Food

The Kitchen Tools Top Chef Judges Replace Most Often

With a few buy-it-for-life exceptions, kitchen tools need replacing, some more than others. And no one knows that better than professionals. I was on set during the “Restaurant Wars” episode of Top Chef: Season 23 – Carolinas, where I sat down with some of those pros: judges Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons, to discuss how they cook at home and kitchen products.

During our interviews, I asked the judges a simple question: What do you keep replacing, even with decades of professional experience? Here are the tools they mentioned, along with my recommendations based on my own years of testing kitchen products.

Vegetable Peelers

Vegetable peelers are an item many chefs replace because they don’t last long, even with the best care. Some models feature replaceable blades, like the Milk Street Kitchen Precision peeler, which retails for $30, but by peeler standards that’s high. Kish loves Y-peelers but is constantly restocking them. “They’re so sharp and cheap,” said Kish. “But the problem is that I get lazy, throw them in the dishwasher, and they rust.” Colicchio also said he often replaces Y-peelers because they get dull and stop working.

Kuhn Rikon

Original Swiss Peeler 3-Pack

~~$18~~ $16 (11% off)

Amazon

As for which peeler to stock up on, ask any chef, and they’ll tell you the Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler is the best on the market. I’ve tested so many vegetable peelers, and the set I love is also a favorite among chefs. You get three very sharp Swiss-made y-peelers in various colors. They’re incredibly sharp and comfortable to hold when peeling awkward vegetables. To prevent rust, handwash them, (though even though I know better I still throw mine in the dishwasher. Laziness sometimes reigns.)

Nonstick Frying Pans

“I replace coated pans anytime they get a scratch,” said Simmons. “I am hyper-crazy about it. Now, I try to use more ceramic pans.” There are so many nonstick pans on the market, and none of them will last more than a few years, so that is a common problem, whether you are a Top Chef judge or not. And scratched nonstick pans are a real concern for most home cooks.

“I’ve been using Hexclad pans lately, and I’m kind of into them,” said Simmons. “They’re pretty and so much heavier than other nonstick pans.” Hexclad hasn’t tested well for us, but we do love this hybrid ceramic nonstick pan from Zwilling. It has a stainless steel exterior that not only makes it attractive but also conducts heat well. The nonstick coating is so durable so you can use metal utensils. It can go in the dishwasher and withstand oven temperatures up to 500°F.

Food

How a Family of 3 in LA Spends $400 on Groceries in One Week

Welcome to The Receipt, a series documenting how Bon Appétit readers eat and what they spend doing it. Each food diary follows one anonymous reader’s week of expenses related to groceries, restaurant meals, coffee runs, and every bite in between. In this time of rising food costs, The Receipt reveals how folks—from different cities, with different incomes, on different schedules—are figuring out their food budgets.

In today’s Receipt, we follow a 36-year-old public relations professional making $100,000 a year in San Gabriel, CA. Keep reading for her receipts.

Skip ahead

The finances

What are your pronouns? She/her

What is your occupation? I work in PR at a large global firm. I was a pandemic hire and work remotely on most days. More time to cook at home!

How old are you? 36

What city and state do you live in? San Gabriel, CA, but I grew up in the Philippines

What is your annual salary? $100,000, not counting my husband’s salary of roughly $65,000; he works in community health for the unhoused population

How much is one paycheck, after taxes? $2,800

How often are you paid? Twice a month

What are your approximate fixed monthly expenses beyond food? (i.e., rent, subscriptions, insurance, bills)

Rent: $2,588 (includes water/trash/HOA)
Electricity: $150
House gas: $150
WiFi and phone: $150
Car loan: $529
Car gas: $250
Subscriptions: $30
Credit card: $500
College savings plan: $400
Kid sports and other extracurriculars: $200
Gym membership: $159
Fixed monthly total: $5,006

The diet

How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home? I definitely eat out way more than I ever did growing up in the Philippines. But I’m a social homebody—I love staying home and hosting friends for brunches and dinners. Also, the cost of eating out adds up, and I’m trying not to spend my entire paycheck in restaurants.

