Reusable coffee cups: we tried & tested the best
The government is knee-deep in debate whether to introduce the ‘latte levy’, Starbucks has started charging extra 5p for single use coffee cups and, by autumn this year, Waitrose are getting rid of them all together. In the efforts to tackle the single-use plastic waste problem, we’ve looked at the top five reusable coffee cups you should switch to this autumn and save the planet one brew at a time.
Biodegradable Coffee Cups
Rex London
Rex London bamboo travel mug
Adorned with some of Rex London’s most popular prints, these eco-friendly, biodegradable coffee cups are made from bamboo fibre, meaning they’re completely plastic-free and fully recyclable. Complete with a silicone cap and sleeve, they’re not only environmently friendly and sustainable but also pretty to look at. The cup itself is dishwasher-safe and free from BPA.
Buy it: Available from Rex London for £9.95.
Huskup
Made from rice husk rather than plastic, Huskup reusable cups are melamine-, BPA- and toxin-free and are both dishwasher- and microwave-safe. The natural byproduct of rice milling is used to make these compostable cups (apart from the silicone sleeve) that are not only helping to reduce the number of discarded takeaway cups but also use large quantities of rice husks that are otherwise burned. The cup is available in a variety of designs and comes with a silicone sleeve and cap.
Buy it: Available from Huskup shop and other retailers for £10.95.
Reusable & Recyclable Coffee Cups
Stoi
Stojo reusable collapsible cup
Founded by three busy New Yorkers looking for an alternative to disposable cups or bulky travel mugs, Stojo reusable cups are something we should've thought of long ago. Available in two sizes, these cups are leak-proof and collapse into a disk that fits easily into a pocket or a bag once the coffee’s finished. The cups are made from recyclable, food-grade silicone that’s BPA-free.
Buy it: Available from Trouva, John Lewis and other retailers from £9.99.
Frank Green original reusable cup
Available in two handy sizes – 230ml and 340ml – these award-winning reusable cups are made with enjoying coffee on the go in mind. A clever, one-handed push button opens and closes the cup’s spill-resistant lid, and its double-walled thermo layer keeps coffee hot for longer. It’s dishwasher-safe, fully recyclable and will fit any standard cup holder. The best feature? The cup base, lid and button colours are fully customisable, with a choice of 11 different colours.
Buy it: Available from Frank Green for £19.99 (230ml) or £20.99 (340ml).
Reusable Glass Coffee Cups
JOCO cup
JOCO reusable cups
Designed with the environment in mind, JOCO was originally conceived as a protest against the mountains of single-use coffee cups discarded every day. The cup itself is made from borosilicate glass that's thermal shock-, etch- and stain-resistant, while the lid and sleeve are made from medical grade silicone. The cups are handmade and are designed for lifetime use. Available in a selection of sizes and colours, they're also helping the environment – every purchase supports JOCO's partnership with Take 3 For the Sea that has helped remove more than 45,000 pieces of plastic from the ocean in the last year.
Buy it: Available from Trouva from £19.50 per 8oz cup.
KeepCup Brew cork edition
Available in three different sizes, these coffee cups are not only perfect for getting your daily caffeine fix but will also look great on your desk at work. Made from toughened soda lime glass with a sustainably-sourced natural cork sleeve, these cups are fully recyclable at the end of life. You can also design your own KeepCup – there’s a choice of four different cups, various sizes and an array of colours so you can make your perfect coffee cup.
Buy it: Available from KeepCup starting from £7 for an extra small espresso cup.
Travel Coffee Maker
ESPRO travel press
Designed for busy people, constantly on the go, the Espro travel press allows you to take your tea or coffee and brew it anywhere you go. You can either use it as a French press or for pour-over style coffee – a patented system holds a paper filter between two press filters that absorb the oils and remove additional solids. You can also use the travel press for loose leaf tea and the mug will keep your brew hot for 4-6 hours. The filters are BPA-free and the stainless steel container is available in a variety of colours and it comes with a 1-year warranty.
Buy it: Available from Whittard and other retailers from £30.
Oomph
Oomph portable coffee maker
Made from a BPA-free plastic with a stainless steel microfilter, Oomph is the only pressure brewer in the world that allows you to change the strength and flavour of your coffee after the brewing is finished. With a capacity of up to two medium-sized cups, the coffee is ready in less than two minutes and it stays hot for up to an hour. Oomph's brewing system forces pressurised water through the ground coffee, emulating a traditional espresso machine, producing a silky smooth, coffee shop quality coffee. It's easy to clean and you can also use it for tea.
Buy it: Available from Coffee Tasting Club for £39.
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