10 Best Coffee Thermos To Keep Your Drinks Hot As You Like It

Coffee is best enjoyed just on the low side of hot. But if you’re on the go, it might be more difficult to make sure that your coffee stays warm. There aren’t stoves in the office, after all.

Travel mugs to the rescue!

Vacuum flasks have been around since 1872. Since then, water bottles and thermoses have been used in camping trips to keep liquids hot.

Read on to find out the best coffee thermos for your needs.

Best Thermos for Coffee: Our Top 10 Picks

1. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug – Best Overall

Key Features

• 20 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee hot for 6 hours
• Spill-proof, flip-open cover

Performance

The Zojirushi is often billed as a “buy it for life” kind of item. Its fanatics say that with the Zojirushi, you’ll never have to buy another thermos again. And we agree.

The Zojirushi Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug is a cult favorite among the coffee community for plenty of reasons. It can keep your coffee hot for 6 hours because of its double-wall stainless steel insulation.

But Zojirushi went beyond the double-wall vacuum by putting a layer of copper or aluminum foil outside the inner wall. This insulation technique keeps the temperature of your liquids from changing.

You can make your coffee last even longer since the recommended temperature to drink coffee is around 140F. The Zojirushi maintains a temperature of 163F for 6 hours.

Design

The inner chamber is coated with a non-stick material, which makes cleaning easy. The great thing about this coating is it also prevents your coffee from tasting like metal, which was a problem with other coffee travel mugs.

When you flip the lid open, you’ll find an air vent on the mouthpiece. This air vent makes sure that your drinks flow smoothly and doesn’t splatter or overflow. We think this is a great safety feature since it prevents your hot coffee from spilling all over.

The lid also has a safety lock that you can switch before placing the tumbler in your bag.

The Zojirushi is incredibly easy to clean. Besides the non-stick coating, the Zojirushi’s lid gasket can be disassembled. And if your gasket starts smelling funny after a few years of use, you can always order a replacement gasket for less than $10 on Amazon.

If you take your coffee on your morning drive, you’ll be pleased to find out that the Zojirushi fits the standard car cup holder.

And if you think that the Zojirushi is starting to lose its insulation, you can always contact the manufacturer. Zojirushi offers a 5-year warranty on heat retention.

Is Zojurishi’s Vacuum Insulated Mug For You?

The Zojirushi is an indestructible thermos. It keeps your coffee warm for hours, is lightweight, and is easy to clean. It’s well-loved and lasts for years. You really can’t go wrong by choosing the Zojirushi Insulated Mug.

Pros

• Easy to clean nonstick inner chamber
• Durable stainless steel body
• Double-wall insulation works well
• 5-year warranty
• Well-designed mouthpiece
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not dishwasher-safe
• More expensive than other mugs

2. Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle – Best Value

Key Features

• 1.1 qt. (35-oz.) capacity
• Keeps your coffee hot for 24 hours
• Wide mouth screw-open cover

Performance

No other water bottle in our list guarantees 24-hour heat insulation, which is definitely Stanley’s biggest plus. The insulation of the Stanley is its biggest draw, but that 24-hour temperature rating has its own disclaimers.

In our tests, the 24-hour temperature retention only works when the Stanley is filled to capacity since your drink volume helps keep it as warm as the vacuum component of the bottle.

While it may not be the best option for taking your cup of coffee around the city, it’s great for out-of-town trips. With the Stanley Classic, you can keep coffee warm for yourself and have enough coffee to share.

Design

The Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Bottle is iconic. You’ve probably seen the tumbler in films and movies like Tomb Raider, Stranger Things, and Watchmen [R].

The Stanley brand is a staple among campers, who love its heat insulation and durability [R]. The Stanley is built like a tank, but it’s still lightweight enough for backpacking trips and travels.

The Stanley Classic Vacuum is rust-proof because of its 100% stainless steel construction.

The Stanley Classic Vacuum truly is built for life. And if it doesn’t work out for you, you can contact Stanley for any problems. They come with a lifetime warranty.

