Auto Express – August 20, 2019

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk SpecialIssue 97

Reusablecupstested PRODUCTS

Howwe Verdict

testedthem

WE’RElookingformugswhichfitneatly
intocars’cup-holders,sotriedthemall
inbothaBMWandaNissan.Some
materialsretainheatbetterthanothers,
soallthecupswerealsofilledwith
boilingwaterandthetemperature
measuredwithaprobe(right)after
15minutestoseehowhotitwas.
We alsocheckedhoweasyitwas
tohandleanddrinkfromthecups,if
theycouldbecleanedinadishwasher,
whethertheywereamanageablesize
and,ofcourse,theprice.

THErCUPisgood-lookingandwell

thought-through;it’sthecupwe’d

wanttouseeveryday.It’spricey

though,sowewouldn’tfeelshort-

changedbytheMountainWarehouse

mug,whichisalmosthalfthecost.

Justmakesureitfitsinyourcar’s

cup-holders,becauseit’ssizeable.

Starbucks’cupwasasurprisetous,

becauseitdoeseverythingpretty

well,withnofrills.At£1.10,it’shalf

thepriceofacappuccino.

1rCup12oz

2MountainWarehouseTravelMug

3Starbucksreusable

IFyouneedsomethingbrighttocheer

youupinthemorning,thismugmight

dothetrick.It’smadefromrecycled

bamboo,whichissaidtobemore

environmentallysustainablethan

plastic.Itfeelsbettertoo,withachina-

likequality,andisdishwashersafe.

At14.4cmhigh,itshouldfitunder

mostcoffeemachinenozzles,unlike

somemugshere.Ouronlycomplaint

isthattheoutsideofthemuggotvery

hot–toohottohandle–despitean

insulatingrubbersleeve.

THElime-greenandstainlesssteel

ofthisHalfordsmugarecertainly

eye-catchingandit’swellinsulated,

retaining85Cinour15-minutetest.

But,sadlythat’saboutallthisdated

designhasgoingforit.

Despitethe£8.99price,itdidn’t

feelwellmadeandthestainless-steel

finishquicklybecametarnishedwith

fingerprints.To washthemoffyou’ll

needtofindasink,becauseit’snot

suitableforadishwasher.Thenarrow

basemeantitwasawobblyfitin

bothourcup-holderstoo.

COSTA’Stakeonthereusablecup

istheoppositeofitsStarbucksrival.

Thisisaproper,flask-likemugwitha

closinglid.It’shandsome,wellmade

andprettygoodvalue,too,atjust

underafiverinCostashops.

Butitisn’treallydesignedforuse

incars,becausethebasewastoobig

tofitineitherofourcars’cup-holders,

despitethelowerpartbeingsmaller

thantherestoftheflask.It’samassive

22cmhigh,whichblockedoutpartof

thecentreconsoles,andit’sashame

itcanonlybehandwashed,too.

IFspaceinyourcarisatapremium,

thenthisultra-portablecuphasatrick

upitssleeve.Thebottomtwo-thirds

aremadeofsiliconeanditcan

collapsedownfrom14cmto5.5cm

tall.Thatshouldbeenoughtofitit

inagloveboxordoorpocket.

Thesiliconeisdishwasher-safe,

too.Butunfortunatelythematerial

doesn’tfeelrigidwhenfilledwith

coffeeandit’stoohottohold,even

withtheremovablesleeveinplace.

Thesiliconelosesheatquickly,too.

CambridgeBamboo

RetroDaisyMug

Price:£4.99

Retainedheat:78C

Rating:★★★★★

Contact:www.amazon.co.uk

HalfordsTravelMug

Price:£8.99

Retainedheat:85C

Rating:★★★★★

Contact:www.halfords.co.uk

Costaflask

Price:£4.99

Retainedheat:80C

Rating:★★★★★

Contact:www.costa.co.uk

3PLWOWCollapsible

TravelCup

Price:£4.50

Retainedheat:73C

Rating:★★★★★

Contact:www.ebay.co.uk