Feb. 04, 2024
Home & Garden
Once upon a time, people rarely used glass for coffee mugs. Glass was too delicate and not a good insulator. But times have changed. Borosilicate glass is ultra-strong and can be blown into double-walled coffee mugs with even better thermal properties than traditional ceramics. And while ceramic coffee mugs are plain and practical, there’s something about a shiny glass coffee mug that feels upscale.
If you’re looking for the best glass coffee mugs, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up 8 great options for every kind of coffee lover. Whether you enjoy espresso, lattes, pour overs, or just want a to-go mug to take to your local cafe, the answer is here.
The best glass coffee cups tend to share a few key features. They keep the coffee hot, are comfortable to drink from, and look stunning perched on your coffee bar. Our eight picks from some of the best coffee mugs all meet these goals – and have a few other tricks up their sleeves too! Keep reading to see what I mean.
Kruve is a well-known brand to serious coffee nerds, with products like coffee sifters and the wonderfully named Brewler – a ruler for measuring coffee grind size. So it’s no surprise that their drinking glasses go beyond the ordinary.
This glass coffee mug set features two differently shaped glasses measuring 5 ounces. The Excite model has a larger surface area to enhance aroma and sweetness while minimizing acidity. Kruve suggests pairing it with fuller-bodied dark roasts with chocolate or nutty flavors. The Inspire coffee glasses are tall and narrow, focusing the aroma from a smaller surface area and enhancing acidity, a perfect partner for a lighter roast with citrus notes.
You can buy a two-pack of either shape, but the mixed set lets you explore how glass shape influences flavor profile. And world-renowned coffee expert James Hoffmann agrees (1).
The shapes are there to enhance certain aspects of your coffee tasting…It is just kind of fun.
Kruve glass coffee mugs are double-walled and made from hand-blown borosilicate glass. Cleverly, they taper from a double wall at the base single wall at the lip. You get to enjoy the insulating properties of a double-walled mug with the better mouthfeel of a single-wall glass.
Kruve double-walled cups aren’t microwave-safe due to the inlaid gold leaf logo. This is a strange oversight, but it probably reflects that if you’re serious enough to buy Kruve gear, you’re serious enough not to microwave your coffee.
Hario might be best known among coffee enthusiasts for the famous V60 pour-over cone. Hario translates as “King of Glass.” Given the name, perhaps they deserve as much acclaim for their glassware. Indeed, Hario was founded to make glass supplies and beakers for science labs, so a high-quality glass coffee mug is a piece of cake.
These double-walled coffee mugs are a prime example.
Equal parts, beautiful and functional, they are the perfect showcase for your V60 pour-over brew.
They’re available in a 10-ounce or 15-ounce capacity and made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass. The double-walled construction means they’ll keep hot drinks hot and cold beverages cold, while maintaining a comfortable external temperature for your hands.
The attractive rippled exterior of these coffee glass cup sets them apart from the crowd and pairs perfectly with the similarly styled Hario Buono kettle.
Joy Jolt is a budget-priced brand that still delivers impeccable quality in our experience. The Joy Jolt Serene coffee mug is double-walled and made from lead-free borosilicate glass. The double-walled borosilicate glass is sturdier than regular glass, microwave and oven safe to 350 °F, and has a crystal-clear look that showcases your coffee.
The Serene glass mugs have a pleasing shape, and like the Kruve glasses, the walls taper to a thin layer at the top for a more comfortable drinking experience. The handle is a nice addition, in this case, giving you options for holding your drink.
Joy Jolt double-walled coffee mugs come in various sizes, but we love the 7.4-ounce Serene model for its versatility. They’re perfect cups for cappuccino, drip coffee, Americano, or a Cortado.
Got a coffee-loving friend to shop for this holiday season? This set of glass coffee mugs is packaged in a cute printed box, and everyone knows that gifting a two-pack of mugs is a great way to get yourself invited over for coffee.
If pour-over is your coffee brewing method, you’re probably well acquainted with the Fellow brand. Many a brew bar is graced with the iconic Fellow Stagg EKG kettle and Fellow Ode coffee grinder. The brand is famous for stylish and functional coffee gear. So it’s no surprise that Fellow also makes a swoon-worthy set of tasting glass.
The Fellow Stagg glass coffee mugs are made from hand-blown double-wall borosilicate glass. These coffee glasses taper to a single layer at the top, where a fluted lip facilitates the perfect tasting experience. Their distinct cylindrical shape keeps with the industrial-chic aesthetic of many Fellow products and makes them extra stable when brewing.