Stanley chose not to put a mouthpiece on this thermos, which makes it easier to clean. In our tests, we found that the Stanley Classic can handle a lot of movement without spills and leaks.

The leak-resistant lid screws on and doubles as an 8-oz. cup. The 8-oz. cup is easy enough to drink from, but you’ll have to be careful of possible leaks while pouring from the bottle to the lid.

Is the Stanley Classic for You?

The Stanley Classic is our value pick because it stores a lot of coffee, keeps it hot for long periods of time, and is affordable for what it offers.

If you’re the type to go on adventures outdoors, the Stanley Classic might be your pick.

Pros

• Rust-proof construction
• Longest lasting heat retention
• No plastic parts
• Leak-proof

Cons

• Too large for some users
• No drinking mouthpiece

3. Contigo SnapSeal Byron Stainless Steel Travel Mug – Best Budget Pick

Key Features

• 24 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee hot for 7 hours
• Leak-proof SnapSeal lid

Performance

The Contigo SnapSeal Byron is a great budget option for anyone looking for a travel coffee mug. It’s the #1 bestseller on Amazon for a good reason: it’s cheap, and it works.

The SnapSeal has 7-hour heat retention, which we found works extremely well for keeping coffee hot. Even with its stainless steel construction, this mug doesn’t leave a metallic taste on your coffee.

The SnapSeal lid, where this coffee thermos gets its name, snaps open for a drink. It’s easy to open with one hand, but closing it with one hand might be slightly more challenging.

The lid works well enough, and it doesn’t spill when you carry it around. You might have to be careful about how you close the lid because if you don’t snap it on properly, it might spill inside your bag.

Design

If you’re the kind to take your coffee on the go and drink it on your drive to work, you’re in luck: the SnapSeal fits perfectly well on standard car cup holders.

The SnapSeal thermos does have its downsides, though. Because it’s so popular and sold everywhere, it may have some issues with quality control on its lids.

Some customers complain about the lid falling. But the upside is, it’s easy to ask Contigo for a replacement.

The SnapSeal is really easy to clean. Contigo recommends hand-washing the SnapSeal Byron, but you can also wash the lid by placing it on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Is The Contigo SnapSeal Byron For You?

For a foolproof budget option, you really can’t go wrong with the Contigo SnapSeal Byron. It keeps coffee hot for 7 hours, is spill-proof, and has a sleek design.

If you’re on-the-go around the city, the Contigo SnapSeal Byron might be your pick.

Pros

• Leak-proof SnapSeal lid
• Great temperature retention
• Easy one-handed use
• Dishwasher-safe lid

Cons

• Lid can be difficult to use/seal

4. Contigo Autoseal West Loop Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug

Key Features

• 20 oz. capacity
• Keeps your coffee hot for 7 hours
• Push-button Autoseal sip lid

Performance

The Contigo Autoseal West Loop is a great thermos for coffee lovers on the go.

The West Loop would have been our pick for the best thermos, but the Zojirushi we reviewed edges this one out slightly more when it comes to the lid. That doesn’t make the Autoseal a lesser contender, though.

Contigo uses its patented Autoseal technology on the lid of this thermos. The Autoseal technology works by sealing the thermos from spills and leaks while the button is not pressed down.

The Autoseal of the West Loop makes it our favorite thermos for one-handed operation. Because of its press-to-sip technology, you wouldn’t have to worry about your hot drink spilling all over while you take a sip of coffee.

Design

You might want to be careful not to put a lid on this thermos right after putting in boiling hot drinks. You could get burned with the steam that builds up inside.

If it’s only been a few minutes since you filled the West Loop, we recommend pressing on the Autoseal button vertically to release pressure before you tilt the thermos to drink from.

And if you plan to place the West Loop inside your bag, you should always press the button lock on top of the lid, so you won’t accidentally press the Autoseal button while moving around.

The West Loop is easy to clean with the newer models. Though the older West Loop models had lots of nooks and crannies that were very hard to wash by hand, the new Easy-Clean lid makes it easier by just popping off a tab that you can find at the bottom of the lid.

It also withstands bumps and drops. The exterior of your tumbler might take a few scratches and dents, but it doesn’t get in the way of the integrity of your thermos.

