Most of us need a cup of joe in the morning. That’s why more and more individuals are considering eco-friendly reusable coffee cups a substitute for their morning caffeine fix. But have you thought of what your three cups a day do to the environment if you opt for a throwaway cup each time?
The best choice for a reusable coffee cup depends on personal preferences. Of the many options, the favorite picks are mugs made from glass, ceramic, stainless steel, and biodegradable materials such as bamboo. All of these are available with accessories to enhance your coffee drinking.
Everyone is becoming increasingly conscientious of their drinking habits regarding their footprint on the eco-system. Millions of plastic cups and lids end up in landfills, the ocean, and wildlife polluting the natural habitat. Think of its effect on the planet if you exchange your disposable cup for a reusable travel mug or a stainless-steel tumbler with a removable lid.
Are Reusable Cups Necessary?
When you look at doing your part for the environment, one of the most straightforward and accessible contributions you can make is to trade in for a reusable coffee cup. Instead of ordering a paper cup from the barista, bring your long-lasting cup and help save the environment one recyclable container at a time.
But where to start looking and what to buy to make your morning coffee still the most enjoyable part of your day? What to choose and where to begin browsing for an eco-friendly cup that fits your personality.
Starbucks Coffee Reusable Cup
Starbucks Coffee is one of the top innovative companies in their field. They were the first to introduce the benefits of using durable coffee cups and travel mugs. Customers were introduced to the Reusable Cup Benefit Program, which could save them money and help combat the world’s never-ending pollution dilemma.
Apart from decreasing their fingerprint on wastage, the program also saved people money by offering a discount if someone brought their own cup. Other benefits include preserving your coffee temperature at hot or cold and allowing you to personalize your cup to suit your individuality.
Starbucks occasionally offered a free reusable cup with a Grande-sized cold drink for a limited time. However, for true Starbucks fans, recyclable cups are readily available from several suppliers at prices ranging from $14.99 to $29.99. They offer different varieties and designs for every type of drink.
Reusable Coffee Cups with Lids
As durable coffee cups grew in popularity, people started accessorizing with lids. The recyclable lids had more than one purpose, though. Initially, they were designed to prevent spillage. As the device became more imperative, its function became more evolved too. It served the duty of locking in the coffee aroma and retaining its heat.
Depending on the reason for wanting a lid for your travel mug, there are different types to suit your purpose:
- Caps that are designed to avoid spillage.
- Cup lids with a straw hole for the use of a durable straw.
- Reusable cup lids that are strong enough to reuse
- Disposable cup lids intended to be used only once for cups such as paper cups.
- Best lid designs specifically for children.
Choosing your cup lid is as personal as choosing your type of reusable cup. After you’ve chosen your travel mug, please give it some thought as to what you want to get out of your cup. Then consider the following factors:
- What material must the lid be made from?
- What size top do you require?
- What kind of lid design would best suit your needs?
- Of course, what price would suit your budget?
- In general, what purpose would your lid serve?
Reusable K-Cups
As more coffeehouses became aware of their throwaway cups’ ongoing environmental effects on the planet, they became more conscientious of their packaging. In 1998 a company called KeepCup launched its version of a reusable cup. Their cups are made of various materials and come in many designs, from glass cups to thermal travel mugs.
What is superior about the K-cup is that, unlike Starbucks, you can design your own cup. Their lids and cups are interchangeable, and they come with a cork or plastic band to avoid burning when you grip your cup. Mix and match the different colors and personalize your order as you see fit.
The cups are obtainable in sizes ranging from 12 to 16 ounces, and even a 22-ounce thermal bottle is available. KeepCup’s website lets you choose between XS, S, M, and L sizes for your cup kit.
Travel Mug
The purpose of the travel mug is precisely in the name. It’s an insulated cup with a lid to carry and transport hot or cold drinks without spilling. Some travel mugs have handles but are mostly known for their durable, stainless-steel, double-thick walls that can maintain a drink’s temperature for hours. The lids are typically sturdy and leak-proof and have an opening at the top to drink while commuting.
In searching for the perfect travel mug for you, there are various factors you’ll need to consider to find your ideal match:
- Are you a serious coffee connoisseur, or do you require small cups of coffee to get you through the day? The size of your travel mug is your first criterion. Sizes range from 12 to 64 ounces, depending on how often you require a caffeine fix during the day. The bigger the flask, the more you can fit in there.
