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Best Coffee Thermoses Of 2022 To Keep Your Joe Fresh

best coffee thermos to keep your java fresh

Nothing beats a hot java on a chilly day whether you’re commuting to an office, spending the day at home or heading out on a road trip. And the best way to keep your coffee steaming hot (or icy cold) is by investing in a good thermos. A coffee thermos is a vacuum insulated bottle that is designed to keep your morning coffee hot or cold for an extended amount of time. Most of these are affordable, so picking the right one depends on your needs and preferences. To help you on your quest for the best coffee thermos, we’ve put together a review round-up, the buying guide and the thermos FAQs.

What is it?

A good thermos has a double-wall construction, separated by a cavity, creating a thermal insulation layer, to keep liquids hot or cold for an extended period of time. Thermoses usually have a lid that you remove to pour liquid from the thermos into a cup, unlike travel mugs. Thermoses have a relatively higher capacity (from 32 to 42 ounces) than most travel mugs.

A good coffee thermos should have the best hot and cold retention. It should never leak nor it should retain residual flavors or odors from java-to-java. Aside from keeping your coffee or tea piping hot (or icy cold), it should also be able to take a beating on the occasional drop on the pavement or in-backpack tussle.

Why Should I Get A Thermos?

Sometimes, while traveling, even a travel mug doesn’t cut it in terms of capacity and heat or cold retention for longer hours. That’s why you should invest in a coffee thermos to keep your java hot or cold for 10, 12 or even 24-plus hours. Travel mugs have a 16-ounce capacity, while a good thermos has a capacity of anywhere from 32 to 42 ounces, which is about 1 litre. Like travel mugs, you can bring your thermos with you everywhere.

Plus, it gives you an easier start in the morning. For the coffee drinker on the go, all you have to do is pour your coffee in a thermos and then sip it leisurely from home or in the office. 

With a good thermos, you can enjoy your coffee without having to scald your mouth with a boiling cup of coffee or toss it away. Also, a good, leak-proof thermos is a must for no spills or leaks.

In short, a good coffee thermos is bound to make your life easier. At the very least, it won’t make your life harder. 

Best Thermos For Coffee On The Market

If you’re looking to make your coffee drinking experience more enjoyable, now’s the time to invest in a coffee thermos. Here are the seven best coffee thermos that will ensure you never take a sip of lukewarm coffee again.

Best Overall: Thermos Vacuum Insulated Compact Beverage Bottle

Capacity: 16, 25 and 32 ounces | Dimensions: 2.6 x 2.6 x 10 inches (16-ounce model) | Color Options: No | Warranty: 5-year limited

The thermos brand has been producing durable, insulated bottles for over a century. They were the first to use double-wall vacuum technology to keep the temperature of their insulated bottles consistent. Nothing beats their products when it comes to reliable, spill-proof thermoses to keep drinks hot or cold.

Thermos Vacuum Insulated Bottle has proven to be in the top three in terms of convenience, durability and minimum temperature loss. It’s also modern-looking, sleek, reliable, and (bonus!) affordable. It keeps its promise of keeping your coffee warm for 12 hours and chilled drinks cold for up to 24 hours. It’s a stainless steel bottle with a plastic flip-top lid and spout. 

This classic thermos has a two-part lid that is easy to open and close and prevent leaks or spills. However, it may not be convenient to be used while driving. 

Reasons To Like

  • Leakproof
  • Lightweight
  • Well-made
  • Excellent temperature retention

Reasons To Avoid

  • Exterior can scratch
  • Retains coffee smell inside
  • Need to be cleaned thoroughly after each use

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Stanley Classic Legendary Vacuum Insulated Bottle

Capacity: 0.6, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 quarts | Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.9 x 14.1 inches (1.5-quart model) | Color Options: Yes | Warranty: Lifetime

Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle is a popular option among outdoor enthusiasts. Its durable stainless steel makes it ideal for all kinds of adventures. This unbeatable thermos is available in multiple sizes from 20 ounces to 2.5 quarts and dozens of colors.

It has a leak-proof lid that consists of two parts — a plastic stopper and a stainless steel cup. However, you may find this lid difficult to be sipped from during walking unless the rubber stopper is eschewed and only the lid is covered with the stainless steel cup. Another downside of this Stanley Classic bottle is its handle, which can be a little rattling. Though small bottles won’t have a handle, they can be unwieldy to carry around for longer distances.

As far as temperature retention is concerned, it lives up to the brand’s claim of holding beverages warm for about 40 hours and cold for about 35 hours without ice. For cleaning purposes, we found the opening of a thermos to be too small to fit your hand inside of it. But it is dishwasher-safe, so this isn’t much of an issue. The Stanley Classic also offers a lifetime guarantee. That means if your Stanley insulated bottle doesn’t meet your expectations, you can always get a free replacement!

