Once I started working in an office, I realised I was dropping in to pick up a coffee every day on the way to work. My colleagues were also doing the same.
To do some quick math, if the 3 of us had a coffee Monday - Friday, that would be 15 disposable cups a week.
Assuming we all took our annual leave and got a coffee 48 weeks of the year, that would be 720 cups a year.
If we had been doing this every day since I started working here (3.5 years), then we would have gone through 2520 disposable cups, just between the 3 of us.
That's crazy!
It was about 3 months in that we all got Keep Cups, with a little carry bag to carry them around. So great, especially after the more recent revelation that disposable cups are not recyclable. And even if you use a BioCup, you still have to rely on the individual disposing of it correctly so it is actually recycled.
So if you're in the market for a keep cup so that you can do your bit for the planet, here is my review of 4 different brands (yes I have a lot of keep cups haha)!
Keep Cup
Keep Cup was the first ever reusable cup I bought, and I love it! I got the one with the glass cup because I prefer it to plastic; one of my colleagues got a plastic one because, at the time, they didn't make the glass ones in large (rest assured, they do now).
Overall, I have found them to be very durable. I used this cup daily, and I replaced the lid only once when it started leaking (it took maybe 18 months for that to happen, which isn't bad at all). I also replaced the glass cup once, but that was definitely user error... I accidentally threw it at the handrail in my coffee shop!
The lid is probably my favourite part of this cup. The hard plastic lid with the plug works so well, and it is really nice to drink out of.
I think aesthetically, the cups look nice (although I don't like the new double walled look they have going at the moment, but that is just me), and there is such a vast range of colours to choose from. I also really enjoy that you can buy parts separately, so if you lose the plug, or the lid starts to leak, or you just want a different colour, you can do so cheaply & easily.
Price wise, you're looking at anywhere from AUD$14 - $34, depending on the style you go for and the size.
Review!
Range of colours: 10/10
Durability: 9/10
Lid: 10/10
Cup: 7/10 (plastic), 9/10 (glass)
Would I recommend: 10/10
Frank Green
Frank Green is huge at the moment! My colleague & I jumped on this band wagon when we were looking for a new cup (I was looking to downsize my medium Keep Cup, her KC lid was leaking), and, to be honest, we were pretty disappointed.
The design is pretty funky, and the leak proof lid seems like a great idea. You can also get it with PayPass in the cup to make paying for coffee super efficient (I hate this, but some people love it).
But there are a few things that really let this cup down:
- You can't fill the cup all the way up to the top. There is a max fill line, but trying to get baristas to not fill it up all the way is challenging.
- If you do fill it pass the max fill line, the leak proof lid isn't so leak proof.
- The lid has so many pieces (see pic below)! It is so annoying to wash, and getting this back together properly each time is harder than you would think. I actually stopped using the lid altogether and used the cup like a normal mug.
I also have the Frank Green water bottle... the lid is also annoying, and started leaking on me. It does come with an app to track your water intake, but you have to tap your water bottle every time you finish it, and you just forget... great idea, but just a little bit too clunky.
Price wise you are looking at AUD$32 - $40.
Review!
Range of colours: 5/10
Durability: 6/10
Lid: 1/10
Cup: 7/10
Would I recommend: 2/10
Sol
I got this cup from an event that was being held in my venue (because who doesn't need another keep cup!), and I wanted to try out the brand because I have seen it around.
I love that this cup is big - it's like holding a hug mug. I just love wrapping my hands around a big mug, so it works so well for me.
The lid is where this one falls short - soft silicone just isn't nice to drink out of! I think if it was a harder silicone, it would be OK.
There isn't a huge range of colours to choose from, but certainly not a big deal. I do also really enjoy that Sol also make water bottles, tote bags and metal straws.
Price wise, you're looking at AUD$30 for a medium (12oz) cup.
Review!
Range of colours: 4/10
Durability: 8/10
Lid: 5/10
Cup: 10/10
Would I recommend: 8/10
Pottery for the Planet
This cup belongs to my colleague - it was her replacement for the Frank Green cup.
I think the premise of this company is great - they make limited edition pottery pieces to raise funds for environmental causes.
The cups are also quite pretty. They are handmade & painted with various designs. Because of this, it probably is important to note that the colours & patterns will vary from the pictures on the website.
Ceramic gets hot! Carrying this thing with a hot coffee in it everyday isn't ideal. They do sell heat bands on the website, but it costs extra - and when these cups are already AUD$35 - 39, you don't really want to pay any more.
The lid is also soft silicone! So annoying to drink out of again.
My colleague likes this cup, but I don't really rate it.
Review!
Range of colours: 7/10
Durability: 8/10
Lid: 1/10
Cup: 7/10
Would I recommend: 4/10
So which one would I recommend?
Honestly, I can't stop going back to Keep Cup! I have shopped around and tried new things from time to time, but my Keep Cups are still my favourite. There are many options for different colours and styles, and I really really like the lid to drink out of.
If it were possible to get the cup shape of the Sol cup combined with the Keep Cup lid, that would be the ultimate, because I just love a really fat mug to hug! But failing that, I would highly recommend the Keep Cup.
Hx
