The 11 Best Coffee Thermoses

We all know that the best coffee thermoses make our life much easier and more convenient. And these two driving reasons are always behind any purchase.

We understand that anyone starting out on their coffee journey is faced with what seems like a mountain of equipment and paraphernalia to purchase. But at the end of the day, when you strip it down to basics, all you need is a grinder, some great coffee beans, and a cheap French press. That’s all you require for a first-class coffee.

You can even decide to dismiss the coffee scale, the gooseneck kettle, and the siphon coffee maker, but what do you do when you want that first-class coffee on the go?

Well, coffee thermoses allow you to keep your hot coffee nice and drinkable even if you’re challenged with a dull commute or you’re out hiking for hours. Equally, these thermoses will keep your iced coffee or cold brew cooler for longer. Or if you’re a mate drinker and you are considering buying an ideal thermos, the following thermoses will let you have that delicious mate anywhere and anyplace.

Now, we’ll be reviewing the best and most reliable 11 options at your disposal. As usual, we’ll also include a brief and pointed description so you can see at a glance what you need when you’re buying these coffee thermoses.

Let’s launch in and explore the finest flasks up for grabs!

I. The 11 Best Coffee Thermoses

Thermos Stainless King 40

Thermos was founded back in 1904 and has been producing high-grade insulated thermoses ever since. What defines the King collection, then?

The rugged stainless steel build gets things off to a strong start. Whether you’re hiking rocky trails, pounding the pavement for your workout, or commuting, this unbreakable flask will stand up to some serious suffering.

Thermos’ vacuum insulation will keep your coffee hot for hours. It’s totally leakproof when the lid is closed so you’ll also get a great carrying handle. If you’re using hot liquids, the flask will stay cool to the touch. If you have iced coffee inside, the thermos is sweat-proof as well.

Attention to detail is praiseworthy, and the twist-and-pour stopper gives you the freedom to pour your drinks without needing to completely remove the lid.

Its capacity is reasonably generous at 40 oz. without burdening you with a flask that’s too large to comfortably handle.

Dishwasher-friendly, any tiresome clean-up when you’re finished with your cup of joe won’t be needed with Thermos King.

Bottom Line: With over a century in the business, you can rely on Thermos to keep your coffee hotter for longer.

Stanley Classic Vacuum Stainless Steel Thermos

Next up in our hunt for the best coffee thermoses is another unit ideal for both hot and cold drinks.

While Stanley is perhaps best known for their power tools, they bring all that expertise to bear with this highly insulated and vacuum-sealed thermos.

Choose from a 36 oz. or 64 oz. size to suit. The lid is leak-resistant so you’ll have no worries whether you’re in the car or out on the campsite.

This is one of the strongest thermoses when it comes to keeping drinks hot or cold. Whatever you pour into this flask will stay steaming hot or ice-cold for up to 24 hours. This leaves the competition trailing and makes it a great choice for anyone who needs drinks heated or cooled for extended periods of time.

The lid on this thermos also doubles up as an 8 oz. cup so you have everything you need to enjoy your java in one compact unit.

Bottom Line: This substantial thermos will keep your coffee piping hot or your iced coffee delectable cool for up to 24 hours.

Contigo Autoseal West Loop Vacuum Travel Mug

Are you looking for a budget-friendly thermos that won’t disappoint you later one? If so, the ever-reliable Contigo serves up the West, a highly effective travel mug at a price you’ll love.

With auto-seal technology baked in, you won’t be fiddling around with this flask. It’s both leak-proof and spill-proof. So you can be confident, popping this thermos in your bag when you’re out walking with no fear of boiling liquid pouring out over your legs.

Your hot coffee will stay that way for up to 7 hours. Pop in some iced coffee and expect it to stay cool for 18 hours.

It’s best to hand-wash this mug, but the lid is safe to place on the top rack of your dishwasher. As with all travel mugs, we’d recommend staying on top of cleaning to prevent mold and bacteria from accumulating.

Easy to use with an ergonomic push-button release so you’ll never spill your drink, and you won’t need to mess around with the lid either. This mug works particularly well when you’re driving.

Bottom Line: The Contigo West is a lightweight, convenient, and highly insulated thermos from a brand you can trust.

