What do you call the average commuter who hasn’t had their fix of caffeine? Grumpy. And even if you do introduce a coffee to them dispensed from a cafe or coffee machine that grump can quickly turn into a money-induced rage.
And that’s not for a skinny caramel latte with oat milk, marshmallows and chocolate shavings, a simple black coffee with no sugar can easily cost £4.
It makes a lot more sense to invest in a travel flask, brew your own coffee at home and pocket the change. A good travel flask will keep that coffee hot all day and can be used to house other liquids too, including the simple necessity of chilled water. Take a look at our top travel flasks for your next long commute.
The best travel flasks
Thermos 170298 Flask
The icon of warm beverages
Price: £26.24 (was £32) | VIEW OFFER
The king of the flask world, Thermos has garnered a reputation for quality and this retro-coloured example is our top travel pick. It comes with a 1.2-litre capacity, is designed to be sweatproof and comes with a cup integrated into the lid. The five-year guarantee should also give you great peace of mind.
Specs:
Capacity: 1.2l
Keep warm: n/a
Keep cool: 24hrs
Weight: 540g
STANLEY 18-8 Stainless Steel-Double-Wall Vacuum Insulation Water Bottle
Bullet-proof pick
Price: £40.86 (was £44.95) | VIEW OFFER
If you thought the Thermos was tough, wait until you see this option from Stanley. Proudly boasting that one had survived being shot at you know dropping down a flight of stairs won’t cause you to lose your coffee. The build quality is also near-indestructible thanks to the stainless steel construction and lifetime warranty.
Specs:
Capacity: 1l
Keep warm: n/a
Keep cool: 24hrs
Weight: 830g
Hydro Flask
Eco-friendly option
Price: £25.50 (was £29.95) | VIEW OFFER
This is a very stylish and environmentally friendly way to enjoy a hot beverage. The company has a mission to remove single-use plastic from the world and has donated nearly 56,000 bottles to help the planet. It’s certainly a way to enjoy your coffee knowing you’re supporting a good cause.
Specs:
Capacity: 473ml
Keep warm: n/a
Keep cool: 24hrs
Weight: 329g
Thermos 184807 Stainless King Food Flask
Keep your lunch warm, too
Price: £17.99 (was £23.99) | VIEW OFFER
A flask can contain more than just drinks, you can easily store your lunch in them too. This fat-looking flask can keep your soup warm for nine hours or cold (if you like gazpacho) for 14 hours. The lid can be sued as a bowl and even comes with a folding spoon, perfect for when you forget to bring one.
Specs:
Capacity: 470ml
Keep warm: n/a
Keep cool: 14hrs
Weight: 360g
Thermos Mondial Flask
Tea for two
Price: £18 | VIEW OFFER
A huge flask designed for two people makes sense if you’re an avid camper or enjoy a lot of coffee and our top choice for an XXL coffee flask is the Mondial from Thermos. It comes with 1.8 litres of storage, two cups and a sturdy handle. It can also keep a drink hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours. Just make sure your cupholder is big enough first.
Specs:
Capacity: 1.8l
Keep warm: n/a
Keep cool: 24hrs
Weight: 449g
The Parkers’ guide to homemade coffee
There’s nothing wrong with using instant coffee but there is a whole world of coffee machines that you can explore and unlock the exciting world of coffee production. We’ll quickly run through some of the different ways you can make coffee at home, some more convoluted than others.
The drip option
Hario V60 Teal Coffee Dripper Kit – £14.95 – Buy now
One of the simplest ways to make your coffee a bit fancier, a drip uses a paper filter to make the coffee. Simply place the drip over your flask, add the paper and ground coffee (go for a medium) before pouring over the water and you’ve got a nice fancy coffee.
The stovetop option
Bialetti Moka Express Aluminium Stovetop Coffee Maker – £38.01 – Buy now
Another simple option for making good coffee. Place this on a stovetop (anything but induction will work), add water and ground coffee (medium) and heat it. This stovetop coffee maker is an icon of design, made from aluminium and really easy to clean too.
The AeroPress option
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker – £30 – Buy now
A space-age-looking device is actually incredibly simple to use and makes excellent coffee. It works using a plunger and filter to create excellent coffee without being a faff to clean.
There are more too, including vacuum units (complex, a bit overkill), Chemex (very fancy) and the French Press (also fancy), but for a beginner, we recommend something a touch simpler.
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