What’s the best reusable cup to dodge the 25p ‘latte levy’ with?
We score them out of five for heat retention after an hour, taste, ease of use, leakage and weight – to give a total out of 25
REUSABLE cups will be the future for coffee drinkers, who could be charged 25p every time they use a disposable one.
MPs are calling for the “latte levy” to improve recycling rates – and say that if it fails to do so they will seek a total ban on throwaway cups.
We chuck away 2.5billion disposable coffee cups a year – but how will their replacements fare?
Here, we test out a range of reusable cups, costing from £1 to a hefty £30. Are they easy to use and will they keep your brew hot?
We score them out of five for heat retention after an hour, taste, ease of use, leakage and weight – to give a total out of 25.
Starbucks Reusable Travel Cup To Go Coffee Cup, £1
CHEAPEST of the bunch but has flaws.
It cannot be fully closed so will not go in your bag for later. It also means your coffee goes cold quickly.
On the plus side, the material does not affect the taste – but it is better to spend more for a leak-proof cup.
Heat retention: Not so hot, 2
Taste: Brilliant. Same as disposables, 5
Ease of use: Perfect, 5
Leakage: Spills everywhere, 0
Weight: Light. Easy to carry to work, 4
Total: 16
Designers Guild Travel Cup, House of Fraser/Amazon, £16
WITH its flowery pattern, this is the travel mug for the style conscious.
Shame it is not particularly practical.
Although it closes, it does leak from the fastening.
It also makes the coffee taste a bit metallic – never a good thing.
Heat retention: Warm after 45mins, 3
Taste: Metallic and gross, 2
Ease of use: Good as disposables, 4
Leakage: Lots of leaking going on, 1
Weight: On the heavy side, 2
Total: 12
KeepCup Cork Brew Reusable 8oz Glass Coffee Cup/Travel Mug, John Lewis, £19
HIPSTER cup with a hipster price tag.
Boasts it is the first travel mug of barista standard.
Fits under a coffee machine and has a nifty open and close function – but it will weigh you down.
Heat retention: Cold in half an hour, 1
Taste: Great. No plastic or metal, 4
Ease of use: Very easy and no drips, 4
Leakage: No spillage, 4
Weight: Heaviest of all. Not practical, 1
Total: 14
Bodum Travel Mug, Plastic, Amazon, £12
COMES with a helpful grip and clean design.
But overall this plastic mug is very impractical.
It loses heat fast, makes the coffee taste awful and leaks exceptionally easily if not bolt upright.
One of our least favourites.
Heat retention: Cold in 30mins, 2
Taste: Bitter, unnatural and plastic, 1
Ease of use: Fairly easy to use, 3
Leakage: Spills at a slight angle, 1
Weight: Substantial for plastic, 2
Total: 9
Grunwerg Pioneer Vacuum Insulated Drink Pod Mug with Handle, Tesco £11.99
CUTE design and comes in lots of colours.
But it is not one for on-the-go as you have to take the lid fully off.
More for going camping than for travelling to work.
Heat retention: Superb, 4
Taste: Slight metallic edge, 3
Ease of use: Not one for on-the-go, 1
Leakage: Absolutely leak-proof, 5
Weight: Hefty but could be worse, 3
Total: 16
most read in money
Thermos Thermocafe Soft Touch Desk Mug, John Lewis, £10
CUMBERSOME handle and impractical for going in a bag.
It has a twist-lid, meaning it also spills easily and could go everywhere.
Bad value for money at a tenner.
Heat retention: Loses heat quickly, 2
Taste: Plastic and unappealing, 2
Ease of use: Coffee collects in top, 2
Leakage: A big spiller. Not for bags, 2
Weight: Not too heavy but very bulky, 3
Total: 11
Camelbak Forge Travel Mug, John Lewis, £29.95
PRICEY but best of the bunch.
Amazing at keeping your coffee hot, leak-proof and easy to drink from.
There is no strange flavour and you can open and close it with one hand thanks to the push-button.
Its finger loop makes it easy to pluck from a bag.
Worth the price.
Heat retention: Warm for hours, 5
Taste: Just like a real mug, 4
Ease of use: Ideal, 4
Leakage: Shake it and no spills, 5
Weight: Average, 3
Total: 21
Mighty Mug Unspillable Travel Mug, Lakeland, £19.99
DOES not live up to its name.
Not leak-proof and spills from the top if you are not careful.
It also adds a strange taste to the coffee.
Don’t be fooled by the name – really, it is a mighty disappointment.
Heat retention: Lukewarm in 30mins, 2
Taste: Ruins your brew, 1
Ease of use: Flip-lid gets in way, 2
Leakage: Not one to trust in a bag, 2
Weight: Acceptable, 3
Total: 10
Oxo Good Grips Single Serve Liquiseal Travel Mug, Lakeland, £9.99
SIMPLE and attractive, this mug looks nice but does not deliver on its promises.
Sure, it seals in liquid if you have not already drunk from it. But once you have, the fluid gets trapped in the top and could spill back in your bag.
Heat retention: Double wall helps, 3
Taste: Retains coffee flavour, 4
Ease of use: Not good if walking, 3
Leakage: Top holds liquid and spills, 3
Weight: Not heavy and easy to hold, 3
Total: 16
Costa Reusable Cup, £3
IT is good to see the big coffee chains selling reusable cups – and it is not a bad price, either.
The problem is, Costa’s offering is not very practical.
It loses heat quickly, you cannot open it with one hand and it is also surprisingly heavy.
Heat retention: Poor show, 1
Taste: Gives off plastic flavour, 2
Ease of use: Needs two hands, 3
Leakage: Drips from the rim, 2
Weight: Surprisingly big and bulky, 4
Total: 12