The best reusable coffee cups

Arron O'Halloran
Sep 9, 2018
3 min read

Help save the environment – and money – with a functional, reliable mug

It seems like the message is finally getting through: single-use plastic is a serious problem with a surprisingly easy solution. Despite looking like they’re made of cardboard, 99 per cent of disposable coffee cups, are not recyclable and every minute over one million cups end up in landfills globally.

The quick fix? Buy a reusable cup (and a reusable water bottle while you’re at it) and take it with you on your pre-work caffeine mission. All coffee outlets will fill your own cup for you instead of their disposable versions and some will even knock a bit off the price of your latte if you bring your own flask.

Any model of cup on the market is good for the planet if you plan to reuse it, but even in the reusable world there are prizes for eco-friendly materials. Many are free from BPA and phthalates, chemicals commonly used to make food storage containers that can inadvertently leach harmful toxins. Some of the cups we tested are made of bamboo, corn and other natural matter, and many are recyclable at the end of their lifespan. Some cups are designed only to be held upright like a disposable cup, while others are more robust and act like flasks, so you can chuck them in a rucksack without a problem.

Hydro Flask Coffee: from £22, Cotswold Outdoor

A great option for the sporty, adventurous or just clumsy, Hydro Flask’s excellent tumblers won’t spill, no matter how much you jumble them about in your backpack (just make sure the lid is clicked shut, as we learned the hard way). Available in 340ml and 454ml sizes, their stainless steel construction keeps coffee hot for the longest of all the flasks we tested. The brand claims that drinks will stay hot for six hours. We found that coffee that was steaming hot at 9am was still too hot to sip at 10.30am, and still lukewarm by 5pm - Impressive. These work just as well for keeping water cold, making it ideal for both a caffeine hit in the morning and a gym session in the evening. They’re free from BPA and phthalates, and available in a range of colours.

Ecoffee Cup William Morris Bamboo Cup 400ml: £11.95, Ecoffee Cup

“No excuse for single use” – that’s Ecoffee Cup’s motto, and it’s a sentiment we can get behind. Its luxe-looking matte cups, in sizes 227ml and up, are crafted with bamboo fibre with secure rubber lids, drinking hole stoppers and heat sleeves, and feature handsome designs such as William Morris wallpaper (as pictured) and psychedelic Sixties prints. The recyclable bamboo cup looks and feels rather like thick cardboard but can actually hold hot coffee without an issue, and it wipes clean if there are any spills. The wide opening is easy to drink from. This one won't keep your coffee warmer for much longer than a disposable cup but it's a good one for your morning at-desk coffee. Want to make your purchase even more eco-friendly? Buy the Two Minute Beach Clean campaign’s official E Coffee Cup (£15 from Surfdome) and all profits will go to helping rid beaches of harmful plastic.

CambridgBamboo Coffee Aroma Eco Travel Mug

Brighten up those dull mornings with this colourful travel mug, which is thermal insulated to keep your drink hot for longer - ideal if, like us, you have an irritating tendency to forget about it. Decorated with names of various cafe favourites, this cup is generously sized for extra-large coffees and features a silicone grip for comfortable use. Each is made from dishwasher-safe materials and proved easy to clean.