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I am a firm believer that a good coffee mug can change the course of your day. It has the ability to change how you feel about your favorite cup of Joe, and can bring joy to you every time you see it. For example, I have one mug (which you’ll find at the top of this list) that I feel that little bit of excitement every time I see that it has made its way through the dishwasher and is now clean and ready to use. I hope that I can help you feel that way with your next mug.
The Klean Kanteen 14oz Rise Mug stands out as my favorite option, with its retro styling, great build quality, and perfect capacity. However, the Yeti Rambler 14 oz is similar competitor that is also an amazing choice for most people (and can be bought in more places).
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1. Klean Kanteen 14 oz Rise Mug
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- My favorite styling for any camp mug
- Great build quality
- The perfect capacity
- Thinner, sloping lip is great to drink from
- Not a fan of the lid
- High-price point
- Capacity: 14 ounces
- Construction: 18/8 Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
This brand used to be quite far down on my list of favorite drinkware, that is, until they completely reinvented their styling and released the Rise Collection (of which they were kind enough to gift me this one).
These retro-style mugs (which I have reviewed right here) give an awesome duo-tone paint job that offers a high-quality and durable finish. The rim of the mug comes to a point (rather than rounding off), which makes for a very comfortable experience.
Top that off with a unique style of handle and the 18/8 stainless steel construction, and you have a recipe for my favorite coffee mug right now.
Of course, it’s not all perfection, as the lid is of lower quality than I would prefer, and the wide mouth on that lid is subpar. In fact, I just refuse to use the lid, and that makes everything better.
2. Yeti Rambler 14 oz Mug
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- Extremely high quality
- Comes with MagSlider lid
- Great capacity
- Looks great
- Very expensive
- Lip isn't quite as nice as competitor
- Capacity: 14 ounces
- Construction: 18/8 Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Until the Klean Kanteen above was released, this Yeti Rambler was by far my favorite coffee mug. It had everything you needed – 18/8 stainless steel, the Yeti brand, and a large capacity. In fact, that all still stands true, and it continues to be the second-place coffee mug that I use when the Klean Kanteen isn’t clean (pun not intended).
Now, while the lid is the major downside of the Klean Kanteen, it’s the exact opposite here. While I purchased my Yeti Rambler back when it didn’t have the MagSlider lid, the new ones do have this updated lid. Now, I’ve had quite a bit of experience with MagSlider lids on my Rambler Tumbler, and they are hands-down THE BEST coffee mug lid on the market today.
It’s easy to open, easy to close, and easy to clean. All the markings of a fantastic coffee mug experience.
The only downside to this coffee mug? It isn’t leak-proof due to the MagSlider lid design.
3. Klean Kanteen 12 oz Camp Mug
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Fantastic artwork
- Great capacity
- Lid is much better than other Klean Kanteen mugs
- Lid is open to the elements
- Not dishwasher safe
- Capacity: 12 ounces
- Construction: 18/8 Stainless Steel
- Dishwasher Safe: No
This is a newer addition to my collection (as the brand gifted me one recently). While it is at the bottom of my list for right now, that doesn’t mean it isn’t any good, in fact its the opposite. It takes everything that was great about the Rise Mug at the top of this list, sizes it down a couple ounces and adds some cool artwork to it.
In fact, the lid that comes with this camp mug is a considerable upgrade over the Rise Mug. It utilizes a more traditional camp mug lid with a small hole that allows just the right amount of coffee through but still keeps the heat in.
What should you look for in a good coffee mug?
1. Does it give you enjoyment?
First and foremost, purchasing a coffee mug is an emotional experience. If it wasn’t, you wouldn’t be looking for the best coffee mug at all. Make sure you look at the aesthetics of the mug, and decide if they are something that you enjoy. For example, every time I see the color of my Klean Kanteen found at the top of this list, it gives a warm and inviting feeling, meanwhile the Yeti gives a bit of a cooler feel. Which one is right for you?
2. What is its capacity?
Always think through exactly how much capacity you need! Everyone likes a different amount of coffee in their mug. While I prefer a coffee mug that is between twelve and fourteen ounces, you might like eight ounces. If you prefer less coffee in you mug, go for a smaller mug, so that you coffee doesn’t get cold quicker.
3. What do you need the mug for?
Do you drink your coffee quickly, or do you let it sit for hours. Are you sitting at a desk, or on-the-go? Every coffee mug can handle things differently, so make sure it’s right for you.
4. Quality of the build
Always make sure that you are buying a quality product. Last thing you want to do is have to buy the same mug again, or have the mug wear out quickly. I generally do my best to recommend high-quality products, rather than cheap, so that you only have to make one purchase, not multiple.
5. Length of time mug keeps coffee warm.
Every coffee mug handles heat retention differently. Some people prefer ceramic mugs for their taste, but they do a terrible job of keeping coffee hot. Meanwhile, stainless steel mugs (with lids) can keep coffee hot for hours, but their taste isn’t all that great (which is why Fellow Products coats their stainless steel mugs with ceramic).
6. Price point
Coffee mugs can get expensive, like really expensive. Make sure you are paying attention to the price, and for goodness sake, don’t go into debt with a payment plan for it.