Reasons To Like

  • Leakproof
  • Dishwasher safe
  • High-class stainless steel insulation
  • Excellent temperature retention
  • Lifetime guarantee

Reasons To Avoid

  • Dated design
  • Not the easiest to drink while moving
  • Unwieldy to carry around

Best For Road Trips: Contigo Snapseal Byron Stainless Steel Travel Mug

Capacity: 16, 20, and 24 ounces | Dimensions: 3.25 x 3.25 x 8 inches (20-ounce model) | Color Options: Yes | Warranty: Lifetime limited

Most thermos can’t be trusted with car seats and carpets, however, Contigo Snapseal Byron Mug is an exception. What makes the Contiga Luxe Autoseal great for commuting is its “one-of-a-kind lid” that is convenient and easy to use while driving. It will also fit easily in your car’s cup holder. 

A lock is also present there to prevent the button from opening the hole too much. With or without the lock activated, the Contigo won’t leak a single drop. It comes in three sizes: 16, 20, and 24 ounces, so you choose the one that suits your coffee mileage. The thermos is designed to hold coffee warm for 7 hours and cold for 18.

This mug is completely leakproof, owing to its SnapSeal technology. Contigo won’t leak a single drop no matter where you are or what you’re doing. The only drawback is that it has to be hand-washed, yet its lid opening is narrow to fit your hand. Instead, you can use a long, non-abrasive toothbrush for cleaning purposes.

Reasons To Like

  • Best for iced coffee
  • Leakproof
  • Convenient rubber grip

Reasons To Avoid

Body is hand wash only

Best Design: Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Coffee Flask

Capacity: 12, 16, and 20 ounces | Dimensions: 7.76 x 3.31 x 3.07 inches (16-ounce model) | Color Options: Yes | Warranty: Lifetime limited

If you’re into more fun and eye-catching design rather than traditional, metallic ones, get yourself a Hydro Flask. It still has all the benefits you’d expect from a classic thermos. It is available in a wide array of bright colors, including Pacific, Carnation, Olive, and Rain. Not feeling their color options? You can even paint your Hydro Flask like this guy. 

With its matte-colored steel and sleek cylindrical design, the Hydro Flask is one of the coolest thermos available on the market. The colored plastic outer layer provides a soft touch and slip-resistant finish making it comfortable to hold without burning yourself. It’s available in 12-oz, 16-oz, and 20-oz sizes, which align with popular coffee vendor sizes. The Hydro Flask is double-walled, so it won’t feel hot to the touch on the outside or gain a layer of moisture when it’s filled with a cold drink. It’s designed to keep your coffee hot or your iced beverage cool for six hours or 24, but in the “real world,” it doesn’t work as well. If your goal is to keep your drink hot for a few hours, it is more than sufficient. But at the end of the day, you can’t expect your drink to be piping hot in there. 

Reasons To Like

  • Excellent temperature retention
  • Leakproof
  • Multiple sizes and colors
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Good for commuters

Reasons To Avoid

  • Overpriced
  • Have to be hand washed

Best High-Tech: Ember Travel Mug²

Capacity: 12 ounces | Dimensions: Mug is 3.14 x 7.9 inches and base is 5.63 x 3.88 inches | Color Options: No | Warranty: 1-year limited

When you’re on the go, you probably appreciate having the travel mug to keep your morning coffee warm, but travel mugs get cold quickly and end up having lukewarm or even cold coffee. That’s where the Ember Travel Mug² comes in. With Ember, it’s now possible to keep your coffee warm throughout the day with smart technology. It’s the best smart coffee thermos with temperature control on our best coffee thermos list. While other thermoses use insulation or direct heat, Ember Travel Mug² uses a combination of temperature sensors and microprocessors to maintain a precise temperature. Its sleek, high-tech design and app connectivity ensure nothing spills or leaks in the process. 

You can control the thermos’ temperature using its touchscreen control panel or you can do it by pairing it with the app on your smartphone. The panel can be especially convenient when you’re driving. The app will also let you know when the set temperature has reached. Knowing when your drink is ready to sip without burning your mouth can be handy.

The leak-proof lid is one of the mug’s most useful design features. You can open it and enjoy the 360-degree drinking experience with a simple push. This is most effective when driving, as you can lift the mug from any direction and start drinking- no longer needing to search for the opening side. 

All in all, The Ember Travel Mug² is a high-tech drink holder with useful smart features to keep your morning coffee at the exact perfect temperature for hours; however, it’s fairly pricey. 