Is Contigo Autoseal West Loop For You?

The Contigo West Loop is perfect if you like driving while drinking your coffee. The one-handed operation makes this thermos easy to drink from, and the thermos fits standard car cup holders.

While the lid could be a bit finicky, it is well worth the trade-off for the convenience and ease of using this thermos.

Pros

• Easy one-handed operation
• Fits car cup holders
• Durable
• Great insulation

Cons

• Finicky lid might be hard to use

5. Thermos Stainless King Travel Tumbler

Key Features

• 16 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee hot for 6-8 hours
• Drinklock sealing lid
• Built-in tea hook on the lid

Performance

Thermos started it all when it mass-produced vacuum flasks for mass consumption in 1904 [R]. Since then, their company philosophy stays true to the name: start hot, stay hot.

The Thermos Stainless King is truly the king of heat-insulating properties. In our tests, we found that the temperature inside a Thermos lasts a couple of hours longer than its competitors for the same cup capacity.

The Thermos Stainless King is also made of stainless steel, so you’re sure it can withstand bumps, drops, and scratches.

Design

The Drinklock lid promises to keep beverages secure and leak-proof when it’s in the “closed” position.

While the lid works perfectly fine on a desk or your car’s cup holder, you might want to be careful about this thermos if you decide to put it in your bag. Some users reported spills even when the lid was closed.

We like that they put a hook underneath the lid for tea bags and tea infusers. This nifty little feature makes this thermos ideal for either coffee or tea.

The drinking experience on this Thermos is average, though a bit awkward. The recessed lid design keeps some space between your mouth and the mouthpiece, so it takes a bit of getting used to.

Is Thermos Stainless King For You?

The Thermos Stainless King might be your best bet if you need a cup of coffee to take with you on the go. This Thermos is for people who keep to their desk, than those on the go.

Pros

• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Fits most car cup holders
• Excellent insulation

Cons

• Lid design needs improvement
• Hard to open the thermos

6. ESPRO P0 Stainless Steel Vacuum Travel Coffee Press

Key Features

• 16 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee hot for 5 hours
• Screw-top leak-proof lid
• Functions as a French Press

Performance

The ESPRO P0 is a travel thermos that offers something other products don’t: it also works as a coffee press.

ESPRO began as a Kickstarter project in 2018 by two engineers [R]. Back then, there weren’t many options for making coffee on-the-go without it ending up as a bitter, gritty mess.

Chris and Bruce, the founders, eventually invented a press that shuts off brewing by separating grinds from the water through a very fine mesh.

Design

The ESPRO P0 is the ultralight travel version of the ESPRO presses. The ESPRO P0 is the best of both worlds, working double-time as a press and as a coffee thermos.

The ESPRO works well enough as a coffee thermos. You can keep your coffee hot for around 6 hours, and the screw-top lid is leak-proof and convenient if a bit boring. The ESPRO also has a standard size that fits most car cup holders.

Where the ESPRO shines is as a coffee press. The ESPRO makes a sludge-free cup on the go. An ESPRO is even better than using an Aeropress when it comes to portability. It’s more compact, lighter, and fits anywhere you have free space in your bag.

The ESPRO is also very durable. It survived our drop tests with very few scratches, and the dents weren’t significant. The inside pieces also remained intact.

There are a few problems cleaning the ESPRO when you use the press function for coffee or tea. While cleaning coffee grounds is always a pain, the ESPRO was surprisingly easier to clean than it seems.

The ESPRO completely disassembles, so you can hand-wash each individual component of this thermos. While you can put the ESPRO on the top rack of your dishwasher, it’s not generally recommended that you do so.

Is ESPRO P0 Travel Press For You?

The ESPRO P0 Travel Press is great if you’re the kind of person who likes to drink freshly brewed coffee. The ESPRO works as a two-in-one press and thermos, and while it’s pretty average as a thermos, it’s amazing as a travel press.