That’s probably why our house is the hangout house. Everyone comes over, whether it’s my kid’s neighborhood friends, my husband’s friends, my girlfriends, or our couple friends. Meals are usually chill, and potluck-style. (Think Monica’s place on Friends.)

This week I’m trying not to eat out a single time. Will I succeed???

Do you follow a certain diet or have dietary restrictions? I don’t follow a specific diet, but I’m trying to lower my BMI/body fat percentage after a steady increase over the past three years. It’s tricky, trying to manage eating healthy while having a kid and husband who love all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and sushi.

I try to prioritize healthier proteins and whole foods, limiting anything too processed and aiming for an even split of protein, carbs, and fat daily.

I recently started an accountability group with some gym friends who have similar health goals. We basically just send each other pictures of what we’re eating. It gives me meal ideas, sure, but the real appeal is seeing how other people eat and cook. I’m nosy, okay?

What other factors influence how you and your family eat? My Roman empire (and I’m sure many women feel the same) is “what the hell am I cooking today?” It’s my main domestic task, while my husband manages the laundry and cleaning. It never ends.

Food

37 Memorial Day Recipes (Mains, Sides, Desserts, and Drinks)

Cooking

A smash burger beef patty on a toasted potato bun with mayonnaise shredded iceberg lettuce a slice of American cheese...

Memorial Day weekend is the soft launch of summer. The group chat comes to life, the grill gets dusted off, and meals migrate outdoors. These 37 Memorial Day recipes—including cheesy brats, classic coleslaw, and no-bake cheesecake bars—are built for easy hosting, with everything you need for a backyard barbecue or casual cookout. Consider this your long-weekend game plan for starting the season right, with all the burgers, potato salad, and cobbler you could ever want. And don’t forget the watermelon wedges.

Jump ahead

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua1/37
Super-Citrusy Carne Asada

Doused in a lime-garlic-cilantro dressing, this grilled steak comes out juicy, bright, and full of flavor. Slice it thinly and serve with warm tortillas for a Memorial Day grilling recipe that’ll steal the show.

chicken burger on a colorful plate on pink surface with a blue backdrop and basket in the background — Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua2/37

Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown JR, Food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Christina Allen3/37
Cheesy Brats With Celery-Pickle Relish

Think ballpark, but better: snappy brats (or classic hot dogs) with melty cheddar and a punchy celery-pickle relish that cuts through the richness and keeps every bite balanced.

Image may contain Dish Food Meal Animal Seafood Sea Life Lobster and Plant — Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio4/37

Photo Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen5/37
Easiest-Ever Grilled Veggie Burgers

Grilling burgers on Memorial Day weekend just feels right. For a vegetarian option, this recipe delivers: hearty, flavorful veggie burgers that hold together on the grill.

SpriteGrilled Chicken Skewers on a blue bcakground — Photograph by Scott Semler, food styling by Mieko Takahashi, prop styling by Emma Ringness6/37

Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton, Prop Styling by Erica Lutz7/37
Chipotle-Citrus Ribs

Sticky, smoky, and spicy-sweet—everything you want from a rib situation, with a welcome citrusy twist.

A hot dog loaded with chili onions and mustard on top of a slim green plate. — Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Erica Lutz8/37

Photograph by Peden + Munk, food styling by Adriana Paschen, prop styling by Ceci Garcia9/37
Grilled Banh Mi for a Party

Aromatic pork patties, quick-pickled vegetables, and fresh cilantro come together in this party-ready take on banh mi.

Image may contain Food — Christopher Testani10/37

Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kelsi Windmiller11/37
Sheet-Pan Chicken Souvlaki

No grill? No problem. This sheet-pan souvlaki brings backyard energy indoors, with chicken skewers and a fresh tomato-feta salad, making it ideal when the weather, or your setup, doesn’t cooperate.

Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks13/37
Adobo Mushroom Tacos

All you need is a hot oven to cook these spiced mushrooms to golden-brown perfection—but if you’d rather take things outside, they work just as well on a grill pan. Pile them into tortillas with your favorite taco toppings for a winning vegetarian cookout recipe.

