Reusable Iced Coffee Cups

If you’re an iced coffee lover, you know that the best way to enjoy it is out of a glass cup with a lid. That’s because iced beverages tend to sweat more than hot ones, and a well-designed glass cup can keep your beverage cold for hours. Plus, with a good lid, you won’t have to worry about spilling or leaking. And because many of these cups are reusable, you’ll cut down on waste—especially as plastic straws become harder and harder to find in the wake of concerns about how harmful they are to the environment.

In recent years, iced coffee has experienced a boom in popularity, accounting for more than 6% of the specialty market. And although coffee shops are catching on to the fact that customers prefer their drinks chilled, many still use disposable paper and plastic cups to serve them. But a switch to reusable cups is simple enough for most consumers—and can make a big difference in cutting back on single-use packaging waste.

Thankfully, there are many options on the market for reusable cups designed to handle the challenge of chilled coffee. Some are insulated and made of sweat-proof, heat-resistant glass. Others are made of durable, compostable materials such as bamboo, jute, and corn. Some are even made with a layer of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)—a highly recyclable alternative to Styrofoam, which is not acceptable in most curbside recycling programs. And most importantly, these reusable options are available in a wide range of capacities to suit your needs and preferences.

For example, a 12-ounce cup may be ideal for weekend outings with friends or for office groups. Some insulated cups are available in different colors, too, so you’ll never get your drink mixed up with someone else’s. Others are equipped with a slide-open lid, while others have twist or push-button lids that can be opened and closed with one hand. And if you’re a big iced coffee fan, there are also many options with straw lids that make it easy to sip while on the go.

Another important consideration is the opening size of the cup to ensure that it’s large enough for ice cubes and your preferred drink amount. You should also think about whether you want a cup with a straw and a lid that fits over the top of it, or just a lid that closes securely. And of course, you’ll need to consider the capacity you prefer: 12 ounces is usually a safe bet for most iced coffees, but you can choose a larger or smaller cup depending on your needs and preferences.

The most popular option on our list is this insulated tumbler from Yeti, which has thousands of five-star reviews. It comes in a variety of sizes, including an oversized version designed to fit most mason jars, and is made of sturdy, sweat-proof borosilicate glass that can hold ice and other cold liquids. It’s also dishwasher-safe, and the lid features a silicone sleeve with a nonslip grip.iced coffee cups