Prime decide
This mug provides the most effective warmth retention, plus one-handed usability and a locking, leakproof lid, which makes it particularly helpful should you carry your mug in a bag or backpack.
The 16-ounce Zojirushi Stainless Metal Mug is the most effective journey mug for protecting drinks sizzling for lengthy intervals of time. This mug additionally is available in a 20-ounce dimension. (The SM-SF is the present mannequin; these mannequin designations usually change from yr to yr, however moreover minor aesthetic updates, the mugs themselves keep the identical.)
It saved our drinks the most well liked. In response to the Specialty Espresso Affiliation of America, the most effective temperature vary for espresso is 145 to 155 levels Fahrenheit. After sitting for eight hours within the Zojirushi mug in a 72-degree room, our water measured 158 levels—hotter than in some other mug we examined. That interprets to sizzling espresso over a full workday. (When you’re opening the mug extra incessantly than as soon as an hour, nevertheless, it’d cool a bit quicker.)
It gained’t leak. It has sturdy, leakproof seals and a easy locking mechanism. Simply shut the lid, swap the lock into place, and also you’re assured that the highest gained’t pop open if you don’t need it to—if you’re carrying the mug in a bag, for example.
It’s straightforward sufficient to maintain clear. The nonstick inside helps to forestall odors and stains, although the mug’s directions do warn towards storing milk or fruit juices within the mug. (When you choose consuming from a vessel that doesn’t have a nonstick coating, you may think about the Zojirushi SM-KHE, which has an electro-polished chrome steel inside.) The slender girth makes it laborious to get a sponge inside, however utilizing a bottle brush circumvents that downside. You may disassemble the plastic lid to wash out any gunk that may be lodged in hard-to-reach locations, though the small plastic and silicone elements may be tough to get on and off the lid.
It’s sturdy. Although this mug developed a couple of scuffs in our drop assessments, it acquired not more than the opposite mugs we tried, a few of which fared far worse. Zojirushi backs the vacuum insulation of its chrome steel mugs with a five-year restricted guarantee, and the corporate sells particular person substitute elements on-line.
It’s easy. The Zojirushi Stainless Metal Mug has a pretty design that’s minimalist but eye-catching in its simplicity. The 20-ounce model is available in 5 colours (purple, mint, white, matte gold, black), our high decide, the 16-ounce model, is available in six (purple, pink, mint, white, matte gold, black), and the 12-ounce is available in 4 (pink, mint, white, matte gold).
How the Zojirushi mug has held up
The Zojirushi Stainless Metal Mug may be the only mostly owned and used product amongst Wirecutter staffers; it has traveled in lots of crowded baggage, backpacks, and purses with none issues. One workers member did report that after eight years of use, hers lastly developed a leak. One other colleague says that their mug has survived drops onto cement (as soon as from a third-floor balcony) with out struggling greater than a dent.
Zojirushi specifies hand-washing solely, however we all know of a number of mugs which have survived unintentional journeys by the dishwasher with none noticeable lower in efficiency, although the exterior paint has flaked in consequence.
Flaws however not dealbreakers
- The Zojirushi mug is typically too good at insulating. We’ve discovered that if we pour contemporary espresso instantly into the mug, the liquid can keep scalding sizzling for hours. To forestall burning your mouth, let your beverage cool a bit earlier than closing the lid.
- It’s not cup holder pleasant. This mannequin, which is extra slender than a typical journey mug, didn’t match snugly in our testers’ automotive cup holders. When you choose a journey mug with a bigger circumference, take a look at our decide for drivers.
- It isn’t spill-proof. Although the SM-SRE is leakproof, it isn’t spill-proof like our also-great decide; the design lacks an automated seal to forestall liquid from spilling should you drop the mug when you’re consuming.