A BBQ pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and pickles — Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson14/37

Photo by Christian Harder15/37
Crispy Gnocchi Caprese

Pan-crisped store-bought gnocchi bring texture and heft to this caprese-inspired dish, with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. It’s a summery mash-up that lands somewhere between comfort food and salad.

Falafel patties lettuce sliced cucumbers pickled red onions and harissa mayonnaise between two brioche buns. — Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Christine Keely16/37

Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Bowl from Heath Ceramics17/37
Grilled Shrimp With Old Bay and Aioli

These shrimp cook fast and disappear faster. Tossed in Old Bay and paired with lemony aioli, they’re a no-brainer for Memorial Day grilling.

Best Guacamole Recipe — Photo by Alex Lau18/37

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro19/37
Marinated Mozzarella and Peppadew Peppers

This low-lift appetizer combines pearl mozzarella and peppadew peppers in a garlicky, vinegary marinade. Make it ahead and let the flavors deepen—it only gets better with time.

Bruschetta on parchment paper — Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi20/37

Photographs by Mamadi Doumbouya, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Shannon Maldonado21/37
Classic Potato Salad

Potato salad belongs at every cookout, and this is our tried-and-true recipe: creamy, tangy, and forever nostalgic. It’s one of our all-time favorite side dishes.

Smashed Green Bean and Farro Salad on a canvas — Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht22/37

Photograph by Heami Lee, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by JoJo Li23/37
Lemony Pasta Salad With Crisped Capers

Not your grandma’s pasta salad. This version is lemony, bright, and (gasp!) mayo-free, with crisped capers and toasted pine nuts bringing crunch and depth.

Cole Slaw in a white bowl on a fabric — Photograph by Emma Fishman, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi24/37

Laura Murray25/37
BA’s Best Caprese Salad

Caprese salad screams summer, so it only feels right to kick off the season with the timeless trio of tomatoes (a combo of cherry tomatoes and heirlooms is nice), mozzarella, and basil. A drizzle of olive oil, plus flaky salt and black pepper, is all it takes to let the ingredients shine.

A colorful summer salad of corn peppers onions and avocados alongside a cutting board with extra parsley and a small... — Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness26/37

Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kaitlin Wayne, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca27/37
Creamy Sesame Pasta Slaw

Creamy, nutty sesame dressing makes this coleslaw–pasta salad hybrid a true standout. Don’t be surprised if guests ask for the recipe before they’ve even finished their serving.

Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh29/37
Ginger-Lime No-Bake Cheesecake Bars

This zippy no-bake dessert comes together with ease—just be sure to give each layer time to set in the freezer before adding the next.

Image may contain Cake Cream Cupcake Dessert Food Food Presentation Icing and Ice Cream — Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Christina Allen30/37

Photograph by Peden + Munk, food styling by Adriana Paschen, prop styling by Ceci Garcia31/37
Blueberry Cobbler

Easier than pie but just as satisfying, this cobbler pairs bubbling blueberries with a golden, cakey topping. Lean into summer by serving each portion with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream.

Pie plate filled with layers of mixed berries and lush vanilla whipped cream topped with shattered vanilla wafers. — Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.32/37

Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime33/37
Rum-Soaked Fruit and Coconut Crisp Sundaes

Boozy fruit, coconut-almond crunch, cold ice cream—this sundae hits all the right notes for a playful, summery Memorial Day dessert. Plus, it’s gluten-free.

Tall grapefruit drink with a yellow background. — Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca34/37

Photograph by Peden + Munk, food styling by Adriana Paschen, prop styling by Ceci Garcia35/37
One-Bottle Vermouth Sangria

Low effort, high payoff—exactly what your holiday weekend calls for. A bottle of sweet vermouth does most of the work here; just add citrus juice, club soda, and fresh fruit, and you’ve got a crowd-pleasing sangria.

Two Cucumber Agua Fresca drinks on green tile — Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua36/37

Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Judy Mancini37/37
Margarita, No Triple Sec

Citrusy and streamlined, this margarita skips the triple sec, letting tequila and lime take center stage. It’s the kind of drink you’ll keep mixing all Memorial Day weekend.

