Putting (Most of) the Crankiness Aside for Some Drink-Related Reviews
Mostly coffee, one big desk gulp of water, plus, a bonus image for anyone in the mood to complain about poor slaughtered communications from a sheriff’s department.
I used to write kitchen, food, and drink reviews many years ago under the title Flash in the Pan. I keep meaning to revive them on a new website, but, ugh, so much other to do. So, here’s putting a metaphorical toe back into the water.
For years, I’ve been trying to find the perfect travel coffee mug, even though I rarely travel beyond the daily commute of walking from the bedroom to the kitchen to make coffee, and then over to the desk. I have several products I have picked up at my own expense — two travel mugs, one desk titanic vessel for ice water (or iced coffee, I suppose), and a device that is supposed to provide a good cup of coffee in portable form.
To provide the property atmosphere, I suggest Bach’s BWV 211, “Kaffee Kantate,” for accompaniment.
Before getting into the review portion, here are my biases toward coffee travel mugs. First, they have to be really spill-proof. If I can knock it over and it’s cable of spilling coffee into a form of automobile carpet batik, I will. It’s a more natural law than much of what I see that comes out of economics.
Second, it has to keep liquid hot or cold as desired. Otherwise, why bother? Oh, yes, of course I want to plunk down anywhere from $25 to nearly $50 for tepid coffee, neither flaming enough to taunt my tongue or cold enough to freeze.
Third, I want to be able to clean it, the only way to preserve a decent taste. (I remember walking into a Northampton, Mass. café, The Roost, and presented them with a clean mug. They were delighted and I began to wonder what array of biological experiments they might see.)
Fourth, it absolutely has to fit in a standard holder in a car. I had a fifth which was not made in China, but I’ve had to give up on that.
All said, on to the first one, the Hydro 20-oz. Coffee with Flex Sip Lid
This has been a workhorse for me: 20-ounces as it says, with a great ability to keep things warm or cold over a reasonable number of hours. The lid is interesting, with a spin-top that moves from a truly sealed position to one where the liquid is open to flow. The outer surface is comfortable, no matter the interior temperature, which is good because there is no handle. It is slim enough to fit into the holder, and it is wonderfully cleanable. You can unscrew the top, take it apart into four pieces, and wash them all.
And they’re currently selling on the Hydro Flash site for about $25. Sadly, shipping is only free after $30. You could buy two and split with someone else or check around. The brand is widely available as far as I can tell.
Next, the Corkcicle Commuter Cup.
There is a 9-ounce version, but you might as well just bring along a thimble — it’s nothing more than a tease. The only choice in my mind is the 17-ounce one. A little light on volume, but it is lined with ceramic, a nice step away from metal. The insulation is robust, and the top has a large push-up-or-down disk that makes the contents available, though sometimes I’ve had to push a couple of times to get it to move. A nice touch is that you can sip from any side. The cup has two opposing flattened sections to make it easier to hold, but if like my wife your hands are a bit smaller, it still may not be enough and there is no handle. Where it falls down is cleaning. It is top-rack dishwasher safe, but I don’t think you can take apart the pop-up mechanism, which limits cleaning. It might be that a good thin brush like one for straws would do. I have one and it seems to work as there are slots around the base of the top where the coffee flows through. I worked the brush in and around. I’ve drunk coffee with milk in it and it smells absolutely clean after a good washing (using a bottle brush in the container). But it doesn’t reach the availability of the Hydro Flask. Still, I like it, especially not having to orient myself to one part of another to enable a sip without dribbling all over myself. Depending on the model, it’s about $45 to $48.
FinalPress Coffee and Tea Maker
I took a flier on Kickstarter. It’s supposed to be a container you can use to brew coffee or tea, especially on the go. You still need hot water for hot coffee, but that’s always the case. They claim that after you fill the container with your ground coffee, you stir for about 10 seconds and then press the plunger to get all the flavor out. Want stronger taste? Plunge multiple times. Sadly, that didn’t work for me. For hot coffee (I didn’t try the cold-brew route or tea), I’d leave it in about five minutes and then push the plunger. The unit is compact and comes with a soft case. It seems well-made, but at $54 is pricey.
Stanley Advances H2O Quencher 40-ounce
Yes, the now infamous Stanley Tumbler and not really focused on coffee. That’s okay and don’t let the popularity fool you, as this is a great desk accessory if you’re the opposite of a camel and need a regular high volume of liquid at hand. It holds the cold in for the ice, the straw works great, and with one of those brushes I mentioned, cleans easily. The body flares out over the base, so while it would fit into a cup holder, I’d argue against it. But a terrific choice for your desk. About $45 and worth it.
Bonus Image for Pained English
This comes via Twitter (no, I will not call it by whatever marks the spot). A sheriff’s department in Colorado was warning people away from a road because a “large boulder the size of a small boulder” was blocking travel. I’m wondering if the large boulder had been on a keto diet.