Morning coffee is a big deal for Evan and me. We like to take our coffee to go and enjoy it during our commute. We brew Illy Medium Roast at home every day. It’s definitely not the cheapest coffee in the world, but it still costs less than buying from a coffee shop every day.
A few weeks ago, I began a quest to find the best travel cup ever, and after sifting through a lot of recommendations on Twitter, I decided to order two medium (12oz; equivalent to the “tall” size at Starbucks) Keep Cups from Australia.
The Keep Cup comes in three sizes, and is made from thermal, non-leaching, recyclable, BPA-free polypropylene. There’s a silicone band around the middle for grip and heat protection, and a leak-proof lid that doesn’t drip when you drink.
There’s no handle (I hate handles on travel mugs, because they eat up valuable space in my bag), and best of all, the cup is sized small enough to fit in the automated coffee/tea machine at my office.
I always put a little bit of whole milk in my coffee. We’re lucky to have a very good dairy farm in the area that sells their milk in thick, glass bottles that can be returned for a $1 deposit each time. They sterilize and reuse the bottles.
Ready to go, and out the door!
p.s. The Keep Cup comes in a bazillion size/color options, and the cost for TWO medium cups (including shipping) to the US from AU is only about $32.
p.p.s. The truly is not a paid advertisement! I just really love my Keep Cup. And my coffee.
60 Comments
So glad they work for you and Evan! I love my KeepCup, too.
I want the black and white one also! I’m glad you’re loving it- perhaps Santa will drop one off for me!
I am very intrigued. I currently use an OXO stainless steel travel mug for my on-the-go sipping. I love that it keeps coffee hot enough for my entire morning commute, is spillproof (so that I can toss my mug in my bag and not worry about getting papers coffee-stained), and is easy enough to clean. I would love another option.
I recently bought an “I’m not a Paper Cup” and what I love about it is that it can go in the microwave (so few reusable to-go cups can). Can Keep Cups do the same?
We have gone through many poorly designed (and cheaply made) travel mugs. So, again we were back on the hunt, now that The Last Good Mug’s lid was melted in the dishwasher (as Stewie Griffin would say, “BLAST!”).
Then, I saw your original Twitter mentioning the Keep Cup, and we’ve all but ordered a 12oz (for me) and a 16oz (for my husband)….I just can’t make up my mind about which color combination to get. I’m leaning towards the “M” or “X”. I guess I’m concerned about the white cup getting stained. What’s your opinion regarding that?
Amy: I used to have the OXO mug, but I found that the click-lid was very difficult to clean thoroughly, and water was getting trapped inside the mechanism and getting mildewy. Yuck! The Keep Cup definitely can’t be tossed in a bag when it’s full, though — the flip-top is too simple to be THAT liquid-tight.
Martha: Yes, the KeepCup is microwave-safe (and dishwasher-safe, too).
Vicki: I haven’t had my cup long enough to say if it will eventually stain, but the insert that came with the cup advises cleaning it gently with baking soda if staining occurs.
I’m getting these for Christmas presents. Thanks, Anna!
We LOVE our KeepCups! And for the question re. staining, my husband and I have used ours everyday for a few months and so far no stains.
Ok, that’s it. I’m sold. Thanks! 🙂
Awesome! I’m glad they’re so nice! Honestly i was thrown off by the white/cyan blue combo that pops up on their webpage first- I thought it looked childish, and never investigated further. The white/black and white/brown look amazing though! I guess I shouldn’t be so lazy 😉
Does it insulate well? I really love the way they look, but I can’t do lukewarm coffee.
My guess is that the black and white one is yours? And the other one belongs to Evan? In Melbourne, Australia where I am from people take them to the local coffee shop and use them in place of paper cups which is pretty cool. I’ve been toying with the idea myself.. I’m happy this company was discovered by someone so stylish and so far away!!
How does the coffee taste after it’s been sitting in the cup? I have never been able to find a travel mug that doesn’t make the coffee taste funny.