Phoebe Fry is a Brooklyn-based food writer, cook, and illustrator. She’s worked in kitchens in Ireland, Italy, and NYC, and she currently writes The Dish on Substack. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Wine Enthusiast, and more. You’ll most often find her haunting the cookbook section of her local … Read More

Explore Bon AppétitMemorial Day Holidays cooking Entertaining Summer

Food

12 Food Moments to Celebrate The Devil Wears Prada

Rebecca’s work has appeared in TASTE, Eater, Food52, The Kitchn, Serious Eats, The Strategist, and NYT Cooking, among others. Previously, she was a staff editor at a handful of media publications, as well as a freelance recipe tester, culinary producer, and stylist. Before joining Bon Appétit and Epicurious, she was … Read More

Food

Why Is a Pasta Sauce Company Recording Your Conversations?

Welcome to Open Tab, a weekly roundup of news, gossip, and stories that have stayed open in my tabs all week. Last week we covered the president’s DoorDash order.

If you read Open Tab last week, you’ll be pleased to know that we’re starting this week’s edition by tying up some loose ends. First, the Philz coffee Pride flag drama—which I promise to never bring up again—is finally over. A statement from Philz Coffee emailed to me last week reads, in part, “every Pride flag that is up stays up, and any Pride flag that was previously removed can be put back up.” Complaining works!

The rotisserie chicken affordability discourse continues—this time in the halls of government. A bipartisan bill called the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act is being introduced in the US Senate. The bill would allow SNAP recipients to buy hot rotisserie chicken—currently they can only buy cooked but cooled rotisserie chickens.

And finally, Nara Smith, the OG trad wife, has announced she’s releasing a cookbook in October. Finally, you will all learn what I, the child of a granola mom, have always known: The homemade versions of junk food don’t taste as good. They just don’t—unless you’re Claire Saffitz, I guess.

Also this week: Prego wants to record your dinner conversations, and Jia Tolentino indulged in some light shoplifting. Chaos ensued. Plus, Wagyu simply isn’t what it used to be, and lab-grown meat faces growing pains.

Prego, who you may know for its pasta sauce, is releasing an Alexa-like device called The Connection Keeper, that will record your conversations around the dinner table. It’s meant to be a screen-free way to “capture the laughter, stories, and check-ins that happen naturally over a meal,” but it feels distinctly surveillance state coded. It’s not Wi-Fi enabled, and there’s no cloud connection, but users are encouraged to upload the conversations to a StoryCorps’ website.

Personally, I’d feel uncomfortable recording my personal conversations and uploading them anywhere—websites can (and do!) get hacked, and data is often leaked or sold. Wait, sorry, let me adjust my tinfoil hat.

New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino (and occasional BA contributor) was a guest on the New York Times podcast The Opinions this week, and, in an episode literally entitled “The Rich Don’t Play by the Rules. So Why Should I?” she admitted to occasionally shoplifting one or two items from Whole Foods. The mega-corporation (owned by Amazon), as Tolentino argues, budgets for this kind of light shoplifting anyway. The New York Post disagreed, characterizing it as a “shocking admission” that Tolentino had stolen a few lemons.

Yes, stealing is wrong. But Tolentino is hardly the only person to ever dip a toe into shoplifting at Whole Foods. Why else would they have created Whole Food jail? Plus, as Bon Appétit reported in 2023, some employees are on board with your shoplifting. You’ve never eaten a grape in the produce aisle? You’ve never accidentally bagged a banana before scanning it at self checkout? Go ahead! Live a little! Ed. note: For legal reasons, this is a joke.

If you’ve been eating out recently, chances are you’ve seen Wagyu crop up everywhere. It might have appeared as a pricey supplement to a luxe tasting experience, or perhaps you tried it when it was on the menu at Arby’s. It’s the protein du jour, but as it has enjoyed its turn in the spotlight, non-Japanese Wagyu has taken hold of the market.

