Review of plastic-free reusable coffee cups

IT’S easier than ever to find a plastic-free coffee cup but not all of them are good. Here’s our review of some of the best.

MORE than 2.6 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown out every year in Australia and they can’t be recycled.

Raising awareness of how damaging plastic is to our environment and possibly even to our health has seen many people embrace reusable alternatives.

Here is a review of five plastic-free options.

KEEP CUP — GLASS

Pros: It looks good and was one of the original reusable cups to hit the market. It’s sealable and is one of the most reasonably priced.

Cons: The plastic version still holds up but unfortunately the glass one is a disappointment. The lid (which is made out of plastic) does not attach to the cup properly so if you are walking with it in your hand, it does tend to leak — not great if you order hot black coffee like I do.

I’ve also not been able to figure out how to drink coffee out of the lid without it spilling down my clothes.

The cup is also not great if you like your drinks boiling hot as the band around the glass that’s supposed to insulate your fingers from the heat is not that effective. It’s also heavier than other glass options like the Joco one.

Price: $24 for 227ml

Would I recommend? No. UPDATE: KeepCup sent me a new cup, noting that each lid is individually hand fitted. I've had no issues with it so I would recommend it. It's probably best to look for the ones sold in a box (to ensure a matching lid and cup). I bought my old cup from a cafe so maybe they mixed the lids up.  KeepCup also sent me a version with a cork band that is much better at keeping your fingers from getting burnt.

JOCO — GLASS

Pros: If you want a glass version of the traditional style coffee cup, this is the best one I’ve found.

It’s lightweight and comfortable to drink out of. The lid is made from medical-grade silicone and fits perfectly on the cup so there are no leaks.

The band around the cup is quite large so is pretty effective at keeping your fingers from burning although a very hot drink may still be a bit uncomfortable to carry without an extra napkin around it.

Cons: You can’t cover the mouth hole so you need to drink all the coffee and store it in a bag if you want to carry in your handbag.

Price: $27.95 for 8oz (236ml)

Would I recommend? Yes.

RUBBER CUPPY — GLASS

Pros: This glass cup puts being environmentally friendly at the forefront of its design, using rubber from the recycled inner tubes of bicycles as a protective covering.

It’s quite effective at insulating your fingers from any hot drinks and also makes the glass cup feel a little less fragile.

The jar-style makes it the easiest to clean, it’s watertight and is also handy for carrying water and/or other food/drinks. If you don’t include shipping costs (from Melbourne) it’s the cheapest.

Cons: Had a slight rubber smell when I first got it. You have to carry the lid while you’re drinking your coffee, and the wide opening makes it harder to drink while walking.

Price: $26 for 12oz (340ml)

Would I recommend? Yes.

TRANQUILLO — BAMBOO

Pros: This bamboo cup is comfortable to drink out of and provides the closest experience to using a disposable coffee cup. It’s also lightweight compared to glass and won’t break if you drop it.

Cons: I bought this while on holidays in Europe and it’s very expensive to get shipped to Australia, although similar cups may eventually be stocked here. There is no covering for the mouth hole so it’s not sealable. You have to be diligent about cleaning it straight after you use it as it can stain and it won’t last as long as glass. The ‘heat-proof grip’ is not quite enough insulation and it only seems to be available in a large size, which is probably more suitable for tea drinkers. There is also a seal in the lid that you have to wash and it does tend to fall out when you take the lid off.

Price: €14.90 ($A23.45) and €31.50 ($A50) for shipping for 350ml

Would I recommend? Possibly, if you are diligent with cleaning and don’t mind the price.

FRANK GREEN — STAINLESS STEEL

Pros: This stainless steel cup is arguably the most stylish of the options and you can get it in different colours. The vacuum insulated and double-walled design keeps your drink hot (or cold) for hours but also stops the cup from getting hot on the outside. It is sealable and more durable than glass. It has a smaller mouth hole so is great for drinking while walking. It also comes with a removable tea strainer.

Cons: It’s difficult to clean as there are some small components you have to pull apart to wash thoroughly. The lid is also made of plastic. It’s more expensive than the other options. You can’t warm your hands on the cup as it’s insulated.

Price: $39.95 for 295ml

Would I recommend? Yes.

VERDICT: If you are looking for an environmentally friendly option, the Rubber Cuppy is the best. If you don’t mind a bit of plastic, Frank Green is good if you like your coffee to stay hot and it’s also very portable. Joco provides the best glass option that’s also the most similar to the traditional takeaway coffee cup (although the new KeepCup I was sent also turned out to be just as good and is sealable).

Reusable coffee cups.

* All cups were bought and paid for by the author.