Good tip! You just gave me a Christmas present idea. One for me, one for Dad 🙂
Lisa: Thanks for the input, that’s great to know!
stephanie: Oh yeah, there are a BUNCH of color combos, and most of them are very nice. I hate that shade of blue, too, and I wish it didn’t dominate the website so much.
Tania: I had actually ordered the brown/gray one for myself (and Evan chose the b&w), but when the arrived, we decided to switch. We have pretty much the same taste…I like them both. And yeah, I don’t really go to coffee shops much anymore, but my Keep Cup is definitely coming along with me next time I go! No more confusion over sizes, etc. I hope they start distributing these in the US, because I think they’d really take off.
Tess: Neither Evan or I have noticed any affect on the taste of the coffee. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, too, so I’m very aware of that kind of thing.
anne: It definitely doesn’t insulate as long as a double-walled stainless cup would, but it does keep my coffee hot enough for the time it takes me to drink it during a typical morning commute. I’d say it’s comparable to a styrofoam cup (like from Dunkin Donuts) in terms of insulation power.
Firstly, very proud this Melbourne designed product has made its way on your awesome blog.
I bought 4 keepcups for my partner and I. We found it hard to decide on colours and also knew there’d be days that we’d forget to take them home from work.
In reference to the staining – We have used them everyday for the last 3 months and no stains so far.
Thank you so much for this post. Talk about timing. I was just telling someone how I need a new travel mug for my coffee. I go through so many because they all eventually leak or break apart.
I just placed an order for two Keep Cups! One for me and one for a Christmas present!
how green is a coffee cup from Australia!? That is just insane.
think again: In order to answer that question (and to truly “think again”), you have to take a number of things into consideration:
1. Even if you buy a coffee cup domestically, where was it manufactured? Just because you buy something at Target, that doesn’t mean it didn’t also travel halfway across the globe to get there.
2. How was the product packaged for shipping? My Keep Cups were delivered in the most minimal, recycled (and recyclable) packaging imaginable — just a thin cardboard sleeve. Far less than you’d ever see with something ordered from Amazon.
3. How long will you use the product? After going through a number of other options over the last few years that I was dissatisfied with (and having no option to recycle them), I am ready to commit to a product I can use for years without replacing it.
I know it’s tempting to immediately label something as “not green” simply because it had to make a trip to get here, but the fact of the situation is that it’s a lot more complex than that. I am the LAST person to fall for so-called “greenwashing” in marketing, and I’m no dummy — I understand the ethical considerations behind the products I buy, and make decisions accordingly. YMMV, of course.
I used to be a major latte addict until Starbucks’ Chai had me converted. I’m always wary of travel mugs though… I tried a few but inevitably always managed a disaster where the lid popped off or it started to leak all over my bag etc! These look really stylish though, glad to hear they work great as well!
How funny–I’ve recently been on an agonizing quest for a new travel mug too! However, I ended up choosing the ceramic (and stupidly named) I Am Not a Paper Cup. I was worried about tastes and, frankly, drinking daily out of a material which, when all is said and done, is a plastic polymer and therefore, oil-based. Polypropylene has only been around since the 30s; ceramics, on the other hand, have been around for over 13000 years. Sure, the ceramic wont be as durable, but I feel better knowing that it’s a natural, organic material.
Another thing to consider: while I agree that the benefits of a reusable cup far outweigh the international shipping, Think Again’s point is well taken. It could be argued that when an Australian company ships their product to a store in america, they ship a whole bunch all at once, thereby dividing the carbon usage up by each piece. Your cup traveled to you by itself, or at the very least, in the company of some other items that had destinations close to you. But I think even with international shipping, the breakeven point (the point at which the energy used to make and distribute the product breaks even with the energy it takes to make and distribute a paper cup) is only 17 uses!