The Fellow Stagg Tasting Glasses are designed to pair with the Fellow Stagg pour-over dripper, and it nests perfectly on top of each clear coffee mug and has an identical 10-ounce capacity. If you have the budget, the full Stagg set – kettle, dripper, glasses – is all you need for delightful pour-over brews.
A shot of espresso is a very small volume of liquid, which means it cools down very fast. A double-walled coffee mug is best if you don’t plan on downing your espresso quickly. These appealing glass coffee cups from Bodum are our top pick for espresso, and they even double as shot glasses that will keep your alcohol of choice cold.
The Bodum Pavina Espresso Cups have a basic, classic design. They aren’t showy, and they’ll never go out of style. This is good because espresso drinkers should expect the mouth-blown borosilicate glass to last long. It’s very durable and microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. While not shatter-proof, these espresso cups have better odds of surviving a fall than traditional glassware.
Because the Bodum Pavina Glass Coffee Mugs are made by hand, you may find slight differences between them. This isn’t a criticism, and finding a product that feels handmade rather than factory mass-produced is refreshing.
The Pavina coffee glasses also come in an 8.5 or 12-ounce capacity if you love the design but aren’t an espresso drinker.
Two key features of a great latte cup are excellent heat insulation and appropriate size. This double-walled Bodum Bistro Coffee Mug passes both tests with flying colors.
Because a latte is a relatively cool drink to begin with – properly steamed milk should be around 145 °F for the sweetest flavor – a double-walled mug design is crucial. While you might be tempted to opt for a travel mug for better heat retention, I’ve always found slurping through a lid ruins the latte experience. These double-walled glasses are made from mouth-blown borosilicate glass.
Lattes typically use larger mugs than other coffee shop drinks, and the 15-ounce capacity of these glass mugs is the largest on this list. You’ll have plenty of room for a double (or even triple) shot of espresso and lots of silky smooth milk foam.
The one-way silicone vent at the base is a unique feature of these double-walled mugs. It equalizes the air pressure in the space between the two walls when hot or cold drinks are added, which minimizes wear and tear and increases longevity. However, these coffee glasses aren’t scratch-proof, so avoid metal spoons and ice dispensers to keep them looking their best for their whole life.
Keep Cup doesn’t just make some of my favorite glass mugs; it makes some of my favorite travel mugs overall. In a market saturated with stainless steel vacuum mugs that feel like thermoses, the Keep Cup keeps your coffee hot while providing an enjoyable coffee-drinking experience.
The Keep Cup glass mug looks and feels like a traditional to-go coffee cup, but it’s much better for the environment and keeps your coffee hotter for longer (2). It comes in all standard coffee shop sizes, from the 6-ounce extra small to a jumbo 16-ounce version.
The Keep Cup is made from a single layer of strong tempered glass, but it’s equipped with a plastic lid that ensures your coffee stays hot. The lid is splash-proof, which is great for commuting, but it’s not watertight, so don’t toss it in a backpack. Don’t let that plastic worry you. Every Keep Cup is independently tested to ensure it is free of BPA, BPS, phthalates, lead and cadmium.
Keep Cup has an impressive ethical track record, making them all the more appealing. They donate 1% of revenue to environmental causes, are certified B-Corp, and use local manufacturing wherever possible. While we typically don’t think of cork as environmentally friendly, in this case, the cork band is made from recovered cork from the waste of wine cork production in Portugal. The cork band isn’t dishwasher safe, however, so you must hand wash your Keep Cup.
Learn everything we liked about the Keep Cup in our full review.
These glass coffee mugs from ZHMTang caught our eye for their fun style and impressive ratings and reviews. The amber-colored handle and vertical pattern on the glass mug stand out from the crowd. These coffee mugs are great for coffee and tea, but they’re even better for showcasing fun cocktails and more creative coffee drinks. A pumpkin spice latte in one just screams fall.
The ZHMTang glass mugs feature durable borosilicate glass construction, which keeps the thin, patterned walls from being fragile. They are microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe.
Because they aren’t double-walled coffee mugs, don’t expect the same heat retention as you would from some others. These glass coffee mugs are better for those who drink their coffee fast or prefer a mild-temperature brew. They also made great vessels for iced coffee.
When shopping for the best glass mug, its beauty is usually the first thing you notice, according to coffee writer and expert Janice Chinna Kanniah (3).
Few materials are as visually appealing as glass. It’s sleek and attractive, and you can enjoy looking at your drink while you consume it.
The look of your glass mug is one important consideration, but there are other key features to look for and questions to ask yourself before buying. Every glass coffee mug on this list is a great option, but not everyone is best for you. This section will help you narrow it down.
