KeepCup Review: A Travel Coffee Mug for Trendsetters

Takeaway coffee is a lifesaver when you want to wake up on the way to work. But disposable cups and plastic lids are terrible for the environment.

Perhaps you’ve found our KeepCup review because you were looking for a stylish eco-friendly alternative? (We knew you were one of the good ones!)

Summary: KeepCup Brew Glass Reusable Coffee Cup

• Trendy look, thanks to its glass body and cork band
  
• Made from recyclable materials
  
• Colorful splash-free plastic lid with a plug for the sipper hole

KeepCup users divert millions of disposable cups from landfill every day, and through their actions inspire others to do the same.

– KeepCup

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The KeepCup Review

KeepCup was made for one purpose — to reduce and replace the use of disposable cups in cafes. That’s why all its components are engineered to be reusable and recyclable. We love that the creators took this approach, but how does it perform as a travel coffee mug?

KeepCup Brew - Cork Edition

• Design
• Performance
• Value For Money

3.2

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Design – 4/5

The KeepCup is so gorgeous that it is bound to unleash your inner hipster barista. Unlike most reusable coffee cups and travel mugs, it’s made of toughened soda-lime glass and features a practical grip band made of natural cork. As Caffeine Magazine points out:

Not only does it have a stylish, sophisticated look, but the glass and cork body makes it an environment-friendly option since it can be easily recycled. No wonder it won the ‘most innovative product’ at the London coffee festival! (1)

This tempered soda-lime glass is quite tough and can withstand a temperature of up to 100°C/212°F. However, this glass cup is not unbreakable. Accidental hits and sudden temperature changes could result in breakage, so we recommend handling it with care.

The press-fit BPA-free plastic lid has a splash-free plug for the sipper hole (better safe than sorry, especially if you’re drinking while walking!). You can choose from three different lid colours (black, grey, and brown), and three standard coffee cup sizes — 8 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz (230 ml, 340 ml and 455 ml). There’s also a 180-ml KeepCup, which is available in six different colours.

Performance – 2.5/5

While the glass body is undeniably stylish and innovative, it means that the KeepCup has lower heat insulation compared to other travel coffee mugs (under an hour). If you’re looking for a travel mug that will keep your coffee hot for at least a couple of hours, we suggest you look at some other travel mugs.

The cork band makes this reusable coffee cup comfortable and easy to hold. However, it is non-removable, which means this KeepCup is neither microwavable nor dishwasher-safe. It’s still easy to clean, though. We recommend  a quick rinse after each use, and a good soapy wash once a week.

Value For Money – 3/5

The KeepCup is more expensive than average reusable coffee cups and travel mugs. Still, it’s not the most expensive either – the Zojirushi mug and a few more of our favourite travel mugs are slightly pricier. We also appreciate that most of the KeepCup’s components are manufactured in Australia and Europe (2). It also comes with a one year warranty for manufacturing defects and has a 30-day replacement policy for the cork band or glass breakage.

Due to its lower heat retention and susceptibility to break more easily than plastic or stainless steel, this glass cup is not the classic travel mug that you can chuck in your backpack to go camping. Nor does it offer the convenience of a handle or single-handed operation.

And don’t forget that many cafés offer a discount every time you bring your reusable cup!

Do Not Buy The KeepCup If…

You want a more durable option – If you simply want an option that is more durable than glass, you can pick up the original KeepCup. However, if you’re an outdoorsy person who can’t conceive a long hike or camping holiday without hot coffee, opt for something tougher. We recommend the Stanley Classic. Made of double-walled stainless steel and with a thermal lid, it’ll keep your coffee warm for hours. Find out more about it in our Stanley Classic review.

You want to brew and drink coffee on the go – Would you rather brew your coffee on the go than pick it up from a coffee shop? Meet the Espro Travel Coffee press! This stainless steel travel mug lets you brew like a French press,and it ensures piping hot coffee for up to 6 hours. We really like Espro’s take on a travel coffee press, and you can read about it in our review here.

You commute to work on your bike – Glass travel mugs and bikes don’t really mix. We recommend the CamelBak Forge if you want to carry your coffee with you while you bike to work. It is a sturdy, durable travel mug with a finger loop for attaching to your backpack. In our review, we found that it’s particularly well-suited for adventurous souls.

The Verdict On The KeepCup – 3.2/5

We understand that the KeepCup was conceptualized to replace the disposable coffee cups (3). In that regard, it is a perfect environmentally-friendly alternative for coffee lovers who usually get their caffeine fix from coffee shops, perhaps during their daily commute.

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Thanks to its cork grip band and splash-free plastic lid, this reusable cup is handy and practical. Plus, let’s be honest: who wouldn’t want to be seen drinking from such an unapologetically stylish coffee cup?