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Best reusable coffee cups and travel mugs that are an eco-friendly solution on the go

 (Unsplash)
(Unsplash)

Everywhere you look, the war against single-use plastics wages on.

Shops and supermarkets have encouraged us to shun plastic bags for reusable totes, excessive packaging is public enemy number one and there has been a ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers in England since April 2020.

It’s a great start to stop single-use plastics from ending up in landfill, where they can take centuries to break down while polluting the environment and oceans in the process. But you can always do more on a personal level and in your everyday life.

For instance, if you’re a coffee drinker the best place to start reducing your consumption of single-use plastics is with your daily brew.

In the UK we get through around 7m disposable coffee cups every day – in a year that stacks up to a staggering 2.5 billion. These cups can’t be recycled because the linings are made from harmful plastics which can’t be broken down and processed again.

Switching to a reusable coffee cup means you’ll massively reduce your plastic footprint without foregoing your caffeine fix – everyone wins.

With this in mind, we’ve gathered some of the best designs out there. Scroll on to find the best reusable coffee cups to buy right now.

rCup Reuseable Cup 8oz

Boost your eco-credentials with a reusable coffee cup made from (drum roll, please) recycled paper coffee cups! A cup that’s made from waste, helps recycle waste and reduces waste; a pleasing cycle of justice that really appeals to us.

The rCup’s average lifespan is 10 years so you'll get plenty of wear out of this leak-proof BPA free vessel that has with a push-close seal for drip-free easy sipping. So useful and kind to the environment, consider this is your new travel essential. Holds 227ml and available in a range of colourways.

£14.99 | Waterstones

KeepCup Cork Brew Reusable Glass Coffee Cup 12oz

This Aussie brand is as green as they come and makes a point of using materials that can be recycled once the product has come to the end of its life.

This 340ml travel mug is made with durable, toughened soda lime glass and non-toxic, BPA-free and BPS-free plastic, has a splash-proof lid and sports a cork band for easy carrying, made from wine cork waste in Portugal. Dishwasher safe, shop more KeepCup designs here.

£22 | John Lewis

Circular&Co reusable coffee cup, 12oz

 (Circular&Co)
(Circular&Co)

The fact that this cup is made from single-use paper cups gives us a warm feeling of satisfaction - not only are we keeping waste out of the landfill but we're removing what's there too. C&C sources used cups from centres around the UK and gives them a second life as this reusable cup, which will stay in service for a decade. And, when the time comes, its fully recyclable too. Prepare from smug levels to shoot through the roof.

We don't just love it for its eco-credentials; it's an extremely well-made cup with a leak-proof lid that will keep your get-up-and-go juice warm for hours.

Also available in a larger 12oz size.

£13.95 | Circular7Co

Royal Doulton Coffee Studio 350ml Travel Mug

Discover your inner barista with Royal Doulton's porcelain travel mug. Shaped like a tall glass, it can hold a generous 250ml capacity, and comes with a black lid to make it easy to hydrated whilst on the go. Safe for dishwasher cleaning.

£25 | Dunelm

Ecoffee Cup Bonfrer Reusable Bamboo Coffee Cup

Made from bamboo, the most sustainable crop on the planet, the ECoffee cup comes in a host of cool designs, allowing you to sip in style while also helping to curb further pollution. It looks like a traditional coffee cup, but despite feeling like thick cardboard, it holds up well in the dishwasher.

There's also a latex-free silicone lid and sleeve plus a ‘no-drip’ lid so you can enjoy your tea or coffee on the go without any fear of spills. Once you’re completely done with the cup, simply crush it down, soak in hot water and add it to your compost heap.

£10 | Argos

JOCO Reusable Glass Travel Coffee Cup

Free of plastic and fine to sling in the dishwasher or microwave, it's not hard to see why JOCO's cup won Best Product at the New York Coffee Festival.

You can handle steaming coffee easily thanks to the anti-splash silicone lid and thermal silicone sleeve and the durable glass travels well in bags.

£16 | Amazon

W&P Porter Mug, Ceramic & Cream Terrazzo Silicone

 (W&P)
(W&P)

MADE is the home of all-round great design, so no suprise it offers this reusable cup amongst its digital shelves. Crafted from ceramic, it's finished with a terrazzo-style matte silicone to keep your hands safe from your steaming hot cup of Joe. The lid seals everything shut but you can keep drinking without compromising it thanks to the built-in sip opening. Microwave and dishwasher safe.

£25 | MADE

Bru Double Walled Reusable Coffee Cup

The hardy little Bru cup is pretty much indestructible, surviving all manner of scrapes and falls - helpful for any clumsy drinkers.

It's about as tall as a takeaway cup, so your coffeehouse should have no trouble sliding it under their machines if you're drinking on the move. The double wall means drinks stay hot inside for an absolute age yet the exterior remains blissfully cool to the touch. Available in ten colours including black, blue, red, white and rose gold shades.

