The new travel mug offers elegance and functionality on the go.
BY JOSH TAVES
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Josh Taves
Sttoke Reusable Cups might just be the coolest new travel mugs to hit the U.S. market for 2020. Thanks to Sttoke’s partnership with Anita Tam and the good folks at Slow Pour Supply, the Sttoke line of cups is now available in the United States. Together, these two companies promise to change the travel mug game with a sleek new design and some cool features unseen in the market. I got my hands on two mugs from the line to try out, and let me tell you, the design and features packed into these little mugs are impressive.
The Sttoke mug has some really awesome new features that performed even better than mentioned on their website. Upon first glance, I was skeptical of what seems to be a thin ceramic that constitutes the body of the Sttoke mugs. Sttoke claims that they are using a new German-engineered Greblon Ceramic. Upon further research, I found that Greblon is a ceramic coating that is highly scratch- and temperature-resistant. Greblon is also shatter-proof and has a very nice feel in the hand. Sttoke has the Greblon Ceramic coating applied over the top of double-wall-insulated stainless steel for optimum heat retention and preservation of flavor integrity. This construction also makes the Sttoke very durable and able to retain its aesthetic beauty through your day-to-day wear-and-tear.
I’m not sure exactly how it works, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out that Greblon is also the German word for “voodoo magic.” You see, the walls of the Sttoke are uber-thin (German pun intended) and somehow do not get warm to the touch. Now, hearing that, I personally might think that the liquid inside the Sttoke was not very hot. Let me tell you that the first time I used my Sttoke, this was my thought because the outside of the mug was not even warm to the touch. I went to take a big swig of coffee, with my fingers less than a half-centimeter from the liquid, and burned my tongue to a crisp.
This brings me to my next point—the Sttoke line of mugs is very temperature stable. Sttoke claims that their mugs will keep your drink hot for up to three hours. The “spill-proof,” BPA-free plastic lid is well constructed with a sliding open/close valve for drinking from. The ergonomic design of the mug fits very well in the hand due to the light weight and narrow profile. Overall the Sttoke does a fantastic job of keeping your drink hot and keeping you safe from spills and burns (unless you’re like me and drink your coffee before it cools). This combined with the Greblon coating preserves the flavor and optimal temperature of your coffee for as long as it takes you to finish it. If you’re tired of burning your tongue on thermos coffee, though, just keep the lid open until it’s at your optimal drinking temperature!
The Sttoke mugs were also named a Gold Winner at the Good Design Awards, and it is easy to see why when you take a look at the stunning list of colors they’re available in. Check out their beautiful options in colors like Luna Marble or Coral Sunset that come in either 8- or 12-ounce varieties. I personally have been loving my 8-ounce mug in Ivory Chai for an afternoon pick-me-up and my 12-ounce mug in Magnetic Blue for my morning coffee. Overall I have been really happy with my two Sttoke travel mugs. They are proven to be well-constructed, thoughtfully produced, and aesthetically very beautiful. I would be happy to recommend these mugs to anyone serious about their coffee who is looking to improve their travel mug experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Taves has been working in the coffee industry since 2006 and has worked as a barista, trainer, QC director, profile roaster, and green buyer. You can currently find him (or not find him) roaming the Rocky Mountains wherever the wind takes him. He is also the inventor of the Rattleware Cupping Brewer and a 2017 United States Barista Championship finalist.