Pros

• The press works very well
• Easy to clean
• Durable

Cons

• Expensive

7. Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Coffee Travel Mug

Key Features

• 20 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee warm for 12 hours
• Screw-top lid

Performance

The Hydro Flask Coffee Travel Mug is a simple, understated thermos that gets the job done. It can keep your coffee hot for 12 hours. In our tests, the Hydro Flask did really well in keeping our drinks hot for hours.

This reusable thermos is BPA-free and phthalate-free, so you don’t have to worry about your Hydro Flask leeching harmful chemicals into your rink.

There are three different kinds of lids for the Hydroflask. The default option is the Flex Strap lid, which is a simple, screw-on kind of lid. The Flex Strap lid makes the Hydroflask easy to carry.

Design

The Flex Strap is our favorite lid with the Hydroflask because it’s simple, spillproof, and easy to clean. The only downside we found with the Flex Strap lid is that it is hard to drink hot beverages while moving. Because there’s no mouthpiece, the coffee might spill all over you if you’re not careful.

But if you want a mouthpiece, you can always purchase a Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Coffee Flip Lid. It’s just a bummer that it will have to be another purchase.

The great thing about the Hydro Flask is it works just as well for water as it does for coffee or tea. Hydro Flask is originally a water bottle brand, so it makes sense that even their coffee tumbler product works well for cold drinks.

Our Hydro Flask survived a few drops and bumps and came in perfect condition. If you experience a problem with it, as some customers did with the lid, you can always contact Hydro Flask and ask about their limited lifetime warranty.

Is Hydro Flask Travel Mug For You?

The Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Travel Mug is probably the easiest to clean thermos out of all the travel mugs on this list. If you’re the kind of person who prefers fewer complications, then the Hydro Flask Travel Mug might be your pick.

Pros

• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Fits car cup holders
• Durable
• Good heat insulation

Cons

• Default Flex Strap Lid can be limiting

8. Kleen Kanteen Wide Insulated

Key Features

• 16 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee warm for 6 hours
• Café Cap

Performance

Kleen Kanteen is a brand of stainless steel bottles. So it makes sense that they make a thermos for hot drinks, too.

The Kleen Kanteen has stainless steel construction and double-wall vacuum insulation. This keeps the temperature inside the bottle consistent for around 6 hours, and even longer for cold drinks.

Design

The Kleen Kanteen Wide Insulated features a simple mouthpiece that twists clockwise and counterclockwise to use and seal. The sealing mechanism works well, but like with a lot of mouthpiece-type lids, you’ll want to watch out when you put the tumbler in your bag.

Because the Kleen Kanteen also makes sports bottles, it makes sense that their design appeals more to sportier types. It comes in many different colors, and you can take your pick.

We love how easy the Kleen Kanteen is to clean. The lid can be disassembled completely using a twist mechanism that you can find on the bottom of the lid. Doing this will let you wash the silicone gasket that makes the bottle spill-proof.

Is Kleen Kanteen Right For You?

The Kleen Kanteen is a great option for anyone looking for a reliable and versatile thermos option. Kleen Kanteen is built like a tank and can take a few scrapes here and there.

Overall, if you have an active lifestyle and want some hot drinks on the side, a Kleen Kanteen might work out for you.

Pros

• Easy cleaning experience
• Indestructible
• Stylish
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Lid hard to drink from

9. Takeya Traveler Insulated Mug

Key Features

• 17 oz. capacity
• Keeps coffee warm for 12 hours
• Spill-proof one-touch cover

Performance

The Takeya Traveler Mug is a double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel thermos that promises to keep your drinks hot for 12 hours.

The heat insulation rating is pretty accurate in our experience, and it really did take that long before drinks in the Takeya started cooling down.

Design

The Takeya is made for one-handed use. With the FlipLock cover, you’ll only need to flip the lid to drink from, then flip it closed after. This makes it easy to drink from this thermos on the go.

The lid has a secure slide lock, which you can activate before going on any commute. The cover works really well to avoid spills from your drink.

We’re also big fans of the mouthpiece, which allows water to flow out gently. This works really well for hot or cold drinks because it prevents tongue burns and accidental spills.

The design is sleek and functional. The base fits any car cup holder, and the taper resembles water bottles. This does pose some problems when you try to clean it, though. It’s hard to fit a sponge into the narrower bottle opening.