£16.99 | Amazon

Chilly's Coffee Cup in Chrome Rose Gold

Chilly's is well known for its collection of reusable water bottles but did you know they do a lovely line of coffee cups too?

Available in three sizes - 230ml, 340ml and 500ml - the double-walled cups come in an array of colours and patterns.

While the lid will help with the odd spill, it’s important to note that the cups are not fully sealed so you should still handle with care - still, a small price to pay to help save the planet. All Chilly’s Coffee Cup lids are made from Tritan, a BPA-free and impact-resistant type of plastic which doesn’t leave any weird aftertastes. Handwash only.

£20 | Amazon

Beau & Elliot Travel Mug

This vacuum insulated drinks bottle from Beau & Elliot will keep your coffee warm for up to four hours. The stainless steel vessel holds 450ml and comes in a fetching choice of designs. Not suitable for the microwave or dishwasher.

£9.89 | Wayfair

Frank Green Stainless Steel Reusable Cup

Available in three sizes and a range of colour options and combos, Frank Green is well-designed, stylish but most importantly, eco-friendly.

Each design is curved to fit snugly in your hand, they're fully recyclable and have a built-in payment system that lets you buy your next coffee just by waving the cup. Welcome to the future, coffee lovers.

Also available in a fully recyclable co-polymer cup.

£22.99 | Frank Green

SoL Cup

Made from hand-blown glass, this is a well-designed cup with a colourful silicone carry grip and rounded lip. There are 13 colours to choose from and the cups come in pretty packaging making this an ideal gift too. Four sizes available: 4oz,8oz, 12oz and 16oz.

From £11 | Sol Cup

Stojo Biggie Collapsible Travel Mug

Dreamed up by three New Yorkers who wanted to act on their disposable cup consumption, Stojo is a collapsible silicone cup that works just as well with smoothies as it does with your morning cuppa thanks to the integrated straw.

Pick your favourite from five colours and simply squash down when it's not in use, so it’s perfect for keeping in your bag. Microwave and dishwasher safe, holds 473ml.

£14.99 | Amazon

Pokito Collapsible Coffee Cup

Pokito started out, as many ingenious ideas do, as a Kickstarter project, as a rallying call to cut the reliance on single-use plastics.

The adjustable cup is all about refill not landfill and collapses into three sizes - 16oz (475ml), 12oz (350ml) or 8oz (230ml) - depending on how big a caffeine hit you're after.

Once you've enjoyed your cuppa, simply scrunch down and store in your bag or pocket; it folds down to just 6cm high. The lockable lid ensures a drip and leak-free experience.

£13.49 | Amazon

Hip Cup Travel Blush & Cloud 355ml

From the team behind the Hip Water Bottle comes the sister version that's perfect for carrying all kinds of hot drinks.

The ergonomic design is made to a standard barista size so you can hand this over the counter at any coffee shop safe in the knowledge it will fit under their coffee machines. The cup is recyclable, reusable, dishwasher-safe and BPA-free, but best of all, the company works with Water for People to provide safe drinking water for those in need.

£4.99 | Amazon

Nespresso TOUCH Travel Mug

If your Nespresso machine is one of your most treasured possessions you might want to get a snazzy travel mug to match. The sleek urban design will keep your 345ml of coffee warm without transferring heat to your hands. Measures a total of 16cm high and is dishwasher-friendly.

£18 | Nespresso

Personalised Wooden Hobby Travel Mug

Looking for the perfect gift for the coffee-fan in your life? Head to Not On The High Street for this charming bamboo and stainless steel mug which can be customised with a laser etching of a motif, plus name or message of your choice.

Seals with a slide click on the mug's lid for secure drinking, but this design is not water-tight so must be carried upright at all times.

£35 | NOTHS

Cath Kidston Mini London View Bamboo Travel Cup

Brighten up your mornings with this bamboo clad insultated travel cup. Finished in signature Cath Kidston illustrations of London, it can carry an impressive 400ml and comes with a silicone band to relieve your hands of heat.

£12 | Cath Kidston

FOSH Ice Cream White Insulated Beaker

What may seem like a peculiar brand name is actually an acronym for “for our sea’s health”, related to the fact that harmful single-use plastics often wind up in the world's oceans.

FOSH's stainless-steel cups have vacuum technology to ensure your brew stays at the right temperature for longer. The snap close lid means it's not completely leak-proof but it's good for anyone who has a short commute to work. Available in a range of colours.

£18 | FOSH Bottle

Verdict

For a cheerful start to your day, we love the quirky London print on the Cath Kidston mug. However if you value function over style,rCup's reusable coffee cupmade from recycled paper coffee cups is our top pick.