Please know that this comment isn’t by any means meant as an attack. I don’t pretend to know the answers to any of this–nor do I think there really is a “right” answer. Because I admire your well-thought-out decision, I thought I’d share some of my internal debate on the topic as well. I appreciate that you’ve shared your decision making process on something that most people think of as a no-brainer!
You’re way too nice Anna for even answering the question about how green it is to purchase something that’s not local.
It’s not like you preached to us in your description that you made a “green purchase”.
You made a purchase based on design and function.
I understand perfectly Anna, I’m not a person until I take my coffee this morning whether or nespresso (expensive cup costs $ 0.52) or Starbucks (Here in Spain almost 6 $).
I smell an awesome stocking stuffer. Just have to check the measurements…I hate a cup that will not fit in my petite cupholder.
Hi Anna,
I like the way you value the simplest things if they are designed well, example being your new travel cups.
Besides complementing you on your impeccable design taste I wanted to give you a link to a blog I think you’d like. Perhaps you have seen it already but it is not on your blogroll.
http://www.kitkadesigntoronto.com
I just ordered two! I’ve been looking for a nice designed but good quality (doesn’t leak) travel mug forever. Thanks so much for telling us about these cute keep cups!
I would drink coffee all day long if I had that… I just don’t like their color options! And the ones I do like, they are only available as wholesale. Oh well.
Just to add my 2 cents, I love my I AM NOT A PAPER CUP, except that it is kind of heavy and the lid smell weird. So, when I’m ready to move on, I might get one of these — nice review. J
Enjoy your cup. I think you are being green in more ways than one. You supported a green company, you are keeping trash out of the garbage dump and you are keeping some green in your pocket by using a re-usable cup. I get where Think Again is going but… We still have to live in this world and I think most of us do the best we can do. Hopefully. 🙂
I know it’s random, but this will make a great gift for my mom. Thanks for the tip!
I love my Keep Cups too! I think I should do PR for them as I’m always telling everyone how great they are.
I can’t believe you posted this just as I was hunting the internet for the same thing! This cup, oddly, looks just as I imagined the perfect cup would look! Thank you – I’m off to place my order now!
LOVE these! I’m a beginning coffee drinker, but I love carrying it around with me (sometimes all day). I would love to have a cup like this. thanks for sharing!!
New you were a neighbor when I saw that handsome Ronnybrook milk bottle.
Love that product designers like Keep Cup are refashioning the aesthetics of the disposable into aesthetics of saving, keeping, eco-thinking.
i live and work in melbourne (the home of keepcups) and i love them and have bought many as presents for people who also love them! everyone in our office uses them as well.
lovin’ this discussion re: green/non-green. either way, it’s so great that people are engaging in this kind of debate! just as long as we all remember that every bit counts and that what is important is that everyone does as much as they are capable of doing!
Does the lid leak when the cup falls over? i put my coffee cup in my bike basket, and it inevitably falls over. My cup leaks a steady stream if it falls over.
Hi Anna
I was wondering if you had an opinion on good french presses/grinders. I finally have a schedule that will allow me to once again enjoy coffee. Any advice? I used to have a Bodum press, but maybe I am behind.
i’m definitely jealous of your local milk farm.
Oooo – awesome idea as a christmas gift! question however – does shipping take long from au?
Hi Anna! Great choice of reusable cup! I am browsing Keep Cup’s website and I cannot find the combination of white/black colours you ordered.
On the green debate, I’m beginning to believe that a big part of carbon footprint is; how much you love it? If, like the Keep Cup, a purchase is made after thoughtful consideration and is well-designed and beautiful, then it will be enjoyed and looked after for a long time. I know that’s stating the obvious but it’s easy to forget and throw any old travel cup into the shopping trolley, then let it go mouldy at the bottom of the gym bag (or is that just me?)
Oh wow! I hate the travel mug I have now, it’s metallic and much too large. I might check these out. Thanks for the info. I love my coffee too.
I’m with Dewi. Regardless of where it came from it’s not a disposable Styrofoam cup which makes it a good thing. I think people are far too quick to jump on the fashionable PC bandwagon and start poking holes in a perfectly good (nay, awesome) purchase.
