I’m not one to write long/detailed reviews, but felt this one deserved it.
My use case: I take hours to drink a cup of coffee, little sips constantly and I often re-microwave my coffee to re-heat it in normal coffee mug. I wanted something that would keep my coffee hot and that was spill-proof.
After researching and reading reviews, last year I bought the 16oz Contigo AUTOSEAL which claimed to keep hot drinks hot up to 5-6 hours. At first I was impressed, but quickly settled into the fact that my coffee was luke warm within a couple hours. Definitely nowhere near 5-6 hours. I assumed that maybe it was because I was constantly taking little sips and that coffee was cooling from each sip.
So a year later, I decided to give these insulated mugs one more try. After additional research, I bought this Zojirushi, 12oz.
As soon as the received it, I did an experiment and the Zojirushi absolutely blew the Contigo away.
Started both with 113 degree F hot water.
Total hrs Zojirushi Contigo
1.5 hr 107 98
3.0 hr 104 91
4.5 hr 102 86
------------------------------------------------
Loss -11 -27 degrees F after 4.5 hrs
In fact, I left the Zojirushi on the counter overnight and 24hrs later it was 89 degrees F. Still more than the Contigo after only 4.5hrs.
I’ve used it for the last 2 days at work with coffee and I can truly ‘nurse’ my one cup of coffee all day long and it is still nice an hot MANY hours later. Plus there is physically a lot more opportunity for heat loss drinking from the Zojirushi as you pop open the lid compared to the tiny slot opening when drinking out of the Contigo. Makes me wonder if my Contigo was defective from the start.
One quirk with the Zoji is that several times I noticed a drop of coffee (from condensation on the cap), on the tip of my nose after taking a sip. Either tip your head back a little further or drink just off center to avoid this. Doesn’t bother me though. I also like that the drinking well (where the coffee comes out) is not glaring white (which would stain more easily) with the Champagne Gold mug. It is a light tan. I wasn’t sure what color it would be, but noticed in some pictures that the inside was a blaring white.
My husband and I have purchased so many different travel coffee thermoses and mugs throughout the years. Most of them leak, are difficult to clean, hard to drink out of or just don't keep the coffee hot long enough. This is a Japanese brand that I'm actually familiar with because our rice cooker is from Zojirushi.
I purchased this for my husband and I remember the day he got home from work the first thing he said was, "you literally got me the Holy Grail of coffee mugs!" With his busy job sometimes he can't get to his coffee for a few hours which by then his coffee is just barely warm. With this Zojirushi your coffee will literally stay hot for 16-18 hours. The best way I can describe it is it's like the Yeti for coffee thermoses. It is a little pricey but if I add up all the other broken and non working coffee thermoses that we have I could have purchased 10 of these. My mother recently asked if she could borrow it for a trip and when she came back to return it she asked if I could buy her one! Lol! There are only three parts and they are all dishwasher safe and there is even a lock switch to secure the top from accidentally opening up and spilling your coffee and the mouthpiece is extremely easy to drink from. This is definitely a five star product!
I almost forgot that I have this bottle. I have bought quite a collection of stainless-steel thermos bottles. This Zojirushi actually works quite well and keeps its contain hot or cold for long hours.
The finish is nice and the top operates easily. The top can be taken apart for easy cleaning. So why is this bottle got placed at the back of my cupboard? The reason is that I have been using a better bottle.
Both Zojirushi and Tiger bottles are well known Japanese brand. They are both very well made. I choose Tiger over Zojirushi because Tiger has a better design and has better interior finish in general.
For the same capacity, Tiger bottle is shorter. The reason is the design of the cap. The cap on the Tiger is lower profile. The lock and that unlocks the opening button is on the button not like the Zojirushi which has a separate lock next to the opening button.
The Interior Finish is a big deal for me. I like bottles with a highly-polished finish. This issue is cleaning. Highly-polished one does not stain easily. The Tiger bottle that I replaced this Zojirushi bottle has a better finish.
I am not saying that Zojirushi is not a nice bottle. I am saying that there is another alternative that could be better. Check out the Tiger bottles if you are considering Zojirushi bottles.
