As an avid coffee drinker, I’m always looking for my next cup of coffee.
But this created me a problem, and that was the trash I was generating.
Twice a day, I would walk out of the coffee shop with my disposable cup in hand, which had a plastic lid.
After a while, I realized it was time to look for a more sustainable approach, which is where my reusable coffee cup comes into the story.
It significantly reduced the amount of waste I was generating to get my caffeine fix.
If you want to reduce the amount of waste you generate, you’re in the right place. This article will show you the very best reusable cup and answer some critical questions that surround them:
Contents
What Is The Best Reusable Coffee Cup?
When it becomes time to bite the bullet and purchase a new reusable cup, there can only be one option, and that is…
The Yeti Rambler
The Yeti rambler uses a robust stainless steel design, which is almost indestructible.
The travel mug features a double wall lining to ensure your morning coffee stays hot throughout the day.
They claim to have over-engineered the cup to provide the best quality.
They also use a mag slider to keep the drink sealed when it’s not being used; this feature makes it super easy to open and close the reusable coffee mug.
Their travel mugs come with 18 color designs, which they claim doesn’t chip, and features a no-sweat design.
Their travel mugs can hold 20 oz of coffee, which, let’s face it, is more than enough. More importantly, the mug can fit in most cup holders.
Key features
- Dishwasher safe
- Holds 20 Oz
- Available in 18 colors
- Double-wall insulated
- Durable design
- Mag slider
They claimed their coffee stayed out for hours, and the mag slider worked well, although it wasn’t wholly leakproof.
I love my Yeti Rambler mug; it’s stopped me using single-use containers and keeps my coffee hot. One downfall was when a Yeti mug is knocked over; this can knock the mag slider open. Over that, their stainless steel coffee mugs are exceptional.
Pros
- Very well made
- Keeps drinks hot
- Paint doesn’t chip
- Great range of colors
Cons
- Not leakproof when dropped, but close
Why We Should Use Reusable Coffee Cups
There are a few reasons why we should start using reusable coffee cups, but the main one is reducing the amount of trash generated.
The thing is most single-use coffee cups have a plastic lid, and it’s this material that is causing so much harm. Plastic can’t biodegrade, which is causing havoc for our trash system.
By using reusable coffee cups, you can actively help to keep the environment cleaner. But this isn’t the only reason you should make the switch.
They keep drinks hotter for longer, look stylish, but more importantly, they can actually save you money in your favorite coffee shops.
| Brand | Savings Per Cup | Savings Per Year (based on 7 cups per week) |
|---|---|---|
 | $3 + (location dependent) | $1092 |
 | $0.20 | $72.80 |
 | $0.10 | $36.40 |
 | $0.10 | $36.40 |
 | $0.30 | $109.20 |
 | $0.50 | $182 |
 | $0.10 | $36.40 |
 | $1 | $364 |
 | $0.10 | $36.40 |
 | $0.10 | $36.40 |
Looking at the table, you can see yearly savings can add up.
Will Starbucks Fill A Reusable Cup?
Starbucks is more than happy to fill reusable cups. In fact, they even offer you money off if you use a reusable cup.
This means over time; your reusable cup will pay for itself over a year or less (depending on how much coffee you drink).
At the time of writing this, Starbucks has currently suspended the reusable cup system due to coronavirus. This is to protect the staff; the good thing is they still promise to offer their 10-cent discount for anyone that asks.
How Can I Reuse Coffee Cups?
If you’re not ready for reusable cups, you have to get smart managing the waste your coffee habit creates. Luckily there are a few ways you can reuse the cups to reduce your carbon footprint.
Check em out:
Muffin Holders
Once you build a collection of cups, you can use them for baking muffins or cupcakes. This saves having to buy the single-use muffing holders and gives you the option of reusing your coffee cups.
All you have to do is wash the coffee cups out and leave it out to dry. Once the cup is dry, you might want want to cut it down to size.
Plant Holder
Coffee cups are great for getting plants started. Poke some holes in the bottom of the cup and fill it with compost or potting soil.
Plant the sprouted seed into the coffee cup and watch it blossom. Make sure you put the coffee cup on a plate to stop water going everywhere. Once the plant is ready to transfer to the soil, you can plant it with the cup.
Arts & Crafts
Paper cups can be reused for many art & crafts sessions, which makes them great upcycling materials. Introduce paper cups to your kids’ arts & crafts kit to see what they can come up with. They also work well at holding paint or water to clean the brushes.
Add The Fairy Lights
Adding paper cups to your fairy lights doesn’t just look great, but it also helps you direct the light. Add some ambiance to your room by cutting small holes at the bottom of the cup and thread the lights through.
You can even jazz up the cups by painting over them or covering them in the fabric; this makes it look a lot better than a bunch of Starbucks cups.
Conclusion
Reusable coffee cups are a great way of lowing your carbon footprint and reducing waste, but more importantly, they can save you money.
When it comes down to it, the best reusable coffee cups are Yeti. They’re super durable and keep you drinks hot for hours. They also have a vast amount of colors for you to choose from, which can suit any style.
If you’re not ready for your reusable cups, then at least make a conscious decision to find a way of reducing your coffee waste. For more options for lowering your coffee waste, check out this reusable K cup.