Reasons To Like

  • Touchscreen display
  • Battery lasts up to three hours
  • Auto sleep
  • 360-degree leak-proof lid

Reasons To Avoid

  • Expensive
  • Only 12-ounce capacity
  • Stainless steel interior may affect your drink taste

How to Clean a Coffee Thermos Bottle

Black coffee… Cold-brew… Tea… You can store just about any drink in your beloved thermos. It can be disappointing when your thermos has coffee stains, residues and unpleasant smells. But how do you clean that sucker properly? 

Most thermoses are dishwasher safe, but be sure to check manufacturer recommendations beforehand. Even some dishwasher safe thermos need to be cleaned by hand in order to protect the coating and material. It is best to clean your thermos as soon as you finish with your coffee. To handwash, your thermos, start by filling your thermos with warm water and a few drops of dish detergent. Let it rest for three to five minutes to remove any crud. Use a bottle scrubber or an old toothbrush to gently scrub away any remaining coffee gunk. Lastly, rinse the thermos with warm water. It’s also important that you allow your thermos to air dry completely to prevent the potential odors and bacteria growth. To clean the silicone gasket, soak it in lemon juice, white vinegar or a mixture of water and baking soda.

If your coffee thermos has stains and odors, cleaning with water and detergent won’t be enough. Cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can be a very handy alternative.

The Criteria: What To Look for in a Best Coffee Thermos

Deciding which coffee thermos is right for you can be daunting. Need to keep your java warm the whole day? Go with either an insulated option or a smart thermos to help carry you past lunchtime. What nifty features and add-ons do you need? Here are a few of the things we consider when choosing which coffee thermos to buy.

Size Matters

How much coffee do you really brew and consume? Will you be brewing only for yourself or sharing it with camping partners or a date?

Before buying the thermos, take into account your coffee-drinking habits and thermos dimensions before ordering. If you tend to buy thermos for office use, an oversized model will suffice. But when you’re on a walk or a bike ride, you may want to consider a smaller, lighter thermos. Need to drink iced coffee? Go for a larger capacity of a thermos to hold both the coffee and ice. Will you be taking it on the road? Opt for one that can fit in your car’s cup holder.

Lid Style

Alongside size and insulation, take note of the type of lid. The type lid creates a difference among thermoses in how you experience drinking. Some have larger openings, while others have smaller ones. Some have a twist lid, some snap shut. When you’re sipping on the go, you may find a trigger-action lid more convenient. It all runs down to your personal preference and how and when you’ll be using your coffee thermos, whether commuting or running errands around your home. Thermoses don’t come with straws usually. But if you prefer straws, you can always get one separately.

Hot Or Cold

Do you prefer hot or iced coffee? What will you be using the thermos most for? Some thermos excels at keeping your drink cold for hours but lack in the heat department. While some hold hot drinks better. Regardless of the drink type, you are planning to store, there’s an option on our list that will work best for you.

How to clean

Most of the coffee thermos on this list can go in the dishwasher, so they’re good to go at all times; while others have to be hand-washed. Keep a lookout on the washing instructions of the model you intend to purchase.

Coffee Thermos FAQs

How long does coffee stay hot in a thermos?

Your coffee can be hot for up to 24 hours in a premium thermos. However, most of the thermoses can hold liquids below this 24-hour figure. You are most likely to find thermoses that can hold from five to twelve hours. Before filling it with coffee, you must preheat the thermos. Rinse it with hot water to maximize the heat retention of your thermos. Thermos is able to hold cold drinks for a much longer period of time than they keep them warm.

How do you get the smell out of a coffee thermos?

 In order to get the smell out of your coffee thermos, use a small amount of vinegar and hot water. Pour an inch or two of vinegar in the thermos, and then, fill it with hot water. Shake the thermos vigorously so that the vinegar and hot water make contact with the thermos walls. Leave the thermos for a few hours. After you empty your coffee thermos, make sure to give it a thorough rinse and let it air dry before putting the lid back on. 

Can I put a thermos in the freezer?

No, you should not place your thermos in the freezer. Not only will the drink freeze and expand, causing damage to the thermos, but there is also a likelihood of mess being made. By placing thermos in the freezer, you may also unintentionally end up damaging the vacuum seal, causing air to fill it up and lose its insulating properties and your thermos will no longer keep drinks hot or cold for as long.

Can I add milk to my coffee if it’s in a thermos?

Yes, you can put milk in your coffee in a thermos as long as it stays above 140ºF (60ºC). However, it is not recommended by most brands to pour hot milk into the thermos. Storing milk with coffee in a thermos can lead to the growth of bacteria and if you don’t rinse it properly afterwards, it may stink.

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