The goal: Find the ideal travel mug: sturdy enough to withstand bike commutes, vacuum insulated to keep your remaining morning joe hot for a 4 p.m. jolt, and civilized in size (24 ounces of high-octane Blue Bottle could send a New York coffee snob into cardiac arrest). We spoke to chefs and caffeine heads, who ultimately steered us away from the old-school juggernauts (Thermos, Stanley), which tend to be better suited to a hike through the Catskills than a day at the office.
The verdict: A chef favorite for its heat retention, the stainless mug by Japanese brand Zojirushi ($29 at amazon.com) has the same double-wall steel construction as the classics but weighs less than a pound, holding a very reasonable 12 ounces. The cap springs open with the push of a button; whether you’re drinking coffee or bone broth, the liquid flows smoothly past your lips thanks to a tiny air vent.
*This article appears in the November 3, 2014 issue of New York Magazine.