Food

Best Travel Coffee Mugs, Vetted by Our Experts (2026)

Dometic Tumbler

Dometic

12 oz Tumbler

$25

Amazon

Dometic hasn’t created the best travel mug ever, but it may have created one of the most versatile mug systems I’ve seen. Interchangeable accessories like a snap-locking sip spout, a chuggable water spout, a closable straw lid, and a splash-guarded open sip lid can screw into the mug itself—or you can add a “collar” including one with a wrist strap or another with a silicone lined handle. It’s essentially just adding another layer to the lid. And yet, even with all of those collars and lids stacked up, it still passed the leak tests and held a passable coffee temperature for five hours too. It comes in a more coffee-appropriate 350 ml or 500 ml and a water bottle (or iced coffee) sized 650 ml, and yes, all the parts are interchangeable—except the straw, which only works on the larger size. I wish the hot liquid lid had a more secure lock, considering Dometic is targeted at more rough-and-tumble travelers (some travel cups have screw-on lids), but it still managed not to leak, even when held upside down.

Yeti Rambler with Magslider Lid

YETI Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler with MagSlider Lid, Cosmic Lilac

$35

Yeti

People love their stainless-steel Yeti mugs, and there’s a good reason for that: They’re a well-built, affordable option that comes in a bunch of fun colors and swappable list styles. We think the Magslider lid by Yeti is a great option if you are mostly keeping your drink in a cupholder or on your desk, as its lid slides open and snaps shut easily; however, it is by no means leakproof, which is why it doesn’t take the top spot when compared to the Owala. The entire thing is dishwasher-safe, so we’d also consider it a strong runner-up to the Brümate too.

Yeti Rambler Travel Mug with Stronghold Lid

YETI Rambler 20 oz Travel Mug with Stronghold Lid

$38

Amazon

If water or cold beverages are your primary concern, then we also like this handled mug version of the Rambler for the same reasons we like the Magslider Rambler, with the added benefit that the Stronghold lid is slightly more leak-resistant (but not as leakproof as the Owala or Brümate). The high-set handle and tapered bottom keep this large mug cupholder-friendly too. But you’re stuck with only 20- and 30-ounce options, so it’s probably not going to be the top pick for pour-over and espresso machine users.

RTIC Road Trip Travel Mug

$26

Amazon

~~$33~~ $23 (30% off)

RTIC

Of the two RTIC products we tested in the latest update, this slim, handled mug quickly became my favorite. Its high-set handle and narrow base fit perfectly in cupholders and backpacks without hogging space. Like the RTIC Essential Tumbler, it has a clear leakproof lid, ceramic interior, dishwasher-safe design, and excellent heat retention. The 20-ounce size (also available in 16 ounces) works equally well for hot or cold drinks. The only drawback is the recessed drinking spout, which takes some getting used to. Still, between its thoughtful design and the option to customize in 19 colors, it’s a solid and stylish everyday mug.

Zojirushi GoCafe Insulated Mug

~~$33~~ $21 (36% off)

Amazon

The GoCafe is Zojirushi’s updated take on its beloved bottle-style tumbler, introduced as a new product line rather than a replacement. It kept our coffee hot all day in testing and now comes in cool ombré colors with a more sustainable build. The leakproof, locking lid is now constructed with fewer pieces and less plastic than the original tumbler. This simpler design and larger opening make cleaning the interior a breeze. Instead of nonstick, the interior uses a polished Slicksteel finish that resists buildup. The only drawbacks: its wider base won’t fit every cupholder, and the smallest size is 16 ounces versus the OG Zojirushi’s 12-ounce option. We think 16 ounces is actually a great mid-range coffee mug size, but you may only want one cup of coffee, so the fact that you can still get the OG Zojirushi in a 12-ounce option tipped the scales.

Zojirushi Travel Mug

$40

Amazon

Take everything we love about the Zojirushi and turn it into a travel tumbler, and you get this cup that feels a little more like it’s meant for drinking coffee rather than containing it like a thermos. The good thing about Zojirushi’s substantial flip tops is that they are super effective at sealing shut. The bad is that they’re substantial, which means they kind of get in the way of drinking. For example, we took this mug on a test drive and were a little leery about how much it blocked our view while taking a sip. Personally, we just preferred the less obtrusive Owala or Brümate, or even the RTICs, as more streamlined options. But like its more carafe-y counterparts, the Zojirushi Tumbler held on to heat incredibly well—though, by the numbers, not as well as the brand’s bottles.

