, though some online reviewers reported that it did not achieve that timeframe.
| Capacity | 16 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | up to 12 hours hot; up to 24 hours cold |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 2.6" x 10" |
Pros
- Can hold a standard pot of drip coffee
- Pouring lever placed above handle for one-handed pouring
Cons
- Some users reported leaks or drips
Sometimes you need a coffee thermos to go, but sometimes you just want your brew to stay hot while you work. This carafe-style coffee thermos is a great way to store and pour your beverages throughout the day. Though we have not tested this pick, it has more than 11,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. The pour-release button is located right above the handle so you can open and pour with one hand, but take note that some online reviewers said it can leak or dribble after pouring. It holds 68 ounces, so you can add the entire pot for most standard drip coffee makers. The opening is large enough to accommodate ice cubes if you want to use the carafe for cold beverages.
| Capacity | 68 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | up to 12 hours hot; up to 24 hours cold |
| Dimensions | 6" x 6" x 6" |
Ember Travel Mug 2
Pros
- Built-in heater keeps coffee hot
- Performed well in Lab tests
Cons
- Three-hour battery life is shorter than many insulated mugs' claims of heat retention
Ember's travel mug ensures hot beverages through self-heating technology. You can set your desired temperature through a menu on the mug itself or via Ember's smart app, which lets you control multiple Ember devices remotely. It performed well in our tests, keeping coffee hot for most of the stated three-hour battery life — the temperature dropped slightly below the target temperature of 135˚F only during the last 15 minutes. A simple press of the large button in the lid allows you to drink from any side. And it passed our leakproof tests.
| Capacity | 12 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | at least during 3-hour battery life |
| Dimensions | 4.7" x 4.7" x 10.4" |
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug
Pros
- Leakproof locking lid
- Slim design is easy to hold
Cons
- Some users noted that the interior might peel over time
Zojirushi's Stainless Steel Mug is our top pick for travel mugs, and it has performed well in long-term testing. The locking lid opens easily with the push of a button but provides a tight seal that won't leak or spill. The mouth is wide enough that you can add ice cubes for cold beverages, and it kept beverages hot and cold for long periods. Take note that the brand does not provide a time range for heat retention, saying only that it maintains temperatures "for hours." Our pros like that the slim design is easy to hold and allows the bottle to fit nicely in cup holders and backpack pockets.
| Capacity | 16 ounces |
| Claimed heat retention | states only "for hours" |
| Dimensions | 2.75" x 2.75" x 9.125" |
How we chose the best coffee thermoses
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?
As a senior editor and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Sarah Wharton led our recent testing of both travel mugs and heated mugs. She has also written about how to make a cappuccino and how to make a latte.
Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor in the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).