This is, bar none, the world's best mini travel thermos. I spend countless weekends at our local outdoor hockey rink during the winter and carry this little badboy around in my cargo pocket with hot tea - it never goes cold. In fact, if I start with boiling water, I have to add at least an ounce of cold water to be able to drink it within a couple hours - otherwise it just stays boiling hot, I end up forgetting and burn the $#!t out of my mouth. We fill it with piping hot coffee in the morning, leave it in the car while we ski all day, come back and it is the perfect temperature to drink quickly. I kid you not.
Zojirushi makes two versions of flip-top mugs: this model (SM-KHE) is the best. The lid is strong, durable and does NOT leak when installed properly. We loved it so much that my wife bought the other flip-top Zojirushi (SM-SC) because it was available in 20 oz. (she loves her coffee). Sadly, her lid has broken twice in the same spot from a drop. We replaced the first lid, but we're done playing that game - do NOT buy that model. We replaced it with this SM-KHE model because our other SM-KHE has been dropped many times, fallen off the roof of the car, dented, and still keeps liquids piping hot like the day we got it years ago.
Yetis and its copies may be all the rage right now, but you will never find a better leak-proof, flip-top, insanely insulated mug anywhere. PERIOD. It is worth every penny we paid.
I love all things Zojirushi. Their engineering is unparalleled, whether it's a hot water pot, a rice cooker, or any of their household appliances. This stainless steel mug is no exception.
PROS:
1) IT DOES NOT LEAK. I can confidently throw this into my purse or gym bag upside down or sideways, and there will not be even a drop that comes out. (Sure, if you're determine to make if fail, you can. Screw the top on properly, okay? It's an amazing feat of engineering--not magic.)
2) It keeps drinks hot. I use mine for hot coffee, so I can't comment on how well it does for cold drinks. None of these insulated mugs live up to their claims, but this keeps my coffee hot for probably 4 hours, and reasonably warm for a number hours after that.
3) It cleans really thoroughly and is dishwasher safe. Since the top easily comes apart, there aren't hidden parts that might also be hiding yuk.
CONS:
1) It only holds 16 ounces. If you're like me and--if you're without your own mug--order your coffee by "whatever size you have that's closest to 5 gallons", that extra 4 ounces is a bigger deal than just 4 ounces. So this one became my gateway drug to the Zojirushi 20 ounce Zojirushi SM-SA60-BA Stainless Steel Mug, 20-Ounce, Black, which came out later. It has the same design.
2) Even while the top with its removable parts makes for more accessible washing, it does make flipping the lid to drink one more step between my coffee and me. It's not a deal breaker, but I like the easier accessibility and convenience of the Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Easy Clean Lid, 20oz, Stainless Steel, which is also somewhat less expensive.
3) Speaking of expense, these babies are expensive. That's the way of Zojirushi, and the quality makes it worth it. But still... there's a budget to consider.
I have this and the 20 ounce version. But ultimately for me, the Contigo wins out.
Feature Product
- Stainless mug with non stick coated interior and flip open lid
- Tight fitted flip open lid keeps beverages hotter or colder than travel mugs
- Safety lock to prevent the lid from opening accidentally
- Stopper disassembles for thorough cleaning
- Wide mouth accommodates full-size ice cubes
Description
Zojirushi's stainless steel vacuum insulation mug will keep your beverages hot or cold for hours. The compact design takes minimal space while maximizing capacity. Each flip lid is tightly fitted for excellent heat retention and features a safety lock to prevent accidental opening. Durable and sanitary these mugs have a stainless steel interior with non stick coating for easy clean up.
I have a 16 oz Contigo that I use every day (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HZI5XNO). I've been waiting for this Zojirushi mug to go on sale forever and snatched it up in a lighting sale.
The first thing I did was fill both with the hottest our tap water will get (which I regretfully didn't measure) and set a timer.
After 1.5 hrs:
• Contigo was at 132°
• Zojirushi was at 139°
After 2.5 hrs:
• Contigo was at 125°
• Zojirushi was at 136°
I'd call that a significant difference.
The photo shows my 16 oz Contigo and the 16 oz Zojirushi. The Zojirushi is a little bit taller, but quite a bit slimmer. I definitely had my doubts when I took it out of the box that it would hold 16 oz, but it did.
This 12 oz fits under my Keurig. It is really tiny compared to other travel mugs I have bought in the past. I was worried that it would be too small for my coffee and creamer.