- What material should your travel mug be made of? Metal like aluminum and stainless steel is the best insulator for hot and cold drinks. However, there are also plastic travel mugs available.
- The lid of a travel mug is what makes it portable. But then you get so many types of covers, each attached to the vessel differently. And in turn, each has a unique opening that allows you to drink from it while traveling.
- One of the benefits of a travel mug is that your beverage stays hot or cold for much longer, depending on how the cup has been insulated. Whether your cup is made from plastic, stainless steel, or aluminum, the material contributes to how long your drink retains its temperature.
- The more popular durable travel cups become, the more stylish the look It’s increasingly becoming an accessory people choose to fit their outfits for the day. And if you are a coffee zealot, you might go as far as branding your travel mug with your personalized logo.
Everyone has a different reason for switching to the practicality of a travel mug. Either it’s because they’re the eco-friendly alternative to paper cups, they are a way to save money, or just for the convenience of the heat retention material. For whatever reason, the durability of the travel cup is unbeatable.
Reusable Coffee Cup With Straw
Where travel mugs are suitable for hot drinks, we have tumblers for cold beverages. They are similarly tall with a lid, just like travel mugs, but they are typically fitted with a straw and never have any handles. They are also generally made from BPA-free plastic and are better-suitable for icy beverages. Where the travel mug is designed to keep hot drinks warm, the tumbler would keep cold fluids chilly for longer.
While many professionals would debate the benefits of drinking your liquid refreshment through a straw, it has never been scientifically proven. Some would argue that it’s better for your teeth because less sugary fluids come in contact with them. Other say it’s also beneficial since drinking through a straw assist in washing away any particles that would otherwise become lodged between your teeth.
If you prefer a straw, you’ll need to weigh your options carefully as there are so many types of straws to choose from, each with its characteristics and perks:
- Silicone
- Metal
- Glass
- Sugarcane
- Bamboo
- And Paper
Plastic Reusable Coffee Cups
If you have turned the corner and opted for a recyclable cup, you are already part of the fifty percent of society which values your morning brew. To have your world-class cup of coffee from a sub-standard reusable cup is not doing your cup of java justice. That’s why you have to know your equipment.
There are reasons why cups are made from different materials. Certain types of cups are made from metal and are used to retain the heat in your cup of coffee. Other cups, such as tumblers, are generally made from plastic to accommodate cold fluids like an iced latté.
If you prefer your icy drinks over your warm coffees, you should certainly acquire a tumbler or travel mug made from plastic. It’s durable, will keep your drink cold, and comes with a straw to enjoy your beverage. It is also customarily fitted with a non-spill lid for the clumsy among us.
Reusable Coffee Cup Bulk
Ordinarily, you should only use your reusable coffee cups between twenty and a hundred times before replacing them. To make it worth the price, energy, and resources to use a recyclable cup instead of a paper cup, you must ensure it’s sturdy enough to last for quite a while. This means searching for one made of ceramic, glass, or metal.
Alternatively, suppose you want to use a biodegradable cup made from anything less than a permanent material but still want to contribute to saving the environment. In that case, you can buy environmentally-friendly mugs or tumblers in bulk.
These bulk cups are typically made from materials such as bamboo or eco-friendly paper and can be reused a limited number of times. These cups are available wholesale from several suppliers, such as Amazon or Etsy.
Ordering your throwaway cups in bulk has the added bonus of not washing them constantly. If they are not reusable, you can dump them after use and take another. Remember that repeatedly cleaning and sanitizing your cups also adds to your environmental footprint with the chemicals you use and the heat of the hot water.
Personalized Reusable Coffee Cup
As soon as you’ve decided to go green with your morning coffee routine, this is where the fun starts. Now you have a durable cup made from ceramic, glass, or stainless steel, but how to avoid someone else accidentally grabbing your cup? It might look similar to so many other cups on the coffee counter.
Numerous companies online offer the option of personalizing your travel mug with a picture or even your name. This makes a lovely gift for birthdays or any occasion.
However, to add to the fun, why not just imprint your mug using oil-based Sharpies? They are easy, fun for the whole family, and cheap. Decorate your porcelain mugs with various colors, write slogans, or stamp your name on the cup. To make it permanent, bake your illustrated ceramics in the oven at 375⁰F, and allow them to cool before taking them out.