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Travel Mug

If you fancy a travel mug in a color other than black or silver, Zojirushi delivers this stainless steel travel mug in a broad array of vibrant finishes.

If you need an all-day companion, this flask might be your best buddy. You’ll keep drinks hot or cool for up to 6 hours which might be a little restrictive for some.

The inside of this thermos is non-stick and especially easy to keep clean. This is crucial with travel mugs since poorly-designed models can easily harbor germs and bacteria.

The flip-open lid is easy to use and shuts tightly to efficiently regulate the temperature of your liquids.

This thermos is quite tall but also quite slim. It’s lightweight and easy to hold for extended periods making it a great choice for outdoor use on the campsite or on the hiking trail.

Bottom Line: This tall, slim travel mug from Zojirushi is easy to drink from and just as simple to keep clean.

Cresimo Stainless Steel Thermal Coffee Carafe

Are you looking for a larger thermos capable of warming your coffee for longer? The Cresimo offers a substantial 68 oz. interior so you can keep your morning coffee warm for up to 12 hours. How does this flask shape up across the board, then?

The push-button spout means you can use this flask with one hand and pour with ease, ideal if you’re rushing around in the morning serving the whole family with breakfast.

As well as keeping your coffee or tea piping hot, you can also chill cold drinks for up to 24 hours. So this thermos gives you a great deal of versatility.

Unlike most of the other thermoses, this is certainly not a commuter-friendly model due to the oversized dimensions. If you don’t plan to take it out of the kitchen, though, you’ll appreciate the generous capacity.

Bottom Line: If you’re shopping for coffee thermoses mainly based on capacity, this 68 oz. flask is a must.

Hydro Flask Water Bottle

Next up is a flask that is one of a kind. The Hydro Flask is a highly reputable name in this space. While their thermoses are certainly not cheap, you’ll end up satisfied you’ve made this investment rather than lamenting an unreliable thermos for a cheaper price. But what makes these flasks so good?

The choice of colors always gets things off to a strong start with 10 eye-catching options for you to choose from. The stainless steel build delivers a first-class lifespan whereas plastic parts contain no BPA and no contaminants or phthalates.

The powder coating ensures this mug won’t slip from your grasp. It’s also completely dishwasher-safe, so you have no excuse to clean your thermos from any harboring bacteria.

Most importantly, the lifetime warranty lets you buy these flasks with complete confidence. If you can afford the Hydro Flask, you won’t regret your purchase.

Note that this redesigned version of the Hydro Flask doesn’t feature a trademark symbol next to the logo any longer.

Bottom Line: While it doesn’t boast a leak-proof lid, this is a robust water bottle that will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours on end.

YETI Rambler Vacuum-Insulated Tumbler

YETI has a hard-won reputation for producing great kitchenware at affordable prices. This stainless steel thermos is nicely insulated and small enough to slip in your pocket.

The model we’re looking at has a 20 oz. capacity. If you need something beefier, there’s also a 30 oz. variant.

Finished in 18/8 stainless steel with Duracoat, you best believe you’ll get no cracking, no peeling, and no fading over time. Designed so the outside repels sweat, you’ll never lose your grip on this mug even if you’re out hiking.

Shatter-resistant and safe to put in the dishwasher, you get a great all-rounder in a small form factor at a highly competitive price point. What’s not to love?

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a cost-effective thermos that’s easy to clean and safe to pop in the dishwasher, the mighty YETI is a smart choice.

Contigo Snapseal Byron Travel Tumbler

We have another classic travel tumbler from Contigo up next in the form of the Byron.

This is another stainless steel mug that provides a great rust-resistant lifespan and a unit that’s light enough to carry for hours without feeling burdened.

Close the lid and you’ll enjoy its leak-proof performance! This mug is perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle and ideal for commuters. Whether you’re behind the wheel or riding a crowded subway, you can enjoy carrying your drink without fear of leaks or spillage.

Pushing the button to drink without removing the lid is a convenient feature when you’re driving. Plus, this mug is also designed to fit neatly into most standard car cup holders.

And you can choose from a wide palette of color schemes to suit.

