Single-use takeaway cups are a major environmental problem, with billions used each year contributing to landfill. The solution is simple: switch to a reusable coffee cup. These come in various forms, including cups, bottles and mugs, and are more eco-friendly once used multiple times. Some coffee chains even offer discounts for using them.
Our reviewer tested 10 cups from brands including KeepCup, Yeti, Ocean Bottle, Circular&Co and Chilly’s. They filled them at home and at coffee shops, assessing leakproofness by shaking them upside down and bouncing on a trampoline. They also measured temperature retention over eight hours with boiling water.
The Ocean Bottle stainless steel tumbler was named best for taste. The KeepCup Commuter, widely credited as the originator of the reusable cup, impressed with its temperature regulation, keeping hot drinks hot for hours and cold drinks cool.
A note of caution: some cups keep drinks very hot, so check before sipping. Tested mugs not returned were donated to Cat Action Trust 1977 in Leeds.