Yeti Rambler Mug

YETI Rambler 14 oz Stackable Mug

~~$50~~ $30 (40% off)

Amazon

When it comes to capacity, Yeti’s Rambler Mug collection does offer the more coffee-friendly array of options, with 10-, 14-, and 24-ounce sizes. The downside is that none are cupholder compatible, and all come with the Magslider lid, which isn’t ideal, especially when the leaking liquid is extremely hot coffee. The handle wasn’t the most ergonomic either, but if you’re camping, hanging out at the beach, or using one of these on your desk, they’re great at being mugs without looking like giant water jugs.

Yeti Rambler with Hotshot Cap

Yeti Rambler with Hotshot Cap, 18 Oz.

$30

Yeti

Yeti’s Hotshot Cap essentially turns its water bottles into hot beverage-ready travel mugs. The lid can be twisted to an open or closed position and then you can drink from any part of the rim. When sealed tight, this makes it the most leakproof of the Yeti mugs we tested. But similar to the Miir 360, it leaves too much room for human error when relying on that seal to keep the contents of a backpack protected from drops and spills. Yeti bottles are also not designed as universally cupholder compatible, but with this one, you may get lucky.

Stanley AeroLight Transit Bottle

Stanley Aerolight Transit Bottle

$35

Stanley

This bottle-style tumbler may come closest to Zojirushi, with its excellent heat insulation and leakproof, flip-up lid that snaps securely in place. However, the lid is difficult to open without using two hands, and it can also get in the way of your nose when sipping. Cleaning is a little trickier; it took us a while to figure out that the locking mechanism pops out, not as separate pieces, but enough to get a thorough cleaning inside your dishwasher. (Unlike the Zojirushi, it’s dishwasher-safe, so while not as completely immune to leaks and drips, it’s a trade-off worth considering.)

Brümate Müv

BrüMate Müv – 25 Oz. Mug

$38

Amazon

Take everything we liked about the Brümate Nav, add a handle, and you get the Müv. It shares the same features but also comes in a smaller 15-ounce size, which we found more convenient for a single cup of coffee, though it didn’t hold heat quite as well as the larger versions. The handle makes the smaller size less cupholder-friendly, but the taller Müv models should fit just fine. One detail we grew to appreciate is the lid: Instead of a screw-on system, it clicks into eight notches around the rim, letting you rotate the sipping spout to your preferred angle. It’s handy for both right- and left-handed users, or anyone who doesn’t sip straight on. Like the Nav, most (but not all) colors are dishwasher-safe, so just double-check the listing if that matters to you.

Klean Kanteen Rise

$30

Amazon

$31

Klean Kanteen

Compact and attractive, the Rise is a solid tumbler with decent heat retention—satisfactory for five hours, less so after 10. And that’s fine enough, because this mug isn’t necessarily for the long-haul drinking experience. The splash-proof lid isn’t leakproof, and the protruding latch could get knocked open in a bag, but it’s fine for desktop or home use. However, if you prefer a more open-mouthed sip (as weird as it feels to type that out), then you’ll appreciate that the Rise’s lid flips up to reveal a semicircular opening. The curve where your lip meets the lid has a smooth, rounded contour and doesn’t allow for too much dribbling, something we tend to experience with fully open-top containers and bottles. The iced coffee experience was particularly nice, as I was able to occasionally crunch on an ice cube, something you can’t get from a lid with a teeny-weeny opening. The Rise collection also includes a 26-ounce tumbler, plus a lowball and a handled mug. With few moving parts, easy cleaning (it’s dishwasher-safe), and cool color options, put this one in the “solid desk mug” category.

