Stainless Steel Thermal Mugs
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| Trudeau Board Room 16 Ounce Travel Mug |
Thermal coffee mugs can be made with a variety of materials, although the majority of them are either plastic or stainless steel. Both have their benefits, but in regards to quality, stainless steel thermal coffee mugs are generally the best. Although they are usually more expensive than plastic thermal mugs, they are far more durable and will last longer. They also hold their heat longer than plastic mugs, and the best ones use vacuum insulation that can keep drinks hot (or cold) for extended periods. Less expensive models often use an insulating material or just air to insulate, which works, but is not as effective.
If you are a coffee connoisseur, stainless steel thermal mugs have the added benefit that they don’t retain flavors and odors over time the way plastic mugs do. Of course, if you just brew a quick cup of regular coffee for the drive to work, this won’t be much of an issue, but it is something to keep in mind. As an added benefit, stainless steel mugs are easier to clean.
There is a huge variety of stainless steel thermal mugs to choose from. The most common is simply a steel mug with a plastic handle, very functional, but nothing fancy. An example of this is the Thermos Nissan 18-Once Stainless Steel Insulated Travel Tumbler – simple and functional. Some thermal mugs take this a step farther and the mug is almost a thermos (in fact, the line between a small thermos and a top of the line thermal mug is vague) – the Zojirushi Clear Stainless Mug is an example of this. Others, such as the Contigo 16-Ounce Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler combine both style and function to create a multitude of stylish thermal mugs with full double walled insulation.
