According to Samya Said, barista training manager for Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, KeepCups are just as good as any rival mugs in this category. So finding one that’s simple to rinse out will both make your barista happy and keep your lattes tasting fresh. Nearly all of the baristas we talked to say that their biggest pet peeve is customers bringing in less-than-clean reusable cups. Ryan Fisher, Director of Operations and Roaster at GoodBoyBob Coffee in Santa Monica, California, likes KeepCups because they’re stylish, and the glass gets his coffee to the exact temperature he likes quickly. “Some reusable cups are so big they don’t fit into the espresso machine,” she says.

She also notes that, because of their small size, KeepCups are easier to use when making cortados or cappuccinos. “I like KeepCups because they’re made for baristas to pour into so they’re the easiest for us to make latte art in,” says Lareau. These small glass cups were originally designed by two former baristas in Melbourne, Australia, making it easier for people like Joanna Lareau, coffee manager at Stumptown, to do their jobs. More than any other brand, KeepCup kept coming up in our conversations. Here are the best vessels to bring into your local coffee shop, according to baristas, roasters, coffee entrepreneurs, and a couple of our own mug-obsessed staffers. Whether you’re an iced-coffee-all-year-round person or someone who delights in latte art as you get your caffeine kick, there’s a travel mug out there for you. If you’re still not persuaded to make a change, note that “many cafés reward customers who bring in reusable drinkware with a discount for helping them move towards being more sustainable,” says Allie Caran, product manager at Barista Valet. But experts like Natalie Slavutsky, formerly of Brooklyn Diamond Coffee, say that your brew will actually taste better out of ceramic, glass, or stainless steel than paper or plastic - and keep your coffee hot or cold for longer. Of course, it’s a solid step toward a lower-waste lifestyle. If you make your morning commute or run afternoon errands with coffee in hand, you need a thermos.

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailers

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