Simple Modern Voyager Tumbler and Voyager Signature Tumbler

Simple Modern Voyager Signature Tumbler

~~$33~~ $30 (9% off)

Amazon

If you do a general google or Amazon search for travel coffee cups, you’ll probably see Simple Modern pop up in your results, which is why we were compelled to test them. Available in dozens of colors and three sizes (12, 16, and 20 ounces), the brand offers two lid types: a clear flip lid with a straw or a 360º pop-up lid. Both are leakproof, cupholder-friendly, and comfortable to hold. The flip lid works well, but it can unlatch if caught, and its vent nub poked our nose while drinking. The 360º lid clearly signals when it’s open but feels abrupt on the lip and, like most push-down lids, isn’t bag-safe. Heat retention was mid-range—good for the first five hours, less so over the long haul. Still, they’re affordable, customizable, and practical picks.

Travel coffee mugs we don’t recommend

Klean Kanteen Wide Double-Walled Mug with Leakproof Café Cap

Like the Stanley AeroLight, we have very few negative things to say about Klean Kanteen’s double-walled mug. It has a truly leakproof cap, along with the ability to fully dissemble it. It’s dishwasher-safe and carries a lifetime warranty. But we found the lid mechanism, like the AeroLight, required two hands to open, making it less than ideal for sipping on the go.

Miir 360 Traveler

For sheer design aesthetics, we wanted to love this slim and compact mug with its minimalist push-button top that takes up nearly the entire lid, leaving just a sippable crevice all the way around. The only issue we had is that, due to its monochrome, minimalist design, it was difficult to tell if the lid was in the open or closed position. When absent-mindedly tossing your cup into your bag, this can spell disaster. The lid doesn’t disassemble in a way that satisfies our desire for thoroughly cleaned parts, though it is completely dishwasher-safe. And we also found that, unlike the Stanley AeroLight, the Miir would often hold on to a few residual drops of coffee after closing, so while it was leakproof when closed, it wasn’t drip-free.

Miir Flip Traveler

Similar to the 360, the flip-top lid creates a reliably leakproof seal, and the container itself is great at keeping coffee hot. The main issue we had was, like with the Stanley AeroLight and Fellow Carter Slide, the lid gets in the way when drinking and, because the underside comes into contact with your coffee, sometimes leaves a little drop on your nose too.

Snowpeak Kanpai Bottle

Considering its price, we expected more from this bottle which, in its own way, tries to do a lot. It comes with three lids: one for sipping hot liquids and one for storing hot liquids, plus a re-freezable lid for chilling a 12-ounce beverage. It’s lightweight but still has fantastic heat retention; however, the lids leak. Our test included leaving sealed tumblers upside down for 30 minutes, and every single one left a puddle on the counter.

Oxo Good Grips Travel Coffee Mug With Leakproof SimplyClean Lid

Given its reputation for quality, user-friendly products, we expected (and got) a quality, leakproof, and dishwasher-safe mug from Oxo. What we didn’t get was a very user-friendly lid, which, while it does come apart completely for thorough cleaning, requires some clunky and convoluted reassembly steps. There are other dishwasher-safe tumblers on this list with lids that are much easier to use.

Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Reusable Mug

We like the range of colors and sizes (as small as 6 ounces) and the traditional coffee cup feel of this mug, but it lacks cupholder compatibility in any of its sizes and only sports a splash-proof lid that doesn’t seal completely. Plus, unlike some of Hydro Flask’s other containers, these are not dishwasher-safe.

Fellow Carter Slide Mug

If we’re grading purely on looks, this streamlined thermal mug with a ceramic-lined interior and one-handed sliding lid (that’s also leakproof) is stunning. As a hot drink container, it certainly delivers on keeping coffee warm. However, we found its unique lid design kept smooshing against our noses when drinking from it, and we found there was always residual coffee left in the cup that just couldn’t be tipped out with the lid on. While the container portion of the mug didn’t hold on to stains and smells, we found the lid did smell like coffee after cleaning it. If you’re switching up what liquids you’re putting inside, this may be an unwelcome problem.

Fellow Carter Move Mug

Unlike the Slide, consider this to be more of a coffee transporter than a travel mug. You can drink from its open-mouth design, which includes a removable splash guard (we liken the experience to sipping from a soda can). But the screw-on lid requires two hands to open and close, making it less than ideal for taking quick sips while driving. With its open design, if you hit a speed bump, coffee splashes out every time. In its defense, with the lid on tight, this kept coffee satisfyingly hot for nearly 24 hours. So, if you’re taking your cup to go but not drinking from it until you get to your destination, this could be a winner.