Is Takeya Traveler Mug For You?

If you like a sleek, stylish, and functional thermos for your coffee, the Takeya might just fit your lifestyle. The Takeya is convenient and easy to use and has great insulation.

Pros

• Comfortable mouthpiece design
• Great insulation
• Multiple color options available
• Loop handle for easy carrying

Cons

• Difficult to clean

10. YETI Rambler 30 oz. Tumbler With MagSlider Lid

Key Features

• 30 oz. capacity
• Keep your coffee warm for 6 hours
• Magslider Cover

Performance

YETI is a reusable bottle brand that rode in the hype of the millennial’s obsession with health, fitness, and athleisure. The Rambler, YETI’s line of reusable bottles, is well-liked and well-reviewed for its design and durability.

The same great things can be said about the YETI Rambler Tumbler. You can make your tumbler reflect your personality by choosing from many color options.

The YETI Rambler Tumbler is made of 18.8 stainless steel and has double-wall vacuum insulation. This means that your drinks keep their temperature for a long time.

You can use the YETI Rambler for hot or cold drinks. It keeps your coffee hot for 6 hours and keeps your water or beer cold for up to 12 hours.

Design

The cover, called the MagSlider, uses magnets to seal your drinks and prevent heat from escaping. Unfortunately, we don’t think it did a great job of preventing leaks. So you might want to be careful when you put the YETI Rambler in your bag.

The YETI Rambler travel mugs fit any car cup holder because of its thinner diameter towards the bottom.

The YETI Rambler comes in many great colors, so you can choose one to express your personality. These colors are coated with DuraCoat, a powder coating that makes your thermos durable and safe for dishwashers.

Is The YETI Rambler Tumbler For You?

If you like form as much as function, then the YETI Rambler is for you.

It’s good-looking, does the job, and lasts for a really long time. It’s easy to use and convenient to clean. If you like living a hassle-free lifestyle, then the YETI Rambler is the thermos for you.

Pros

• Heavy-duty stainless steel construction
• Comes in 30 oz. and 20 oz. varieties
• Great temperature insulation
• Easy to use and disassemble

Cons

• Leaks and spills are more likely
• More expensive than other options

What to Look for In a Coffee Thermos

With plenty of options in the market, it might be hard for you to choose which thermos you should buy.

Before you decide, read on about the things you should consider so you can get the best thermos for you.

Thermal Insulation And Heat Retention

The most important purpose of getting a coffee thermos is to keep your coffee hot.

Most coffee is served in cafés at temperatures of 180-185 F and best enjoyed at around 136-140 F. Keeping your coffee at this temperature makes your coffee taste better.

Read on for some tips to buy an insulated thermos.

Stainless Steel Isn’t Everything

The first thing you should look at when buying a coffee flask is how well it retains heat.

There are many stainless steel travel tumblers in the market, but not all of them are made the same. While stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat compared to other metals, it still conducts heat.

This means that heat escapes from the drinks inside your coffee flask.

So don’t be fooled into thinking that a stainless steel flask means better insulation. A single wall stainless steel bottle will not keep your coffee hot for hours.

So how do drinks stay hot inside a thermos?

It’s all in the vacuum.

How Vacuum Flasks Work

Thermoses use a vacuum as insulation for the objects inside it. The vacuum is made by removing the air from a space in between an inner flask and an outer wall.

This vacuum insulation, which surrounds the inner wall, keeps heat from the inner flask from transferring to the outer wall.

Since then, this technology has been constantly improved to what we now know as thermoses.

How to Choose An Insulated Coffee Flask

When shopping for thermoses, a good rule of thumb is to make sure you see the words “vacuum-insulated” or “double-walled” in the product description.

This “double-walled” label means that the thermos uses vacuum insulation to maintain the temperature of the liquid inside the flask.

A cheaper reusable cup that doesn’t have the words “double-walled” or “vacuum-insulated” could be made of a single wall of stainless steel. This won’t keep your coffee hot.

So be careful when you shop for thermoses.