Different types of coffee drinks are best suited to different size mugs. So it’s important to think about your favorite drinks when buying clear coffee mugs.
If you just batch brew drip coffee, you can pour it into any size coffee mug. The only question is how often you want to go back for refills. An average choice is 10 or 12 ounces. On the other hand, if espresso drinks are your thing, mug size matters. And if you love many types of coffee, do as the cafes do and own many coffee cups. They’re relatively affordable as coffee accessories go and can greatly impact your drinking experience.
When buying a glass travel mug, like the Keep Cup, match the mug size to your typical to-go coffee order.
A double-wall glass mug has two layers of glass separated by a vacuum. Heat does not travel through a vacuum, so it is an excellent insulator. Double-walled coffee mugs are much better at keeping hot liquids hot and cold drinks cold. They also keep the mug’s exterior at a neutral temperature, which is crucial for glass mugs without handles.
Glass is not as good of an insulator as a classic ceramic mug, so double-wall construction is important if you like your coffee hot.
So why wouldn’t you opt for a double-walled coffee mug?
Well, for starters, they are usually more expensive. The cost is justified if you’re a slow sipper who enjoys a piping-hot beverage. But if you plan to down your coffee quickly or prefer a more moderate temperature, it may not be worth the high price point.
A double-wall glass mug also changes the drinking experience because it is thick, and it’s essentially a glass inside a glass, and many coffee lovers prefer the mouthfeel of a single glass. If this is you, opt for a single-wall mug or choose a brand like Kruve that tapers to the lip.
Did you know that your mug’s design actually impacts how your coffee tastes? It’s true! Science has proven that color, shape, and material affect how your brain perceives a drink (5). While all the glass coffee mugs on this list are the same color and material, the shape is worth considering. The coffee aficionados at Kruve understand this, but you don’t need to spring for a premium brand to take advantage of the knowledge.
A final style question is whether you want your glass coffee mug to have a handle. A handle (or heatproof sleeve) is strongly recommended if the mug isn’t double-walled. For double wall glass mug, it’s more a matter of personal preference and comfort. For example, coffee drinkers with larger hands often find handles too cramped, while those with smaller hands may find wide glass mugs hard to handle (no pun intended).
Choosing the best clear coffee mugs is all about meeting your needs. What’s your favorite style of coffee? Do you like to sip at home or on the go? Do you drink fast or slow? What flavors do you want to enhance?
Our top pick from the best glass coffee mugs this year is the Kruve Excite and Inspire Coffee Set. The set of two double-walled glass mugs features two unique shapes, so you can experience first-hand how cup shape impacts coffee flavors. It’s a learning opportunity and a coffee cup rolled into one. For something a little more basic, look to our Runner Up from the “King of Glass,” the Hario V60 Glass Coffee Cups.
The best type of glass for coffee mugs is borosilicate glass, the same glass used in scientific equipment. It is dishwasher-safe and heatproof. It is stronger than standard glass, so it can be made thinner without sacrificing durability and can be blown into an insulating double-walled design. And it has greater clarity, making for a more attractive brew.
Stainless steel vacuum-insulated mugs keep coffee hottest for the longest time, which is why this is the construction of most thermoses. A stainless steel mug can keep coffee hot for 6 to 12 hours with a lid. Preheating your mug with boiling water before adding the coffee will keep it hot even longer, no matter the mug material.
Alternatively, look to temperature-controlled coffee cups. They’re a bit more expensive, but they use battery power to keep your drink the perfect temperature for hours.
No, glass isn’t better than ceramic for coffee. The two are very similar; both are inert materials that won’t impart flavor to your brew. Ceramic mugs retain heat slightly better than glass but are not as insulating as double-walled glasses, and ceramic can’t be blown into precise shapes (6).
References
James Hoffmann. Review: Kruve EQ Glassware [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVBxeB4VbLY. Published August 26, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019.
Almeida, Joana & Pellec, Marie & Bengtsson, Jonas. (2018). Reusable coffee cups life cycle assessment and benchmark. 10.13140/RG.2.2.35083.13607. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328600555_Reusable_coffee_cups_life_cycle_assessment_and_benchmark
Kanniah, J.C. (2020, August 25). Do Different Materials Affect the Flavour of Your Coffee? https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/08/do-different-materials-affect-the-flavour-of-your-coffee/
Gervasi, A. (2020, June 8). The Real Reason Espresso Servings Are So Small. Retrieved from https://www.mashed.com/215773/the-real-reason-espresso-servings-are-so-small/
Burgess-Yeo, S. (2018, November 20). How Your Coffee Cup Makes Your Coffee Taste Better – Or Worse. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2018/11/how-your-coffee-cup-makes-your-coffee-taste-better-or-worse/
ThermTest Instruments. (2018, November 15). Keeping Your Warm Drinks Warm – A Thermal Properties Approach. Reetrieved from https://thermtest.com/keeping-your-warm-drinks-warm-a-thermal-properties-approach
After considering 50 options, we think the Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar tumbler is the best all-purpose drinking glass. It’s durable, lightweight, and available in a variety of sizes, and in our tests it repeatedly survived counter-height drops onto a marble floor. The classic bistro styling of the Bormioli glass pairs nicely with almost any dinnerware, making it suitable for all occasions.
