I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
I am a bit of a strange one in that I really like coffee mugs. I think there are so many innovations there in the coffee mug world, and problems are being solved in different ways. Every tumbler does something a bit different. However, there is always one that stands out as the best.
The Yeti Rambler Tumbler 20oz has stood out as my all-time favorite option, after using it for years, it has one of the best lids in the industry, and is very high quality and durable. That said, it isn’t leak-proof, so you might want to look at the Fellow Carter Wide Mug if you are hoping to keep coffee from dripping out into your bag.
Quick Note: The Klean Kanteen found in this article was gifted to me by the brand to check out. However, all opinions are my own.
Jump to:
1. Yeti Rambler Tumbler 20oz
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Capacity: 20 ounces
- Construction: 18/8 Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
- Perfect for drinking coffee while driving
- Easy to clean
- Keeps coffee hot
- Holds up to abuse
- The styling is getting dated.
- Expensive
It’s no secret that this Tumbler from Yeti is by far my favorite coffee tumbler. It does a fantastic job at just about everything!
The MagSlider lid is it’s standout feature, as it allows you to open the mug with one hand (perfect for using while driving), and makes it so incredibly easy to clean it (especially being dishwasher safe) as it tears down into simple easy-to-clean components.
All of these things come together to create an amazing coffee tumbler.
That said, its major drawback is its aging styling along with its hefty price tag. If you want to learn more about this tumbler, make sure to read my full review here!
2. Fellow Carter Wide Mug
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Looks great
- Great quality
- Keeps coffee hot for long periods
- People will want one when they see it
- Works for both home and on the go
- Expensive
- Not great for use while driving
- Capacity: 16 ounces
- Construction: 18/8 Stainless Steel, Ceramic Interior
- Dishwasher Safe: No
While the Yeti Rambler Tumbler 20oz is my all-time favorite coffee tumbler, the Fellow Carter Wide Mug is the best option for those that need a watertight mug, as the Yeti is not. The Fellow Carter Wide Mug is a double-wall stainless steel construction tumbler, just like the Yeti.
However, its lid is a screw-on style lid that does not allow for access to the mug with one hand (making it impossible to use while driving). That screw-on lid does an amazing job at keeping it watertight, meaning you can easily throw it into your gym bag, purse, satchel, or the floorboards of your car, for that matter.
The other major upside is its styling. It looks considerably better than the Yeti, and is constantly being noticed by people whenever I take this one out and about.
Finally, unlike most other to-go style tumblers, the interior of this coffee mug is ceramic (rather than stainless steel), meaning you won’t taste the metallic taste of the steel. While I personally can’t taste the difference, I have heard this is a concern among a large number of people.
The primary downside to the mug is the flip side of the lid. While it’s watertight, it can be a bit of a pain when you only have one hand available to open the mug.
Still not sure if this one is quite right for you? You can read more about it in my comprehensive review here.
3. Klean Kanteen Rise Mug
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- The capacity is perfect
- My favorite styling of any tumbler
- The wide mouth is great to drink from
- High-quality tumbler
- The wide mouth causes spills
- Capacity: 16 ounces
- Construction: 18/8 Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
This brand has made some HUGE jumps over the past couple of years. While their styling used to be quite dated, their new Rise Collection has proven to be one of my favorite drinkware lineups from any brand by utilizing similar paint to Yeti but making them have a bit more of a futuristic-retro style coffee mug.
It follows much of the same recipe as the others on this list with 18/8 stainless steel, and a similar coffee capacity.
The main, and only reason that this coffee mug (which was gifted to me by the brand) hasn’t leapfrogged up to the top of this list is its lid. The lid seems to be lower quality than the mug, and its wide mouth means any bumps you go over (while in a vehicle) causes the coffee to find its way around your mouth, and onto your lap, which isn’t a great thing.
Much like all the other tumblers on this list, if you want to learn more, I have an in-depth review of this one here!
What should you look for in a good travel coffee tumbler?
1. Easy to clean completely
I can’t stress enough how important it is to get a coffee tumbler that can be cleaned easily. While some watertight coffee tumblers promise to both be watertight and easy to open and close, this is generally done by a complicated mechanism on the bottom of the lid.
When you have a complicated mechanism, that results in a more difficult mug to clean (which also means it won’t get completely clean at all).
When you can’t clean your mug completely, that is just asking for mold and slime to build up, meaning that you will have to throw the coffee mug away and buy a new one. Save yourself some time and money, and just buy one with an easy-to-clean lid, like all of the ones you’ll find above.
2. Reasonable coffee capacity
Never buy a coffee mug that is either too small, or too large for you. If it’s too small, you won’t use it. If it’s too big, it’s going to be annoying to tote around with you, knowing that you aren’t using its complete capacity. I have found that tumblers in the 16oz to 20oz range are the sweet spot for me. However, that may be completely different for you.
3. Build quality and durability.
When spending so much money on a coffee mug, plan on keeping it for the long haul to get your money’s worth out of it. With that, you need to make sure that it can LAST for the long haul. Build quality and durability are big parts of making sure that that happens. Getting a tumbler with tough and thick paint is important so that it won’t chip when you (and you will) drop it.