Thermos Capacity And Heat Transfer

When buying a coffee flask, you should also pay attention to the capacity of your thermos. A liquid’s mass has an effect on how fast its temperature changes. The more liquid in your mug, the longer it takes to cool down.

So a 35-oz. thermos like the Stanley Classic keeps hot temperatures longer than a 12-oz. thermos will when they’re both full.

If portability isn’t a concern, choose thermoses which have higher capacities, and make sure you fill them completely with your hot beverage of choice.

The Lid

Because vacuum insulation technology is tried and tested, most brands don’t even compete to find new ways of maintaining the temperature inside a thermos.

The battle of the bottle brands is in the lid.

Brands use all sorts of technology when making covers. Some come with flip-top lids, while others screw on. Some have locks that prevent your thermos from opening accidentally.

Here are the features we think you should look for in a lid before buying a thermos.

Leak-Proofing

The leak-proofing of a vacuum flask depends mostly on how the tumbler will open or close.

Screw-on lids are easy enough: when the cover is screwed on, liquids cannot leak from your flask. Screw-on lids are a great option in case you always carry your tumbler inside your bag.

If you enjoy drinking your coffee on the go or on a drive, you might need a cover with a mouthpiece that opens and closes by twisting or sliding it open.

The problem with mouthpiece-type thermoses is that the leak-proofing can be a problem. The open/close mechanism can get stuck, or it’s a bit harder to screw on.

Some brands solve this problem using rubber materials in or near the mouthpiece, so it doesn’t spill when closed and locked.

Some brands do this better than others, so be careful when choosing a mouthpiece-type cover for your thermos.

Easy Cleaning

The hardest part to clean for a thermos is the cover.

A stainless steel flask can be easily cleaned with a soapy sponge under the sink. This is even more true if your tumbler has a wide mouth since it’s not difficult to scrub the inside.

With the cover, some grooves and crannies are harder to clean. If you’re a fan of lattés or other milk-based coffee, cleaning the cover is important. But cleaning the cover is also harder.

When you shop for thermoses, make sure the cover is as simple as it could possibly be. This means that your cover should be as flat as possible. If you get a screw-on cover, that’s not a problem.

If you get a mouthpiece-type cover, you should make sure the rubber gasket keeping your thermos from leaking is easily removable and washable.

If the tumblers use a different kind of technology for the cover, make sure that it can be disassembled. This makes cleaning easier.

Or you can avoid complications completely by opting for a dishwasher-safe thermos.

Ease of Use

Life gets busy and hectic. And for those times, you don’t have time to think about how to use your tumbler.

If you like the convenience of just drinking your coffee while sitting down, then we suggest you go for a simple stainless steel thermos with a screw-top cover. It’s easy to fill, and cleaning is a breeze.

But if you’re always on the run, “easy to use” can mean something different. A screw-top thermos is difficult to drink from in a car or while standing up on your daily commute.

If you have a more active lifestyle, then we suggest you try a thermos with a flip-top cover or a well-designed mouthpiece. This keeps hot coffee from gushing out and burning your tongue… and possibly your face.

It’s even better if you get a tumbler that you can use with one hand. Look for tumblers designed for one-handed operation, so you can open, sip, and close your tumbler without a problem.

The Verdict

Best Overall: Zojirushi Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug

The Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug has everything you need in a coffee tumbler. It has good insulation and has a well-designed cover that avoids leaks. The mouthpiece is a joy to use. And the best part is, cleaning is a breeze.

Best Value: Stanley Classic Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle

The Stanley Classic Stainless Steel Bottle is a universal icon for a reason. It’s durable, dependable, and has all the features you’ll need in a thermos. This tumbler is a great choice if you like having a lot of coffee.

Best Budget: Contigo SnapSeal Byron Stainless Steel Mug

Sometimes, you just want something that’s affordable and works. With the Contigo SnapSeal Byron, you’ll get a thermos that has good insulation in a compact, portable package.

Conclusion

With all the choices available online and in-store, it can get confusing to choose a thermos for your coffee.

We’re sure you won’t go wrong with any of our picks. It’s just a matter of which one you prefer.