Being leakproof is also important, although all mugs require you to allow your drink to cool down slightly before putting on the lid, otherwise a build-up of steam can cause spurting. While a tad gimmicky (it isn’t that hard to find the hole through which to drink on regular lids), it does make it more similar to a normal mug.

Cups and packaging — Sustainability | Costa Coffee

The Clever Cup features space in the base of the cup for a chip that is powered by bPay by Barclaycard. It’s almost the perfect travel mug, except when when tipped upside down: liquid does seep out, so it can’t be thrown carelessly in a bag (which is really all I want in a reusable coffee cup). There are plenty of design options and colours, and we like that there is the option of a straw, which also folds down inside the cup. After repeatedly dirtying and cleaning each travel mug, a group of testers assess each mug for how a cup of tea taste in it, noting any strange, residual flavours.Costa is hooking you up with its new Christmas range, bought to you in their latest coffee cup designs. I find I have to wash the travel mug straight away after using to avoid both those things, instead of waiting until I get home.

Costa’s Christmas menu and festive cups are here - Metro Costa’s Christmas menu and festive cups are here - Metro

It’s fully biodegradable too, so once it reaches the end of its life you can crush it, soak it in boiling water and throw it on your compost heap (the silicone lid and sleeve are recyclable too). Given that Britons drink almost 100 million cups of coffee per day (according to a survey by the British Coffee Association), that’s an awful lot of waste. Travel mugs are designed to keep drinks hot or cold for hours on end during road trips and outdoor adventures; they tend to be made from stainless steel and come with features such as lockable lids and autoseals. As with all the brand’s cups, the lid pushes on for a secure fit, and there is a smooth opening from which to drink that can be closed with the swivel stopper.Partnering with Barclaycard, the coffee chain has created the UK’s first reusable contactless coffee cup.