If you regularly drink hot or iced coffee, clear coffee mugs can elevate your whole experience, allowing you to monitor your beverage levels at a glance. They are durable, shatter-proof, and withstand extreme temperatures. But that's not all; the extra layer of air between the walls provides additional insulation, keeping your cup of joe hot/cold for extended periods. We researched the market and curated this comprehensive review spotlighting the coffee mugs that clearly stand out in aesthetics, durability, and convenience, including the insulated tumbler from Tervis. Choose your favorite from our list of top picks, and have any lingering questions answered in our helpful buying guide.
Our selection of the best clear coffee mugs is based on a careful review of all available products in the market. We know it's not always clear what features to look for when shopping. We want you to make an informed decision, so we have prepared this buying guide on all the important things to consider before you make your purchase!
Types of Clear Coffee Mugs
Glass
Clear coffee mugs made with glass appear more pristine than other types of coffee tumblers. The cup itself can be recycled and the beverage is visible - so you can look at your coffee layers and relish it with all the more craving!
What makes them comparable to ceramic options is their ability to let go of the taste and odor of previously held liquids. Unlike metal cups, clear coffee cups are easy to handle and sip from as they do not conduct heat. This also allows your beverage to remain hot/cold for longer periods.
However, glass tumblers are evidently more fragile than their fellow counterparts.
Acrylic
More affordable than glass, acrylic mugs come at a much better price. If you are someone who is always on the go and almost always rush through your morning coffee, the impact resistance of acrylic will give you an upper hand when compared with other counterparts.
However, acrylic tends to absorb flavor so unless you are using the cup for only one type of beverage, you will taste hints of flavor from the previously poured liquids. Staining is also pretty common with this material, therefore, high maintenance is required to keep their appearance intact.
Plastic
Much like acrylics, transparent plastic coffee cups are also on the affordable side of the spectrum. Since they are shatter-proof, they tend to last longer and are preferred for everyday use. Plastic tumblers are known to retain high-temperature liquids. However, you should always check before buying if the mugs are microwave safe or not.
Things to Consider When Buying a Clear Coffee Mug
Size
It is imperative that you check the height of the coffee cup you are purchasing. Any height higher than your coffee sprout will render your cups useless. It will only add to the hassle of shifting your coffee from one mug to another. A regular-sized mug extends to 4-inches - so if your coffee machine is anywhere below that, you will struggle to force it in place.
Price
Price is a crucial factor when buying clear coffee mugs, especially those made of glass. The prices of clear cups stretch over a wide range so you should know why you are paying the extra dollar when there is an available alternate with a lesser price. If you go a little too down the price range, you may end up with a low-grade mug.
Set of Mugs
A single coffee cup may only be best for yourself or as a gift. So unless you’re opting for a personalized mug for yourself, we would recommend you to buy a 4 or 6-pack, so you can serve your family and friends, too.
Design
This one is completely a personal preference. If you are someone who likes to keep it minimal, the classic clear mugs will work best for you. However, if you wish to add a bit of energy to your kitchenware, you can opt for tinted, printed, or even engraved ones.
Handle
In the pursuit of a perfect mug, we often tend to overlook handles. You only realize this once you are actually drinking out of a cup with either really round and narrow handles or ones with hard uncomfortable edges. Handles play an important role in your overall comfortable!
Resilience
Clear coffee mugs are included in delicate kitchenware. Coupled with an inferior quality product, you may just be spiling your money down the drain. We’d recommend that you buy a high-quality mug, be it plastic or glass.
Glass is known to be more perishable than plastic but boasts premium quality - thick glass can withstand a higher amount of impact too! So make sure you purchase coffee mugs made out of a material that’s durable enough to stay scratchless and stainless!
Other Factors to Consider
Borosilicate Glass
This material is best suited for clear coffee glass mugs, making them extremely durable and user friendly. Borosilicate is composed of a mixture of silica and boron trioxide and its most outstanding feature is its high heat tolerance. So if you are planning on purchasing glass mugs, borosilicate material should be your top pick.
Double-Walled Structure
Double-walled coffee tumblers are designed to incorporate air between two walls. This pocket of air provides insulation for the liquid contained and contributes to a generously shaped mug.
The added extra wall gives strength to withstand impact. We, therefore, suggest you opt for a double-walled design while purchasing coffee cups.
Microwave and Dishwasher-Safe
If your coffee mug is both microwave and dishwasher-safe, it ultimately increases its life span. Not only is the risk of distorting the shape while reheating your liquid in a microwave eliminated, but you also get a crystal clear view of your beverage after each wash.
On top of that, you will not have to worry about a hasty wash damaging your cup edges.