Thermalock vacuum insulation will keep your coffee hot for up to 7 hours while cold drinks remain cool for as long as 18 hours.

Bottom Line: Contigo hits another home run with the Byron, a lightweight, rugged, and eye-catching thermos to keep your drinks hot or cold all day long.

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

As we edge to the end of our coffee thermos reviews, we have another neat and compact model from Zojirushi. You get great tech and strong precision engineering with this stainless steel travel mug.

All plastic parts of this flask are guarantee free of BPA.

The mouth is designed to be wide enough to accommodate iced cubes, welcome if you enjoy iced coffee when the mercury rises.

Despite the reasonable 16 oz. capacity, the space-saving design means you get a thermos that’s just as easy to hold as it is to slip in a small drawer for storage. You can even pop this flask in your inside pocket when you’re out commuting.

Bottom Line: If you need a durable yet lightweight thermos with a slightly smaller capacity, Zojirushi delivers in fine style with this stainless steel mug.

AVITO Stainless Steel Travel Mugs

Any bargain hunters out there should appreciate this pair of travel mugs. These are perfect for keeping your morning coffee hot until you get to the office.

Finished in a range of elegantly finished from muted pastels to subtle silvers, you get amazing stainless steel mugs with safe lids. At a glance, they might look like regular mugs –– and that’s part of the charm –– but the insulation and its lid give you far more flexibility when you need a good coffee on the go.

With double-walled insulation, you’ll get hot or cold drinks as desired with no sweating or condensation at all on the outside wall.

The plastic components are guaranteed to be free of all toxins.

With a 14oz capacity, you’ll be free to enjoy a large mug of java with your partner when you’re out and about.

Bottom Line: If you want an attractive pair of travel mugs and you’re not too concerned about capacity, take a chance on these AVITO.

Hydro Flask Travel Mug

Last but certainly not least, we have another entry from the incomparable Hydro Flask. The lifetime warranty offered is proof of reliability and trustworthiness. But what makes this mug so good?

The 16 oz. capacity is adequate for a large coffee. If this doesn’t seem like the best fit, you can find this flask in a 12oz or 20oz variant. Overall dimensions of this 16oz model are 2.9 x 2.9 x 7.5 inches so you’ll get a small and squat flask despite that generous capacity.

Multiple colors allow you to find something ideal for your liking.

Since it’s dishwasher-friendly, you won’t have any inconvenience with any clean-up.

If you want a travel mug that’s built to last for years, then you should invest in the Hydro Flask and kiss goodbye shopping for coffee thermoses on a yearly basis.

Bottom Line: If you want a sleek and compact travel mug that’s a snap to keep clean, try this Hydro Flask.

Now putting our reviews aside, it’s time to focus on the key things you should consider when comparing coffee thermoses.

II. Things You Should Consider

Check out these factors when it’s time to purchase a thermos and you will maximize your chances of finding the right flask for you.

• Capacity
• Insulation
• Lid
• Ease of Use
• Washability
• Design and Color Schemes

Capacity

One of the first things you need to clear up is what size of thermos would make the best fit for you.

To determine this, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• Do you need to carry the flask for long periods of time?
• Are you the only person who will be using it?
• Are you using the thermos outdoors?

If all you need is a small mug of coffee or a travel-friendly container for a short drive, you can easily get away with one of the 12 oz. or 16 oz. flasks.

Maybe you work from home and you don’t want to endlessly run to and from the kitchen.

Or perhaps you have a lengthy commute or you might spend long days hiking.

In all of these situations, it would make sense to get a travel mug that’s still compact enough to carry but robust enough as well when it comes to durability.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. All that counts is establishing the right size for you.

Insulation

Once you have chosen the appropriate capacity, you should check which thermos on your shortlist stands up on the insulation front.

Regardless of whether you opt for a stainless steel thermos or a glass one, the crucial thing is that it’s properly insulated and will keep that coffee either piping hot or ice-cold for as long as you need it.

The best thermoses have double-walled insulation and they’re vacuum-insulated.

Cheaper plastic thermoses might be serviceable for short-term use, but they’ll struggle to keep your drinks hot or cool for more than a couple of hours.

So, you should honestly examine your intended use so you’re not duped by the marketing hype.