A good drinking glasses set is like a good outfit: comfortable, well made, stylish yet understated, and able to transition from day to night—breakfast to cocktails—with ease. The best ones can pull together a dinner table and still withstand the bumps and drops of daily use.
This 16-ounce plastic tumbler gives the appearance of glass and is a great option if you frequently entertain outdoors or have young kids in the house. Its tall, narrow shape makes it most appropriate for water and cocktails.
This inexpensive, non-tempered glass is tall and narrow, so it’s best suited for cocktails and water. The IKEA Godis stacks well, but its height takes up more space in a cupboard than our other picks.
We love the look and feel of the classic French bistro-style Duralex Picardie glass. This tempered glass is slightly heavier than our main pick, and occasionally sticks together when stacked, but its shape is more refined.
The tempered IKEA 365+ glasses are affordable, durable, and simply designed. In our drop tests they fared almost as well as glasses costing five times as much.
The reasonably priced Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar glass is extremely durable and stacks well without sticking. It has a bistro style similar to our upgrade pick, the Duralex Picardie glass, but it costs about half the price.
The lightweight Bormioli Rocco Rock Bar drinking glass was the most durable glass we tested. It’s made from tempered glass (a type of heat-treated glass that’s stronger and more resistant to breakage caused by extreme temperature changes than regular soda-lime glass) so it can be used for both hot and cold beverages. Several of our testers liked the 12.5-ounce size of this glass, saying it would be appropriate for a variety of beverages, including water, juice, iced coffee, beer, and wine. But you can find it in a bunch of other sizes too. The Rock Bar glass has a thicker lip than our upgrade pick, the Duralex Picardie, but still stacks neatly without sticking.
For those looking to spend under $2 per glass, we recommend the IKEA 365+ tumbler. Like our main pick, the 365+ tumbler is made of tempered glass and was able to survive repeated 3-foot drops onto a marble floor. Its simple, casual design pairs nicely with many styles of dinnerware, and its tapered shape makes it easy to hold and stack. The 365+ tumbler is sold as a set of six glasses and is available in 10 and 15 ounces.
We recommend the pricey Duralex Picardie glass for those seeking a more elegant drinking glass for everyday use. The gently contoured shape of the Picardie glass makes it a pleasure to hold, and the slight flare of the lip provided the best drinking experience of any glass we tested. Made in France of tempered glass, the Picardie was durable enough to sustain 3-foot drops onto a marble floor. The Picardie glass is slightly heavier than our top pick, and occasionally sticks together when stacked, but it’s usually available in a wider range of sizes, from 3 to 17 ounces, and comes in a few alternate color options like blue, amber, and grey, or a set of six 8-ounce glasses in a mix of colors.
The IKEA Godis glass is taller and narrower than our other glass picks, which makes it a great shape for both water and cocktails. It looks similar to a collins glass, only wider and slightly tapered so it’s stackable (when two 14-ounce glasses are stacked they measure about 8¾ inches tall). Because it’s not tempered, the Godis glass should not be used for hot beverages, and it’s not as durable as our other picks. It survived a 3-foot drop onto a hardwood floor, but not onto a marble floor. It costs less than a dollar per glass, so if one bites the dust you won’t be heartbroken. The IKEA Godis is sold in a set of six glasses and comes in two sizes: 8 and 14 ounces.
We recommend the US Acrylic Classic Water Tumbler for outdoor use, or (in the smaller sizes) if you have young kids in your family. Our testers were impressed by how much this tumbler looks like regular glass and in our tests it didn’t fade or crack in the dishwasher after more than 20 wash and dry cycles. Because it’s wider than a typical collins glass, it’s suitable for both water and cocktails. The US Acrylic glasses stack well, but because they’re so tall they take up more space than our other picks. We also found they're a little prone to getting stuck. The glasses are sold in sets of six and are available in multiple sizes: 9, 12, 16, and 24 ounces.
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