I just bought one. Red and black FTW.
On a slightly different topic, my husband and I started roasting our own coffee beans a few years ago on our BBQ. Wow. It’s been quite fun — though I can’t drink store-bought coffee any more. A couple of things we’ve learned:
1. Coffee is WAY cheaper if you roast it yourself. You can order green beans online.
2. There really is quite a difference between coffee varieties.
3. How you roast your coffee greatly affects its taste.
4. Home roasted coffee is a great Christmas present!
Overall it’s an easy process taking about 20 min per batch.
Gwen, that’s awesome. On your BBQ?? Never in a million years would I have thought of that one!! What a great idea for gifts! I may have to get my google on and look up this whole process…
great cup!
lovely blog!
I LOVE IT! Wondering, is the silicone band removable? I can’t tell from the images.
When I first saw the title, I thought you were sharing with the world that you were in love with your “keeper cup.” Which is an entirely different thing. 😉 I thought, “Wow, I’ve heard of those things, but never with such enthusiasm.”
Anyway, love the coffee cups! Makes so much more sense than the keeper I had in mind.
They sound fab! You got me into it. I contacted the UK agent to stock them on our site but I haven’t heard anything yet…
http://bodieandfou.blogspot.com/2009/11/day-at-bodie-and-fou-via-beat-that-my.html
Keep Cup might be the perfect solution for my busy mornings; I usually sleep too long and don’t have time to drink coffee before leaving to work. Never thought I could drink my coffee on the move!
This might be weird but I am OBSESSED with your spoon!! I’ve been looking for a set of them EXACTLY like that one and can never find it 🙁
Can I ask where you got the spoon from???
xoxo
Kara
“Morning coffee is a big deal for Evan and I” It’s Evan and ME.
Lynn: Liquid would definitely come out of the sipping hole if the cup were full, but it doesn’t leak around the top while you’re drinking. Just think of it as a substitute for a paper cup. It’s not a thermos or anything.
Liza: I know nothing about good grinders or coffee makers, sorry! I buy pre-ground beans and use that Cuisinart coffee maker everyone has.
Stacey: I think it took about a week and a half from order to arrival.
Jenny: Yes, the silicone band is removable. The entire cup can be taken apart, even the flip-top piece, so you can get it all really clean.
Bostonista: The spoon comes from CB2. They’re great — perfect for serving condiments when you have guests!
Emmy: I’m glad found something worth commenting on in this post.
good to see the keep cup arrived and that it’s a hit.
mine also arrived the other week and i bought a couple more at a designers market for christmas gifts.
i was told by the sales lady that the cups are made in australia, so the fact that they haven’t travelled back and forth from a thurd party country probably is better than buying a cup from target made in china. on a little bit… but….
p.s. great colour choice!
oh, i am so excited!!! i have been looking for a travel cup and haven’t been able to find one I really like. I will have to try this one. I may just order two to have an extra handy incase I leave it at work!!
xx
callie
Hi Anna, inspired by your post I’ve purchased 2 KeepCups and they’ve just arrived this week. They are not the most thermal or spill-free cups avaiable but oh they look so nice! Love them. The only thing is that the lid still have a faintly smell of plastic, does it go away?
Marcia
PS: I’m a huge Morrissey fan too.
(“too much caffeine in your bloodstream, and a lack of real spice in your life…”)
Their so cool and help the environment. I’m going to order 2 of them as well. thanks for the idea. How long does the shipping usually take.?
First Off: Love the blog – you have impeccable taste.
Second Off: This cup is amazing. Looks like a good investment.
Third: Just wanted to ask you if you’d tried Stumptown Coffee. It’s an american roasted coffee that is simple what we all live off in Portland. It’s now available at the Ace Hotel in their little Stumptown shop.
I recommend!
I have one from Espresso House 🙂 I want to have a pink one too 😉 Think I’ll order one from keepcup.com