While it might sound attractive, do you honestly require your coffee to stay warm for 24 hours? In what kind of scenario you could leave your coffee without drinking it for that length of time?

If you need a flask that gives you more freedom, whether you work long hours overnight, or you spend long stretches of time driving and unable to stop off for coffee, there are plenty on our list that delivers enviable insulation.

Lid

Not all lids are created equal, even those labeled as spill-proof.

Contigo and Zojirushi mugs both have stellar reputations on this front. Here at BestCoffee, we use travel mugs from both brands, specifically for the strength of the seals and their completely spill-proof nature.

Whether you want to store your coffee in your bag or in your pocket, looking for one with a great lid makes the difference between daily convenience and a nasty spillage.

As well as considering how the lid seals, you should also give some thought to how easy it is to clean. With the Contigo, for example, the lid is quite tough to keep completely spotless. Don’t be tempted to just clean these mugs out every once in a while either. You should blitz them thoroughly after every use to prevent germs and bacteria from gathering.

Ease of Use

Next up, you shouldn’t overlook how easy the travel mug is to use.

Here, you really need to personalize things to get the best fit. Think about where you’ll be using your mug, whether you plan to drink from it while driving if you need to carry it for long periods, and whether you’ll be drinking hot or cold coffee.

By getting particular and narrowing your purchasing decision down to focusing on only what you want from a thermos, you have a far stronger chance of finding the right one the easy way.

Washability

Now, not all travel mugs are easy to wash. Given the number of traps for germs and bacteria––especially in and around the lid––you should check whether the mugs on your shortlist are dishwasher-safe. We list this for each model we review so you can compare them and choose the best one for you.

Design and Color Schemes

While you won’t be shopping for thermoses primarily based on design, aesthetics is a bit important when it’s time to decide which thermos to get.

More importantly than the choice of color schemes are the bonuses such as a cap that doubles as a cup, or a carrying handle, or such as how easy it is to clean the inside.

Again, rather than seeking a one-size-fits-all solution, focus on what you want and don’t want in a travel mug to find the best one with ease.

Now, before we wrap it all up, we’ve assembled some of the most frequently asked questions we get about coffee thermoses here at BestCoffee.

III. FAQs

1) Why should I bother buying a coffee thermos?

If you commute to work and want your drink to stay hot or cold on your journey, a thermos makes great sense. They also work well if you like sipping safely on coffee in the car or when you’re out camping or hiking. Even within the home, these mugs can be a convenient bonus, especially if you struggle with mobility.

2) What’s the difference between leak-proof and spill-proof?

Spill-proof travel mugs will automatically default to their sealed state. With spill-proof mugs, you need to physically close the mug to prevent spillage. Once closed, the spill-proof mug will perform the same function.

3) Are all thermoses dishwasher-friendly?

No, they’re not. Check and read the product description to see if it’s dishwasher-friendly or not.

4) How can I get rid of the smell in my coffee thermos?

All you need is some vinegar and hot water.

Pour just a bit of vinegar into the bottom of your flask then fill it up with hot water.

Put the lid on and then shake it up. Leave the mixture to sit for 30 minutes.

Empty it and clean it with fresh water.

Then, allow it to air dry.

Any offending smell should be gone.

5) Can I use bleach to clean my thermos?

No. Avoid all bleaching agents. If your thermos becomes stained, use baking soda and hot water as a safe alternative that should see off any discoloration. Alternatively, look for a dishwasher-friendly model.

IV. Conclusion

Well, if you started today with no idea about coffee thermoses or wondering why you might need one, then we’re sure that has changed now.

Anyone with an active lifestyle or with a simple desire to enjoy great coffee wherever they are would benefit from one of these insulated flasks. Whether you love hot coffee or iced coffee, you can keep it at its best for hours on end with one of these thermoses.

Now, before you head off today, we’d ask you to take a moment to bookmark BestCoffee. We’re here to bring you nothing but the best gear and the most reliable resources so you can become a home barista and avoid those crippling monthly coffee shop bills.

Grab yourself one of these coffee thermoses and witness how you won’t have the need to hit the coffee shop when you’re out and about. Take your favorite blend with you saving time and money while saving the environment.

The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.