Post Covid-19 pandemic, I’m sure everyone views hygiene and personal space on a whole different level. Using a personalized cup to separate your travel mug from the masses is already a huge step. Personalizing your travel cup adds some individuality and pizzazz to your morning caffeine fix, and no one will ever mistake your cup for theirs again.
Best Reusable Coffee Cup
When you examine the options we get nowadays, there are many aspects to consider before deciding on the perfect reusable coffee cup for your morning cup of joe. It all depends on your personal requirements and what you will do while using the mug.
Do you just like the taste and feel of a proper cup of coffee from a durable container? Will you use it for your morning commute to work? Is it simply to contribute to the environmental factors of decreased wastage?
During a study that Gearlab did, they concluded that the following options are magnificent contenders for the best reusable coffee cups during 2023:
W&P Porter Ceramic
The W&P Porter Ceramic on-the-go mug is a prime choice. Even though it’s only 12 ounces, the ceramic cup is durable and doesn’t retain the aroma and smell of the coffee. It has a removable silicone sleeve and a lid with a slidable mechanism that makes it easy to drink, although it’s not entirely leek-proof. It can be purchased from Amazon for $25.
Dowan Coffee Mug
The versatile Dowan coffee mug is also another fantastic choice. At a slightly bigger 16-ounce size, it’s also made from ceramic with a cork base which causes it to be somewhat challenging to clean properly. The bottom of the cup is reinforced, and it comes with a lid and a large handle that becomes very beneficial as the cup can become extremely hot and be problematic to hold onto. This travel mug is also available at Amazon for only $22.
Reusable SoL Cup
The reusable SoL cup comes in a selection of containers and accessories. It ranges in varied sizes and prices from $20 to $40. The often-preferred choice is the glass cup with the silicone grip and lid. The mug is crafted from premium hand-blown glass containing a very high percentage of borosilicate, making the vessel clear and lightweight. The added benefit of SoL mugs is that they are both microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Conclusion
For whatever reason you decide to change over to reusable coffee cups, you will be sure to aid the eco-system in preventing so many throwaway containers from ending up in the ocean and landfills. With such a vast selection of options, it will be easy to find a personal choice that suits your comfort, budget, and image.
Resources
- https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-how-get-free-starbucks-reusable-cup-availability-need-know#:~:text=To%20get%20the%20free%20Starbucks,a%20grande%2Dsized%20iced%20drink&text=From%20offering%20extra%20discounts%20on,fans%20all%20across%20the%20countryhttps://storables.com/furniture/cup-lids/
- https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/travel-mug-vs-tumbler/#:~:text=A%20tumbler%20is%20a%20piece,and%20is%20completely%20handle%2Dless.
- https://www.timeout.com/london/news/are-reusable-coffee-cups-actually-good-for-the-environment-111021#:~:text=’Plastic%20is%20not%20a%20safe,’
- https://www.livingwellspendingless.com/sharpie-mug/
- https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-how-get-free-starbucks-reusable-cup-availability-need-know#:~:text=To%20get%20the%20free%20Starbucks,a%20grande%2Dsized%20iced%20drink&text=From%20offering%20extra%20discounts%20on,fans%20all%20across%20the%20country
- https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/how-do-you-choose-the-right-travel-mug/#:~:text=A%20travel%20mug%20made%20from,find%20something%20that’s%20vacuum%2Dsealed!
- https://food52.com/blog/26388-best-reusable-straws
- https://au.keepcup.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_cup#:~:text=A%20coffee%20cup%20is%20a,without%20saucers%2C%20and%20disposable%20cups.
- https://www.consumerreports.org/health/coffee/best-types-of-coffee-mugs-to-keep-coffee-warm-a7384089445/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20Kaleena%20Teoh%2C%20co,at%20heat%20retention%2C%20says%20Teoh
- .https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics#:~:text=Helps%20sustain%20the%20environment%20for,Saves%20money.
- https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2017/07/reusable-or-disposable-which-coffee-cup-has-a-smaller-footprint/#:~:text=The%20answer%20is%20yes%3A%20by,that%20is%20another%20problem%20altogether.
- https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/best-coffee-mugs#:~:text=%E2%80%9CGlass%2C%20ceramic%2C%20and%20stainless,to%20paper%20to%2Dgo%20cups
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