All of that worrying was for nothing! This thing is perfect. I use the second setting on the right. There's enough room for coffee and plenty of creamer.
Are you a normal person? Do you think that hot coffee should be enjoyed...hot? Are you tired of buying the latest design of an overpriced travel mug at Starbucks, only to realize that, two hours later, your coffee tastes like a milky, bitter, and lukewarm horror of a mocha nightmare? Then look no further than Zojirushi. I don't know how these Japanese mad scientists have done it, but this mug does what no other mug before it has managed to do - keep your hot coffee hot for hours on end. I don't normally think of Japan when I think of coffee, but the folks at Zojirushi have obviously given coffee and other hot bevvies a great deal of consideration.
Don't be discouraged by the light weight and seeming insubstantiality of this mug when you pull it out of the box. I held it and stared at it for a minute, thinking "Surely they can't be serious?" Following that thought with, "But my name isn't Shirley, and yes - yes they are serious." The mug is uber-light and lined with some kind of ninja-samurai non-stick coating. The lid screws on securely, and the top flips open with the push of a button; it also has a lock to keep it closed tightly if you like to toss your mug into your bag. The sipping insert pops out for easy cleaning, and pops just as easily back into place.
Long-term durability? Who knows. Like I said, it's very light. But if you're serious about enjoying your coffee hot, and don't usually finish it within 30 minutes of pouring it into your regular travel mug, then look no further, friends.
My heat retention test accurately shows heat retention for the 3 contenders-THERMOS Nissan, T. element5 & ZOJI SS
Start temp 178F 6hrs 12hrs
Nissan Thermos SS 142 124
T. element5 " 136 123
ZOJI SS 48XA " 151 133 *18hrs/120--- (still hot enuf)
-Prep ea. mug with 138deg tap for 15mins.
-quick 16oz fill with 178 from coffee 1 maker
-Used accurate gauge and measured thru drink hole.
-Started test in garage with a temp of 50F +/- 10deg day,
-brought mug in house after 6hrs@ 70deg.
-Leak chk on all 3 laying on side= not a drop
ABOVE is the important stuff. Aesthetics and size etc. is subjective below:
My base Thermos (Thermos Nissan) have been my tough partners for over 15yrs. Retired my first one to cabin use without top----no blame on quality of top after lots of rough use. Second one is 7yrs old.
Being old myself I had no intention of looking for better but was curious about new models, especially with ZOJI praise.
The THERMOS Element5 disappointed because it is larger, but with plastic lid hinge and lower heat retention, it is a distant 3rd place & not in ball park with the top 2. Still a good unit if not for extremes and long days!
Zoji designed what should have been Thermos' NEW design to improve on the wonderful Nissan model, especially since T. Nissan cost a little more than this ZOJI ! Zojirushi is now the best. Looks and handling about the same but Top and lid design is better. Only preference I have to get used to is the ZOJI drink spout as it differs from the T. Nissan I am used to! FINAL NOTE: Stay with SS and forget the colors for the kids. SS is higher quality and longer lasting! If silicone top parts are stained----that's coffee seasoning! Valued for ages. Just an occasional normal cleaning necessary. That's why a lot of folks won't let anyone "scrub" their coffee cup/mug!
One final note from field experience-----the tabs/hangars put on some tops are useful but I have seen them often & harshly put stress on the top which makes them leak pretty soon!
Major G. hopes this is useful in the confusing thermos bottle world of production.
I love this thermos. It keeps my hot chocolate very hot. It does not leak, at all. I like that I can lay it down sideways and not worry about leaks or spillage.The lock on the top makes me feel more secure that it won't open/cause leaks. It's attractive. I can hold it easily and comfortably in my hand. I especially like that I can take the top apart to wash. I love everything about this thermos. Unfortunately, I dropped it less than a month after purchasing it and broke the latch. The top will no longer close. Fortunately, the company sells replacement tops and I'll be able to replace it without having to purchase a whole new thermos. Therefore, I would advise you to be careful with it. I raved about it so much that my husband, who was not in need of a new thermos, bought one too! He is enjoying it as well.
I can't see myself buying another type of thermos. It is pricey, but I think it's completely worth it and would definitely recommend.
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