Kinto Day Off Travel Tumbler

This is another beautiful travel mug that does the job of keeping drinks hot and preventing leaks when fully sealed shut. We also liked that the two-piece lid—a sipping portion and a separate handled cap—comes off from the base for easy pouring into the container. However, the Japanese houseware brand’s form can’t overcome its functionality issues as an on-the-go mug, which include two-handed operation to open, and having to hang on to the cap in your spare hand while you drink.

Thermos Icon Mug with Slide Lock Lid

If affordability in a car commuter cup is your main goal, there’s a lot to like about Thermos’s mug with its high-set handle (retaining cupholder compatibility) and respectable heat retention. Plus, it’s got a rubber base to absorb accidental nudges, a possible issue due to its slightly top-heavy design. But the sliding lock lid is nowhere near leakproof; it just keeps coffee from fully splashing out when closed. Overall, the mug is durable and dishwasher-safe. It’s not perfect, but it’s practical.

Ello Campy Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug with Leakproof Slider Lid

We love the old-school speckled enamelware aesthetic of this mug, which holds heat well and is generally leakproof (but not commuter bag approved). The cork-lined handle has a nice feel, though it may dissuade you from cleaning it in the dishwasher which, while not recommended by the manufacturer, is possible. But a scan through reviews from long-term users found durability issues cited often enough that we wouldn’t recommend this one for daily wear and tear.

KeepCup Brew Cork

We like a brand that keeps things relatively crunchy, and this cork-banded glass cup offers an elegant version of that. However ,it’s not insulated, so it loses heat too quickly compared to the competition while also feeling hot anywhere but the cork grip. Plus, it leaks, so it’s really more of a desk or office cup than something we’d want to take on a walk.

Stojo Collapsible Cup

If you’re really tight on space and want to be able to crush your coffee cup down to about the size of a can of tuna when not in use, then this is the mug for you. Okay, so it’s more of a cup you would have in your bag for an “in case of” situation than it is a daily commuter cup. It does work for coffee, but it’s not insulated, so don’t expect leisurely sips to still be warm hours later. Our main gripe is with the number of parts this cup comes with and must be kept track of in order to use it.

AeroPress Tumbler

First, we should acknowledge that the main benefit of this AeroPress mug is that you can, indeed, fit the parts of a travel AeroPress Go Plus system inside, including a screw-on bottom that keeps your filters nice and dry. It’s essentially an accessory first and a travel mug second. That said, it performs decently as a 16-ounce travel cup, though its heat retention lags behind competitors. The splash-resistant magnetic sliding lid feels less premium than we’d expect from AeroPress, but it works fine for casual use. If you’re already an AeroPress fan, this tumbler makes brewing and drinking on the go simple. As a solo purchase, it’s serviceable but not exceptional.

TAL Ranger Stainless Steel Travel Coffee Mug

For as little as $11, TAL’s double-walled Ranger mug is a serviceable travel cup that’s leakproof to a point, and it landed squarely in the middle of the pack when it came to heat retention. The negatives, however, outweighed the positives. The spout opening in the lid, despite being described as large, is actually quite small and sips felt more like dribbles. As for leakiness, while it passed the shake test, it did not fare as well when left upside down for a while, as it could if tossed in a bag the wrong way. And slow seepage could be bad news for a laptop. And finally, while the lid closure does snap both into place and out of the way securely, I would rather place my trust in a sturdier Zojirushi or Brümate lock for only a few bucks more.

TAL Mountaineer

If you’re looking to up your Dad Aesthetic, this inexpensive, no-frills mug may be just the ticket. The Green Speckled option called back memories of camping in the 1980s. And it offered a surprisingly secure and sturdy lid. But heat retention was not up to par. While it’s certainly cheap at under $15, this is a case where you get what you pay for, and I would rather pay a little more for the nearly identical looking (but superior) RTIC Road Trip, which has a ceramic lining and is dishwasher-safe, unlike the Mountaineer.